落指吟vibrato on landing
Pinyin: luò zhǐ yín
Vibrato and glidesBegin the yin the instant the left finger lands and the note sounds, without waiting for the ring.
How it is played
Start vibrating at the very moment the stopping finger produces the note, rather than waiting a little as in an ordinary yin. Chen Zhuo of the Tang already divided yin into “yin that catches the sound”, begun before the finger has settled, and “yin after the sound”, begun once the note is heard; luo zhi yin's timing is close to the former.
How it sounds
The vibrato hugs the attack, so the note is born wavering: nimble and connected.
In the classical handbooks
得音就吟，故名落指吟也。Gist: Vibrate as soon as the note sounds: hence the name luo zhi yin (“yin on landing”).
指按落絃卽吟也。Gist: Vibrate as the finger lands on the string.
用吟有二：一法承聲吟，不待按定成聲便吟。一法見聲吟，又名聲後吟，後撫見聲，按指方吟。Gist: There are two kinds of yin. One catches the sound: vibrate before the finger has settled and the note has formed. The other sees the sound, also called yin after the sound: pluck, hear the note, and only then vibrate.
Easily confused with
- 吟yín· narrow vibratoAn ordinary yin may pause briefly after the note before moving; luo zhi yin vibrates with the attack.