历quick outward run over two strings
Pinyin: lì
Right hand, compoundAlso written: 歷, 度
The index finger flicks outward across two adjacent strings (or several) in one motion, two notes close together, light and fluent.
How it is played
Starting from the string nearer the player, the index fingernail flicks outward across the next string in a single breath, without stopping and without hammering. There is almost no gap between the two notes, yet they remain audibly two.
How it sounds
Two light, quick, connected notes, like a single brushstroke.
In the classical handbooks
食指向外連挑兩絃，取輕疾之聲。Gist: The index finger flicks outward across two strings in succession, for a light, quick sound.
歷也，數絃得數聲連也。食指連挑兩絃，或連挑數絃，取音輕疾連明，又云度，即歷。Gist: Li: several strings yield several notes in a row. The index finger flicks across two strings, or several, for a light, quick, connected and clear sound. Also called du, which is the same as li.
Where sources disagree
Only two strings, or possibly several
- Only two strings in a row. Source: Chengjiantang Qinpu, “Qinpu Zhifa” section(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- Running across two strings or several strings is all called li. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- Running outward across two or three strings is li; a fast li that sounds like one note is gun; a slow li across three strings, or strings seven and six, is du. Source: 《琴苑要录》 (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 拂fú· upward sweep (index finger)Fu is the index finger sweeping inward across many strings; li runs outward and usually crosses only two.
- 挑tiǎo· index finger outwardTiao gives one note on one string; li gives two notes in a single motion.
References
- 国琴网指法库「历——大还阁琴谱」(opens in a new window)Qin community
- 国琴网指法库「历——兰田馆琴谱」(opens in a new window)Qin community