带起ring-finger pull-off to the open string
Pinyin: dài qǐ
Left hand, slidingAlso written: 带
After a note stopped by the ring finger has sounded, the finger hooks the string as it lifts off, sounding the open string.
How it is played
After the stopped note, do not lift the ring finger straight up; let the fingertip catch the string as it leaves, so the open string sounds. Press firmly first, then pull off with the finger slightly bent, lightly and crisply; too heavy and the note is muddy.
How it sounds
The open note of the string, lighter than a right-hand pluck; often used to supply a low note after a stopped one.
In the classical handbooks
名指於按位將絃帶起，得一散聲曰帶起。Gist: The ring finger at the stopping position carries the string up and gains an open note: this is dai qi.
Easily confused with
- 抓起zhuā qǐ· thumb pull-off to the open stringThe same motion: dai qi uses the ring finger, zhua qi the thumb.
- 掐起qiā qǐ· left-hand pull-off to a stopped noteQia qi gives the stopped note at the ring finger; dai qi gives the open string.
- 推出tuī chū· push-outTui chu is the middle finger pushing string one outward, also giving the open note.
References
- 《琴学入门》国家图书馆藏刻本第 2 册（Wikimedia Commons 扫描）(opens in a new window)Primary source
- 颐和琴社《减字谱·指法符号简释》(opens in a new window)Qin community
- 国琴网《古琴大辞典·指法》「带起」条(opens in a new window)Qin community