抹挑index finger in and out
Pinyin: mǒ tiǎo
Right hand, compoundOn one string, mo followed by tiao: in and out, two notes in a row, written as a single character in the score.
How it is played
The index finger plucks inward (mo) and in the same motion flicks back outward (tiao) without a break between the two notes. Each stroke keeps its own rules; they are simply joined into one back-and-forth movement.
How it sounds
The same note sounded twice in a row, either light then firm or evenly matched, depending on the rhythm.
In the classical handbooks
抹挑也，同絃兩聲連也。於此絃位宜用兩聲，先抹後挑，連寫如此。Gist: Mo-tiao: two notes joined on the same string. Where two notes are wanted at one string position, mo first and then tiao, written together like this.
Easily confused with
- 勾剔gōu tī· middle finger in and outMo-tiao uses the index finger, gou-ti the middle finger; both are in-and-out on one string.
References
- 国琴网指法库「抹——大还阁琴谱」(opens in a new window)Qin community