长锁seven-note lock
Pinyin: cháng suǒ
Right hand, compoundAlso written: 長鎖, 大锁
A seven-note lock on one string (sometimes nine): mo, tiao, mo, gou, then bei suo.
How it is played
On one string, play mo, tiao, mo, gou evenly for four notes, then ti, mo, tiao for three, seven in all. Some handbooks add another mo-tiao at the front for nine. Pace and spacing follow the music.
How it sounds
A long string of one note, even at first and compact at the end, in clear layers.
In the classical handbooks
長鎖也，同絃得七聲也。同絃上先抹挑抹句勻彈四聲，加背鎖，共得七聲是也。有用九聲者，再加抹挑於上，酌宜而用之。Gist: Chang suo: seven notes on one string. On the same string, mo, tiao, mo and gou are played evenly for four notes, then bei suo is added, seven notes in all. Some use nine notes, adding mo and tiao in front; use as appropriate.
同絃上先用抹挑二聲，少息，加前之短鎖，共得七聲是也。Gist: On the same string, mo and tiao for two notes first, a short rest, then the preceding duan suo, seven notes in all.
長鎖也，托定四弦然後挑抹。Gist: Chang suo: hold string four with tuo, then tiao and mo.
Where sources disagree
Seven notes, nine, or another method
- Mo, tiao, mo, gou plus bei suo, seven notes; or add another mo-tiao for nine. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- The index finger plays mo-tiao three times, then the middle and index fingers play ti, mo, tiao, nine notes in all. Source: Taiyin Daquanji (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
- The Song account: the thumb first holds string four with tuo, then tiao and mo. Source: Shilin Guangji (Comprehensive Record of Affairs), sequel vol. 4(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 短锁duǎn suǒ· five-note lockDuan suo is five notes; chang suo is seven or more.
References
- 管平湖《古指法考》（北京古琴文化研究会 编，中国书店出版社 2019；据 1963 年中国音乐研究所油印本整理，依《琴用指法》《乌丝栏》《太音大全》《琴书大全》考订古指法）Scholarship
- 国琴网指法库「长锁——太音大全集」(opens in a new window)Qin community
- 国琴网指法库「长锁——兰田馆琴谱」(opens in a new window)Qin community