分开split pluck

Pinyin: fēn kāi

Left hand, sliding

The same string is plucked twice: one note, then the finger moves up one position, then returns to the home position for the second pluck.

How it is played

The right hand plucks the first note at the stopping position (usually mo or gou); the left finger moves up one position to sound a note, and as it returns the right hand plucks again (usually tiao or ti). The upper note rides on the ring, the return is plucked, so the group gives three notes. The move up must land on an exact hui-fraction or the note is out of tune; a wide move is a large fen kai, a slight one a small fen kai.

How it sounds

Plucked, unplucked, plucked: the first and last share a pitch, the middle is one position higher; the third is clear and strong because it is plucked afresh.

In the classical handbooks

同絃兩彈，先於按位彈得一聲，指上一位有聲，復歸按位又彈一聲，故為分開彈之也。

Gist: Two plucks on the same string: first a note is plucked at the stopping position, the finger moves up one position with sound, then returns to the stopping position and plucks another note; hence it is played “split apart”.

Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies) · 卷上·左指按法字母 · Qing dynasty, 1864 · View the original page · View source

Where sources disagree

Where the second pluck falls

Pluck at the stopping position, move up one position with sound, return to the stopping position and pluck the second note: three notes in all. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1, left-hand pressing symbols(opens in a new window) · View the original page
Example: the thumb at the seventh hui plucks mo on string seven, moves up to 6.2, then plucks tiao on string seven at the seventh hui; written together in the score, this is fen kai. Source: Erxiang Qinpu（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
After the right hand plucks mo or gou, the left finger steps up one position, the right hand plucks tiao or ti for the second note, and the left finger returns to the home position, often with a zhu slide on the way back. Source: Yihe Qin Society, “Jianzipu: a short guide to technique symbols” (the common modern reading)(opens in a new window)

Easily confused with

进复jìn fù· up and backJin fu is plucked once; fen kai plucks again on returning to the home position.