逗grace flick on the attack
Pinyin: dòu
Left hand, slidingAlso written: 豆
At the very moment the right hand plucks, the left finger darts to meet the sound, adding a brief ornament to the attack.
How it is played
All sources separate dou from zhuang by timing: zhuang comes after the note has sounded, dou coincides with the pluck. In the instant of plucking, the left finger makes one quick movement near the home position and settles, so the note is born with a tiny inflection. Which side it comes from differs between handbooks (see below). Keep it light, fast and clean; heavy it turns muddy, and it should not be overused.
How it sounds
A very short slide or ripple on the attack, then steady on the main note; lighter than zhuang.
In the classical handbooks
於急綽至位之際，捷速迎其彈聲，以出本位之音。Gist: At the moment of a quick chuo into position, swiftly meet the plucked sound to bring out the note at the home position.
撞法係從按位已彈後急取一聲，逗法則乘綽位速彈時急取一聲。用逗法必輕清敏捷，取音細淨為佳。Gist: Zhuang takes a quick note after the stopping position has been plucked; dou takes a quick note as the finger arrives by chuo and the string is plucked at speed. Dou must be light, clear and nimble; a fine, clean note is best.
Where sources disagree
From which side dou approaches, and its timing relative to the pluck
- A quick chuo from below into the home position as the right hand plucks, meeting the sound to bring out the home note. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1, left-hand pressing symbols(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- Borrow the sound from above and come down into it: for a dou at the ninth hui, the finger meets the sound at the eighth and quickly slides down (zhu) to the ninth as one note. Source: Chengjiantang Qinpu（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
- As the note is plucked, go up quickly and back down a little, making a grace note on the attack. Source: Yihe Qin Society, “Jianzipu: a short guide to technique symbols” (the common modern reading)(opens in a new window)
- Slightly lighter and smaller than zhuang; it sounds by teasing the plucked string. Source: 《诚一堂琴谱》（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 撞zhuàng· knockZhuang jabs up and back after the note has sounded; dou takes its note together with the pluck, as an ornament of the attack.
- 唤huàn· quick shake on the attackHuan also moves with the pluck but has several quick movements up and down; sources draw the line differently.
- 绰chuò· slide up into the noteChuo is a slide into the position from below; dou is quick and meets the pluck, with the shortest of durations.
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》「逗」条(opens in a new window)Qin community