引slow draw
Pinyin: yǐn
Left hand, slidingAlso written: 引上, 引下
After the note, draw the pitch slowly up (or down) to the target position; slower than shang or xia.
How it is played
After the pluck, the finger keeps pressing and moves slowly toward the target, stretching the ring and carrying it across. Toward the bridge is yin shang (draw up), toward the tail yin xia (draw down). Compared with shang and xia the point is slowness: the movement itself is what you are meant to hear.
How it sounds
The pitch glides continuously toward the target; unhurried, drawn out, with a pronounced portamento.
Where sources disagree
Whether yin differs from shang
- After the note, draw up to a hui; slower than shang, lengthening the sound gradually. 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)
- Drawing up or down is slightly slow and gives a sliding effect; shang and xia do not. Source: Yihe Qin Society, “Jianzipu: a short guide to technique symbols” (the common modern reading)(opens in a new window)
- Shang simply means drawing up to a hui. Source: Erxiang Qinpu（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
- Shang goes straight up after the note and differs slightly from yin; each arrival must take the note with force. Source: 《琴学正声》（据Guoqinwang, Guqin Da Cidian (Great Dictionary of the Guqin)所录原文）(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 上shàng· slide upShang aims at arriving and taking the note; yin is about carrying the note across slowly.
- 淌tǎng· drift downTang is a slow downward drift, often in the low register; yin usually means a slow upward draw.
References
- 颐和琴社《减字谱·指法符号简释》(opens in a new window)Qin community
- 国琴网《古琴大辞典·指法》「引」条(opens in a new window)Qin community