圆搂gou and mo on separated strings, in harmonics
Pinyin: yuán lǒu
Right hand, compoundAlso written: 搂圆, 圆娄, 员娄
Two strings with others between them are plucked gou and mo at once as one sound, only in harmonics; some handbooks say it is the same as ban fu.
How it is played
The middle finger hooks the farther string and the index finger plucks the nearer, with one or two strings between them. Both fingers fall together with even force, neither side heavier.
How it sounds
An airy chord of two harmonics.
In the classical handbooks
專用于泛音，間兩絃而勾抹同聲，欲其齊下，勿為偏重。Gist: Used only in harmonics: two strings apart, gou and mo sound together. They must fall together, neither heavier.
員娄也，食指中指齊下勾抹。Gist: Yuan lou: index and middle fingers fall together with gou and mo.
Where sources disagree
How many strings lie between, and whether it is the same as ban fu
- Two strings apart, gou and mo as one sound, used only in harmonics; listed separately from ban fu. Source: Chengjiantang Qinpu, “Qinpu Zhifa” section(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- Called “lou yuan”: one string apart, gou and mo released together; this is ban fu. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- Ban fu is like yuan lou; they are told apart only by whether the notes are harmonics. Source: 《琴学摘要》 (via the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 半扶bàn fú· half fu (two strings as one)Many handbooks treat the two as one; those that separate them reserve yuan lou for the harmonic, separated-string form.
References
- 国琴网指法库「半扶——琴学摘要」(opens in a new window)Qin community