按stopped note
Pinyin: àn
Timbre and harmonicsAlso written: 按音, 实音, 木声
The left finger presses the string firmly at a hui position and the right hand sounds the string length measured from there.
How it is played
Using the thumb, index, middle or ring finger (or the kneeling finger), press the string down to the board exactly at a hui and fraction. The pressure must be full (the old handbooks say “press as if into the wood”) without any visible strain. A slight error in the fraction puts the note out of tune, so the position must be exact. Only once the string is stopped can yin, nao, chuo, zhu and slides follow.
How it sounds
The pitch changes with position; the tone is more focused and solid than an open string and can slide and vibrate, making it the most expressive of the three.
In the classical handbooks
凡指按徽必須取準徽之分數，尤爲緊要，少差分毫則不和矣。又必按絃堅實，法當用力而不覺，故云按令入木，專言用力也，但妙在不覺耳。Gist: Whenever a finger stops at a hui it must take the exact fraction of the hui; this is most important, for the slightest deviation puts it out of tune. It must also press firmly: the rule is to use force without its being felt, hence “press as if into the wood”, which speaks of force, the art lying in its not being felt.
用指在位中平正按絃曰按。Gist: Pressing the string level and square at the position with the finger is an.
凡彈琴者，取聲有三：散聲、泛聲、木聲Gist: Those who play the qin take three kinds of sound: open, harmonic and stopped (“wood”).
Easily confused with
- 散sàn· open stringAn open note is unstopped and gives only the string's own pitch.
- 泛fàn· harmonicFor a harmonic the left finger only touches the hui lightly and does not press to the board; a stopped note must be pressed firmly.
References
- 田青《古琴——中国文人的乐器》（国务院参事室网站）(opens in a new window)Institution
- 铭乐堂《古琴声音特点——散音、按音、泛音》(opens in a new window)Qin community