拖drag up after qia qi

Pinyin: tuō

Left hand, sliding

Also written: 拖上

As qia qi sounds, the ring finger drags the note up one position.

How it is played

Usually right after qia qi: the moment the thumb plucks and the note at the ring finger sounds, the ring finger keeps pressing and drags the note up to the next position. It must follow immediately on the attack, and the drag is continuous.

How it sounds

The qia qi note slides upward the moment it appears; the old handbooks liken it to a cicada's cry passing through the branches.

In the classical handbooks

乘搯出音之際，名指即帶其音拖上一位，其聲如蟬鳴過枝然。

Gist: As the qia note comes out, the ring finger carries it and drags it up one position; the sound is like a cicada passing through the branches.

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

Where sources disagree

Up or down, and whether it must follow qia qi

As the qia note comes out, the ring finger drags it up one position. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1, left-hand pressing symbols(opens in a new window) · View the original page
As the qia note comes out, the ring finger drags it down one position. Source: 《琴学摘要》（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
Dragging up is like drawing up, but lets the note lag a little. Source: 《诚一堂琴谱》（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
After the note is pressed and sounded, move up most of a step, dragging slowly to the position. Source: Jinyu Qinkan（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)

Easily confused with

引yǐn· slow drawYin can follow any stopped note; tuo usually follows the attack of a qia qi.