名指ring finger (left hand)

Pinyin: míng zhǐ

Left hand, pressing

Also written: 名, 无名指, 夕

The left ring finger stops the string. With the thumb it is one of the two main stopping fingers, constantly used for vibrato and slides.

名指míng zhǐ

Type: Left hand, pressing
Also written: 名, 无名指, 夕

Typing it in the editor

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名十勾四

名, 名指 and 无名指 are all recognized. The left-hand finger comes first, then the hui position, the right-hand stroke and the string number. If the left finger is left out, gou, ti, tuo and bo default to the ring finger, and mo, tiao, da and zhai default to the thumb.

Try it in the editor

Example

The ring finger stops string four at the tenth hui for gou, then moves to string five at the tenth hui for gou: changing strings at the same hui

How it is played

Bend the middle joint and let the end joint bow outward, pressing with the left side of the pad. If the end joint caves inward the finger is “broken” and cannot press firmly. For two or three strings, straighten the middle and end joints and press at a slight leftward slant. The strength is in the middle and end joints; sideways movement comes from the wrist and forearm. Do not rest the middle finger on the ring finger for extra force.

How it sounds

Pressed with the pad, the tone is round. The ring finger and the thumb are the two fingers most used for stopped notes and slides, the ring finger second only to the thumb.

In the classical handbooks

名指也。孟子曰今有無名之指，即手中之第四指也。

Gist: The ring finger. Mencius says “suppose a man has a nameless finger”; it is the fourth finger of the hand.

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

名指屈其中節，務必凸出其末節，否則凹入為折指矣。於箕斗中按之。

Gist: The ring finger bends its middle joint and must bow its end joint outward; if it caves in, the finger is broken. Press with the center of the pad.

Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies) · 卷上·左按图说（左手名指按弦势） · Qing dynasty, 1864 · View the original page · View source

How it is played

How it sounds

In the classical handbooks

References