抹勾mo then gou, unhurried
Pinyin: mǒ gōu
Right hand, compoundOn one string, the index finger plucks mo and the middle finger gou, one after the other. Whether this is the same as die juan is disputed, with sources taking opposite views.
How it is played
The index finger plucks inward, then the middle finger hooks inward on the same string; both strokes go inward. In the Qing distinction, two notes played at leisure are mo-gou; run together quickly, they become die juan (juan).
How it sounds
The same note twice, more spaced out than die juan.
In the classical handbooks
抹句也，譜內寫此，即疊涓簡文。Gist: Mo-gou: when written in the score, this is simply an abbreviated die juan.
遲則為抹勾，便非疊指也。Gist: Played slowly it becomes mo-gou and is no longer die zhi.
Where sources disagree
Whether the combined character for mo-gou means die juan
- The character combining mo and gou in the score is an abbreviation of die juan. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- Played slowly it is mo-gou; only run together quickly is it die zhi (die juan). The score notes the two separately. Source: Chengjiantang Qinpu, “Qinpu Zhifa” section(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- Slow is mo-gou, fast is die juan. Source: 《琴谱正律》 (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 蠲juān· index then middle finger inward, two quick notesJuan (die juan) is mo and gou run together quickly; mo-gou is two notes played separately at leisure.
References
- 国琴网指法库「叠涓——琴谱正律」(opens in a new window)Qin community
- 国琴网指法库「叠涓——澄鉴堂琴谱」(opens in a new window)Qin community