Mekong NYC hosts a music class to teach students how to play the đàn tranh (Vietnamese zither). The class is infused with storytelling, especially Vietnamese folk tales and culture, community building through group playing and listening, and group theory, examining traditional Vietnamese and Cambodian songs and pop music.

Zoom Meeting or in-person at
Yes We Can Music Office
40 West 135th St., Ste. 1S, NY10037

You can stick to or alternate between Sundays and Wednesday.
Prerequisite: none. All are welcome.
Đàn Tranh can be loaned from Mekong NYC.

Tentative Curriculum

Classes are conducted in person or via Zoom. Eight sessions will cover the basics and three songs: **“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (Quẳng Gánh Lo Đi và Vui Sống), “Cò Lả”** (Flying Stork – Northern Folk Song), and “Lý Cây Bông” (Song of Flowers – Southern Folk Song). Students will learn how the Vietnamese created a basic version called “lòng bản” from Vietnamese unique free styles

Session 1

Class recording Sunday Feb 25 at 3PM
Class recording Wednesday Feb 28 at 6:30PM

Introducing the audio of the 3 songs that we will learn in this course, take a listen of these during the next few weeks:

Originals: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (Quẳng Gánh Lo Đi và Vui Sống), “Cò Lả” (Flying Stork – Northern Folk Song), and “Lý Cây Bông” (Song of Flowers – Southern Folk Song)

Đàn Tranh Renditions: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy (Quẳng Gánh Lo Đi và Vui Sống), “Cò Lả” (Soaring Stork – Northern Folk Song), and “Lý Cây Bông” (Song of Flowers – Southern Folk Song)

Đàn Tranh’s Part and Positions (Swallow Positions, Sitting, Hand Position, Touch Points, Bead Navigation).

String order & Tuning

Tablature Reading

Training RH Individual Fingers
“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (Quẳng Gánh Lo Đi và Vui Sống) – Part 1

Session 2

Class recording Sunday Mar 3 at 3PM
Class recording Wednesday Mar 6 at 6:30PM

Review Right Hand’s Individual Finger Techniques from exercises for “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (Quẳng Gánh Lo Đi và Vui Sống)
Tuning Steps
- Arranging the Swallows
- Tuning from the lowest string
- Turning the peg for significant changes
- Adjusting the swallows for fine-tuning
“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (Quẳng Gánh Lo Đi và Vui Sống) – Whole song
- For returning students: Add vibratos for long notes.
- For returning students: Add à Glissandi before the first notes of phrases.
Bending exercise (Exercises 1-2-4)