For more information see Modality in Early Ming Qin Tablature.²

Shen Qi Mi Pu has two melodies grouped under the yu mode; Zhi Zhao Fei and Wu Ye Ti. For both of them the main note is yu (6 [la, the open second string]) and the secondary note is jiao (3 [mi, the open fifth string]), giving it characteristics somewhat like those of the Western minor scale.

Both melodies are also in the yu mode section of Zheyin Shizi Qinpu, where they are rather different from their versions in SQMP. Particularly notable is the fact that at the very end they suddenly "modulate" to end on 1 (do).

The Shen Qi Mi Pu Folio I melody Gufeng Cao, though there listed as in gong mode, seems to fit yu mode best.

Note also the footnote Zhi Mode in Weibin Yin.

Other early Ming pieces in yu mode include the following:³

The character yu means feather. It will be noticed that the theme of many of the melodies in this mode deal with flying creatures, whether they be birds or immortals (often known as yuren "feather men").

 
No original preface ⁴

 
One section

(01.11) -- harmonics
(01.22) -- Modal prelude ends

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Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1 神品羽意; 29245.95 羽調 yu diao says 南曲之調 "a mode for southern melodies". Yu literally means "feather". (Return)

2 For more on mode see Modality in Early Ming Qin Tablature. (Return)

3 佩蘭，春曉吟，鶴舞洞天，瑤天笙鶴，春思，伯牙弔子期。 Return)

4 Although SQMP modal preludes have no prefaces, those in Zheyin (which all have identical music) do. The preface to the yu modal prelude in Zheyin is as follows:
（羽意）﹕希仙曰，
考之羽數四十有八聲，陰中之陰，最清也。 位於五弦專之，而為羽調。有清爽之音。
The meaning of Yu (mode): (Return)

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