Detailed explanation of the fingering symbols of Guqin minus characters - Guqin right fingering symbols

212 views · Organized by CT. on 2022-07-01

Guqin notation is also called minus-character notation. The fingering symbols of minus-character notation are abbreviated from the abbreviated strokes of the notation of Chinese notation. After the improvement of the qin masters, those that are not used are discarded, those that are not used are merged into the same kind, those that are simplified and complicated are gradually unified, and they have become quite standardized by the end of the Qing Dynasty. There are only 112 notation characters used in "Introduction to Qin Studies", and the other notations are roughly the same. After improving the notation, it can be subtracted by half, and about forty or fifty symbols can be used instead. The simplified part is mostly compound fingering of the right hand and decorative fingering of the left hand.

Detailed explanation of the fingering symbols of Guqin minus characters - Guqin right fingering symbols

The notation of the minus-character spectrum, that is, the fingering symbols, are mostly consistent with modern Chinese. The following are the right fingering symbols of the Guqin.

Playing the qin is to press the strings with the left hand and the right hand. The playing part is generally between Yueshan and Yihui, and the pressing sound in the high-pitched area can also be around Yihui, so that the sound is soft. The right hand is called "out" when it pops out towards the emblem, and it is called "in" when it is thrown toward the body. Regardless of whether it is played in or out, it is slightly inclined to the surface of the piano, and the sound is fuller. And the string should not be deep, generally not more than one-third of the fingertips or the back of the nail. Only the four fingers of the big, the food, the middle and the name are used to play the strings, and the little finger is forbidden and not used, so it is called the forbidden finger. The four fingers pop in and out in two directions, respectively, resulting in eight fingerings, including smashing, holding, wiping, picking, hooking, tickling, hitting, picking, etc., which are called the basic eight methods of the right hand, and the other compound fingerings, special rhythms and harmonic fingerings. , are formed by the evolution or combination of these eight basic fingerings.

  • Corpse (Break): Use the back of the big fingernail to flick it in, the middle and last two segments of the big finger are slightly bent, lie on the back under the palm, and stand upright when playing, and release the tiger's mouth. The three fingers of the food are straight, the middle section is glued, and the distal section is uneven. The forbidden fingers are slightly tilted, and the tip of the nail is slightly raised.
  • Torr (Tor): The big finger is upside down, the tiger's mouth is open, the flesh is first and then the armour, and it is held out. Its movement is used in combination with wrist strength in the middle section. After flicking, the big finger is still under the palm, the three fingers of the middle finger are straight, the middle and last two fingers of the middle finger are slightly lower than the two fingers of the food name, the gap between the fingers is slightly open, and the forbidden fingers are as before.
  • Wood (wipe): use the index finger to play, first the meat (touch the string) and then the armor (pick the string). The index finger is bent at the root, the last two segments are extended, the middle and last two segments of the big finger are slightly bent, and the fingertips are about one string away from the index finger. Every time it is smeared, the bucket of the index finger will fall on the tip of the big nail to resist. Its movement is the power of the last two sections of the index finger. The two fingers of the middle name are both straight, with a slight gap between the fingers, and the height is uneven. The forbidden fingers are as before.
  • (Pick): Pop out with the back of your fingernail. The index finger flexes the last two segments, the big finger is slightly bent, the tip of the nail is pressed against the bucket of the index finger, and it is picked out. The movement is in the middle and last two sections of the index finger, and the big finger sticks hard. In the middle name, the two fingers are slightly bent, and the rest is the same as the wipe, and the forbidden fingers are the same as before.
  • 勹 (hook): Use the middle finger to flick in, first meat and then armor. The middle finger is bent at its root, the last two of which are firm and straight, and the big finger is placed sideways under the middle finger. Each hook must make the distal end of the middle finger fall on the tip of the big nail, and can rest on the next string. Its movement is the strength of the middle finger. The two fingers of the food name are stretched flat, higher than the middle finger, and the forbidden fingers are as before.
  • (Tick): Pop out with the back of the middle nail. The middle finger is bent at the tip of the root, forming a circle with the big finger, and the tip of the big nail is against the bucket. Its movement is like a challenge. The second finger of the food name is slightly curved, higher than the middle finger, and the forbidden finger is as before.
  • Ding (beat): Use your index finger to flick it in, first with meat and then with armor. The name finger bends at its root and stretches out the last two. Its movement is driven by the force of flexion and extension of the root segment, and the second finger sticks and straightens in the food, higher than the index finger. The big finger opens the tiger's mouth, straight to the last two sections, in a figure-eight shape. Forbidden as before.
  • (Excerpt): Pop out with the back of the name nail. The name finger is bent at the root and distal end. Similar to tick, except that you don't need to hold it with your big finger. Its movement lies in the power of the last two segments of the root of the name and finger. In the middle of the food, the second finger is attached with a slightly curved band, and the big finger is slightly bent at the last two joints, and the tiger's mouth is slightly open. Forbidden as before.

Reference materials and contributors
古琴减字谱指法符号详解

Involving musical instruments

Guqin (pinyin: Gǔ Qín) is a traditional Chinese musical instrument with a history of at least 3,500 years. Guqin is also known as Yaoqin, Yuqin and Seven-stringed Qin. The guqin has 13 emblems that mark the rhythm, and is also a ritual and musical instrument. It belongs to the silk in the octave. Guqin has a wide range, deep timbre and long aftertone.

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