背锁three-note lock (ti, mo, tiao)
Pinyin: bèi suǒ
Right hand, compoundAlso written: 少锁, 三锁
On one string, ti, mo and tiao in a row, three notes: the first two quick, the last slightly slower.
How it is played
The middle finger flicks outward (ti), the index finger immediately plucks inward (mo) and then outward (tiao), all on the same string. Ti and mo are close together; tiao relaxes slightly to fit the beat.
How it sounds
The same note three times, like links of a chain hooked together.
In the classical handbooks
背鎖也，同絃得三聲也。同絃上用剔抹挑連彈三聲，剔抹宜急，彈挑則稍緩，以合節為法，又曰少鎖。Gist: Bei suo: three notes on one string. On the same string, ti, mo and tiao are played in a row for three notes. Ti and mo should be quick and tiao a little slower, to fit the beat. Also called shao suo.
同絃上用剔抹挑連彈三聲是也。Gist: On the same string, ti, mo and tiao are played in a row for three notes.
Where sources disagree
Which three strokes make up the three notes
- Ti, mo and tiao. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1; Chengjiantang Qinpu, “Qinpu Zhifa” section(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- “San suo”: the index finger plucks tiao once, then mo-tiao; this is bei suo. Source: Wuzhizhai Qinpu (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
- Ti, mo and tiao for three notes; sometimes it is played as four. Source: Chinese Wikipedia, “Jianzipu”(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 短锁duǎn suǒ· five-note lockDuan suo adds two notes before the bei suo, five in all.
- 轮lún· three-finger roll on one stringLun is three fingers outward in turn; bei suo is ti, mo, tiao, out-in-out.
References
- 国琴网指法库「三锁——五知斋琴谱」(opens in a new window)Qin community