托thumb outward
Pinyin: tuō
Right hand, single fingerThe thumb plucks one string outward, away from the player; used mostly on the sixth and seventh strings, nearest the player.
How it is played
Raise the thumb and set the tip on the string at the half-nail, half-flesh point, then push outward from the player's side. The middle finger may rest lightly on the outermost first string to steady the hand. Power comes from the base of the thumb; do not turn the pad upward and slap the string down onto the soundboard (the old handbooks call that “upturned tuo” and condemn it as coarse).
How it sounds
The thumb is strong, so the tone is fuller than the index or middle finger. Strings one and six, and two and seven, are an octave apart but far from each other, so the high strings near the player fall most naturally to the thumb.
In the classical handbooks
大指向徽彈出曰托。徽在外，故言出。葢因一絃與六絃應，二絃與七絃應，相去已遠，用此為便。Gist: The thumb plucking out toward the hui markers is called tuo. The markers lie outward, hence “out”. Because string one answers string six and string two answers string seven, and they lie far apart, this stroke is convenient.
托也，大指入曰托。Gist: Tuo: the thumb plucks inward.
Where sources disagree
Which thumb stroke is tuo and which is bo (pi): the two directions are swapped between sources
- Tuo is the thumb plucking outward (toward the hui markers, away from the player); bo is the thumb plucking inward. Most modern textbooks and jianzipu symbol tables follow this. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1; Chinese Wikipedia, “Jianzipu”(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- Tuo is the thumb plucking inward (toward the player) and bo outward. The Song–Yuan encyclopedia Shilin Guangji and the Ming Pangong Liyue Shu both say so. Source: Shilin Guangji (Comprehensive Record of Affairs), sequel vol. 4; Pangong Liyue Shu, vol. 5(opens in a new window)
- The late-Ming Yushan school (Dahuange Qinpu) and the early-Qing Guangling school (Chengjiantang Qinpu) also call the thumb's inward stroke tuo. Source: Dahuange QinpuChengjiantang Qinpu (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
- The early-Qing Chengyitang Qinpu notes that the old handbooks called the inward stroke bo and the outward stroke tuo, that recent handbooks follow Yan Cheng (Tianchi) of Changshu in reversing them, and that it follows Yan's usage too. Source: 《诚一堂琴谱》 (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
- English-language sources mostly follow the Yushan lineage: tuo is the thumb inward, and bo (written 劈, romanized pi) is the thumb outward. Source: English Wikipedia, “Guqin playing technique”(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 擘bò· thumb inwardBoth use the thumb: bo plucks inward toward the player, tuo plucks outward (in the current usage). The two names are often swapped between handbooks, so check the preface of the score you are reading.
References
- 国琴网指法库「托——诚一堂琴谱」(opens in a new window)Qin community
- 国琴网指法库「托——蕉庵琴谱」(opens in a new window)Qin community