勾middle finger inward
Pinyin: gōu
Right hand, single fingerAlso written: 句, 鉤
The middle finger plucks one string inward, toward the player. Old scores often write it 句.
How it is played
Set the fleshy tip of the middle finger on the string first, then draw it toward the player, bringing the nail in as it goes: “half nail, half flesh”, flesh before nail, a firm set and a light release. Keep the finger's path straight, never a sideways sweep, and do not knock the nail against the soundboard.
How it sounds
The middle finger is strong; with nail and flesh together the tone is full and warm. Gou is the most common backbone note among both stopped and open notes.
In the classical handbooks
中指向身彈入曰句，有甲肉相半之用。Gist: The middle finger plucking in toward the body is called gou (句). It uses half nail, half flesh.
法以指頭肉處抵絃，重抵輕入，先肉後甲，亦須正鋒，不可斜掃。Gist: The method: set the fleshy part of the fingertip against the string, set firmly and enter lightly, flesh first and then nail. It too must strike squarely and never sweep at an angle.
勾也，中指入曰勾。Gist: Gou: the middle finger plucks inward.
Easily confused with
- 剔tī· middle finger outwardBoth use the middle finger: gou plucks inward, ti plucks outward.
- 打dǎ· ring finger inwardBoth are inward strokes: gou uses the middle finger, da the ring finger. They sound almost the same; da is mostly used on strings one and two.
References
- 国琴网指法库「勾——大还阁琴谱」(opens in a new window)Qin community
- 国琴网指法库「勾——澄鉴堂琴谱」(opens in a new window)Qin community