Everyone knows that some plucked instruments require fingernails or nails when playing, so many guqin beginners will have all kinds of questions about keeping nails. The following are some questions and answers I have compiled.

Does the guqin need to have a armor?

#Guqin# To "accumulate armor", to be precise, the right hand is needed.

When playing the guqin, the left hand is mainly for pressing the strings, and there is no need to keep it long. In particular, even if the left big finger is left 1 mm, it will rub the strings that are not played in front and make noise. If the fingernail of the ring finger is too long, it is easy to press the strings incorrectly. The right hand is responsible for plucking the strings. In ancient methods, some fingerings (such as: holding, wiping, hitting, etc.) all require "half meat and half armor". Negative harmony. The sound of no nail pops will be chaotic and dull, and the sound of nails that are too long will be too dry and dry, so you need to keep some nails "appropriately"..

How to stay in armor?

Guqin player's right hand big, food, middle, and name four fingers can be set aside to grow 2-3mm of fingernails. The peak along the edge of the big nail must be trimmed on the left side, so that the wrist can be prevented from being raised too high when "supporting". The two forbidden fingers (little fingers) of the left and right hands are not required.

(Note: The length of nails is different for everyone. As shown in the picture above, those with thicker fingertips should keep their nails longer, and vice versa.)

How to raise armor?

(1) In the "Yu Guzhai Qin Pu" compiled by Zhu Fengzhao in the fifth year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty, there is a "hardening method": divide the ginger and white stalk into equal parts, slice them, boil them in water to make them thick, and dip them on the nails to make them hard and powerful. That is, Bletilla striata is immersed in water, and when the water becomes thick, cut the same amount of ginger slices, add water and boil it twice to make a thick juice. Dip your fingers into the medicinal juice for 1 minute every morning and evening, and let it dry naturally.

(2) Modern nail care method: You can try to use "strong nail polish" that makes the nails hard. If the free line is too low, the nails are too thin and layered, you can try "repairing manicure" and play the piano while raising the nails.

What should I do if the nails are too soft by nature or are seriously damaged the day after tomorrow, making it difficult to build up the nails, can't I play the piano?

Of course not, it's just that the process of practicing the piano will be more difficult than others, but if it is only a hobby or a health care interest, and you don't pursue the ancient and beautiful rhythm, you can ignore it.