滚downward sweep (ring finger)
Pinyin: gǔn
Right hand, compoundAlso written: 袞, 临
The ring finger plucks outward across several strings from high to low, the notes running together like rolling water.
How it is played
Bend the middle joint of the ring finger and brace the last joint. From string seven (or the string the score names) run outward toward strings two and one, the wrist moving sideways with it, heavier at the start and lighter at the end, all in one breath. The ring finger must be trained until it “cannot be pushed or shaken” before the sweep comes out even.
How it sounds
A string of notes rolling from high to low, like distant thunder or flowing water. Each note must still be clear, not smeared into a blur.
In the classical handbooks
滾也，數絃數聲連續不斷也。名指摘絃，自七絃而連摘至二絃；或從某絃起至某絃止，則不拘於七絃二絃矣。Gist: Gun: several strings, several notes, continuous and unbroken. The ring finger plucks zhai from string seven across to string two; or from a given string to a given string, in which case it is not fixed to seven and two.
臨也，即滾之別名，以泛音中別之。Gist: Lin: another name for gun, used to distinguish it within harmonics.
名指摘絃，自六而連至一，或從按處而起，則不拘定七絃。Gist: The ring finger plucks zhai from string six across to string one, or starts from the stopped position, so it is not fixed to string seven.
Where sources disagree
Which finger sweeps
- The ring finger plucks outward across the strings. Nearly all Qing handbooks say so. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1; Chengjiantang Qinpu, “Qinpu Zhifa” section(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- The index finger runs quickly (li) from string seven to string one. Source: Fengxuan Xuanpin (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
- The right middle finger flicking ti across strings three and four is called gun. Source: Qinshu Daquan (Great Compendium of Qin Writings) (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
On which string it stops
- Starting from string seven, the sweep always stops at string two. Source: Dahuange Qinpu (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
- The ring finger plucks zhai from seven to one. Source: 《太古遗音》 (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
- Neither start nor end is fixed; follow what the score writes. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1(opens in a new window) · View the original page
Easily confused with
- 拂fú· upward sweep (index finger)Fu uses the index finger inward from the low strings to the high; gun uses the ring finger outward from high to low.
- 索铃suǒ líng· string of bellsSuo ling also runs across several strings, but the right hand uses tiao and the left hand shifts its stop from string to string.
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「滚——琴学入门」(opens in a new window)Qin community
- 国琴网指法库「滚——今虞琴刊」(opens in a new window)Qin community