Learning the Shakuhachi
- Thread starter brandon
- Start date
So impressive that you made your own Shakuhachi! Thank you for sharing 
It works for me, I can uploaded.
That's very beautiful, Brandon. Loved the nature sounds in there too.
Very touching for the soul. Thanks for sharing.
Very touching for the soul. Thanks for sharing.
tschai
Dagobah Resident
I installed the Mega app had to fool around a bit to get the file downloaded. I think I got it.
I made a shak out of pvc which plays lower register key of D beautifully, upper register not so much, but I can do meri and keri pretty well. Do you read kinko notation? I have tried making my own out of bamboo, so far none have turned out well. I also have a shakuhachi Yuu that I want to learn to play. Flutes in general are awesome, can’t get enough!
Thanks much, everyone :) Glad you likes it!
A reason shakuhachi appeals to me is that it seems to have a very high "skill ceiling", i.e. basically takes forever to get good at it, because of its simple but unconstrained nature. People say that even when you've practised a lot, for years, there is still more to learn. I'm only the teeniest little bit further than complete beginner level. Good fun!
Ah sorry for the hassle.. You should be able to download it from the mega link without having the mega app, I think. I don't currently have any webspace of my own where I can easily put files..
Cool!! I'm amazed by how nice PVC flutes can sound. Oof, the upper register is so difficult.. I've only recently become able to play it consistently, and it still sounds pretty wonky unless I concentrate really hard. It's no good in most of the flutes I've made - for some reason I often get the third note being massively out of tune. Maybe to do with the diameter of the bamboo I have interacting badly with the formula I use for hole spacing. I tried spot-tuning it by sanding down the appropriate places inside the bore, but couldn't get it to make much difference. Thankfully, the two best ones I made are pretty close to being in tune in both registers, so those are the only two I always play.
I started trying to learn to read kinko notation, just from some printed out note charts. But got distracted and have forgotten it all. Must get back to it..I'd love to properly learn honkyoku pieces. For now I just improvise, and try to copy bits & pieces from players on youtube, and try to figure out random folk/pop songs. How long have you been playing for tschai?
A reason shakuhachi appeals to me is that it seems to have a very high "skill ceiling", i.e. basically takes forever to get good at it, because of its simple but unconstrained nature. People say that even when you've practised a lot, for years, there is still more to learn. I'm only the teeniest little bit further than complete beginner level. Good fun!
I installed the Mega app had to fool around a bit to get the file downloaded. I think I got it.
Ah sorry for the hassle.. You should be able to download it from the mega link without having the mega app, I think. I don't currently have any webspace of my own where I can easily put files..
Cool!! I'm amazed by how nice PVC flutes can sound. Oof, the upper register is so difficult.. I've only recently become able to play it consistently, and it still sounds pretty wonky unless I concentrate really hard. It's no good in most of the flutes I've made - for some reason I often get the third note being massively out of tune. Maybe to do with the diameter of the bamboo I have interacting badly with the formula I use for hole spacing. I tried spot-tuning it by sanding down the appropriate places inside the bore, but couldn't get it to make much difference. Thankfully, the two best ones I made are pretty close to being in tune in both registers, so those are the only two I always play.
I started trying to learn to read kinko notation, just from some printed out note charts. But got distracted and have forgotten it all. Must get back to it..I'd love to properly learn honkyoku pieces. For now I just improvise, and try to copy bits & pieces from players on youtube, and try to figure out random folk/pop songs. How long have you been playing for tschai?
tschai
Dagobah Resident
I have been listening to shakuhachi music for years, playing not so much- like you say for such a simple instrument with only five finger holes, it is a decidedly difficult instrument to master. Even those that have played for many years claim they still have not perfected it, and that it’s a form of self discovery and meditation. I find it to be one of the most beautiful sounds in the world.
Shakuhachi progress update, a couple new recordings... The first one stars my four month old son, making beautiful little trilling sounds. I love these sounds he makes :) Second one is a bit of a workout of my meagre but improving high register abilities.
View attachment fshak1.mp3
View attachment fshak2.mp3
View attachment fshak1.mp3
View attachment fshak2.mp3
I made a new Bandcamp page for my shakuhachi music, and put out a new little free album with the above pieces and a couple others, if anyone wants a copy:
Merry Christmas everyone!! Thanks for being here.. May you have a most excellent time! Much love to y'all
Merry Christmas everyone!! Thanks for being here.. May you have a most excellent time! Much love to y'all
I love very very much your baby Felix, sometimes it seems that he purrs very musically.
(The flute is pretty good too
Brandon, I am so impressed, I hope more people get the chance to listen to your gifts.
I am listening to the first track for the third time, with Felix communicating what feels like curiosity, joy and delight, his 'purring' and running commentary is adorable, that track is just gorgeous! I think you are naturally gifted, as much as you critique yourself - which is fine because you are wanting to push yourself to explore this complex instrument and fine tune your own gifts more deeply - but wow I think you are doing brilliantly. I notice how my cat responded so positively to that first track too, his whole body went into a state of deep relaxation as soon as I started playing it!
If you felt so inspired, I see that you could easily create an income stream by making an album for babies and parents to listen to, some quieter tracks for meditation. with Felix contributing his own light-love-knowledge. Thank you for sharing.
I am listening to the first track for the third time, with Felix communicating what feels like curiosity, joy and delight, his 'purring' and running commentary is adorable, that track is just gorgeous! I think you are naturally gifted, as much as you critique yourself - which is fine because you are wanting to push yourself to explore this complex instrument and fine tune your own gifts more deeply - but wow I think you are doing brilliantly. I notice how my cat responded so positively to that first track too, his whole body went into a state of deep relaxation as soon as I started playing it!
If you felt so inspired, I see that you could easily create an income stream by making an album for babies and parents to listen to, some quieter tracks for meditation. with Felix contributing his own light-love-knowledge. Thank you for sharing.
