Volume 3, Chapter 16:
Putting on the Strings in Order
Translator’s
note: This procedure does not answer the
question about just where the first or fifth string should be set in terms of
absolute pitch? See the chapter on
tuning for more information. Here we
will just point out that string one might be more loosely set at A1, or more
tightly set at C2 (a minor third in difference). That being the case, then string five would
vary from Gb/F# 2 to A2, depending on the desired pitch for string one. A piano or an electronic tuner can be helpful
for establishing an absolute pitch as a reference.
At first when the fifth string is put on, it should
be neither too tight nor too loose. [If too loose, then the first string will be
too low and without sound. If too tight,
then the seventh string will be too tight and may break]. Then put on the sixth string. [The
left-hand ring finger presses the string at some position and the thumb plucks
on an open and pressed string. Follow
this methodology for successive (strings)].
First press the fifth string at hui twelve. Then pluck the open sixth string and make it
match the pressed fifth string. Both
should be at the same pitch. If the
sound (of the sixth string) matches the pressed fifth string above position
twelve (towards the bridge), then loosen string six. If (the match is) below hui twelve, then
string six is loose and should be tightened.
Repeat when putting on string seven.
In this case determine how tight it should be based on string five, hui
ten as the standard. Strings five, six,
and seven should all be put around the wild goose foot on the right side.
After this put on string one. Press it at hui eight. This should match with string five played as
an open string. If the match is above hui
eight, then the open string is tight or the pressed string is loose. Tighten the pressed string. If the match is below the hui, then the open
string is loose and the pressed string is tight. One should loosen the pressed string. Follow this in succession with string
two. Press string two at hui position
nine, which should match string five as an open string. Follow this with string three, which should
be pressed at hui eleven. This should
match string five as an open string.
Follow again with string four which should be pressed at hui
thirteen. Again this should match string
five as an open string. [Or press string four at the tenth hui,
which should match string six as an open string]. In general the model is that the string being
put on matches the sound of some other string already placed in terms of some
matching sound position. Thus we put on
strings one, two, three, and four in turn wrapping them around the left-hand
side wild goose foot.
When we
refer to matching, we are talking about two strings, one pressed, and the other
open with the same sound. This sound
(pattern) is called a “xian-weng” (仙翁).[1] We first put on string five, and do not put
string one on first. This is because one
fears that if string one is put on and made tight, then when you reach string
seven, it may be too tight and break. Huainanzi
(淮南子)
said: “if the great string is tight, then the small string will break”. This is exactly our point.