Shakuhachi alignment, angle, pitch and tone by Josen (Jon Kypros)

flutedojo.com
By Josen (Jon Kypros), shakuhachi Dai-Shihan 'Grandmaster'
In this video we look at what I call alignment and playing angle and how those affect the pitch and tone of the shakuhachi. First, we'll look at how to make a sound by lining-up the sharp edge or utaguchi with our lip-opening or air-stream. Then we'll look at playing angle, how we might approach different types of shakuhachi, common mistakes beginners make with these things, and how to grow in the direction we want to with our shakuhachi playing.
*Intro
*Alignment intro 2:54, close-ups of alignment - horizontal (pronounced lip tubercle) 3:28 and vertical 5:13
*Rotation explenation 7:41, close-up of rotation 8:02
*Aligning different sizes of shakuhachi 8:51
*Mistake many beginners make with pitch due to weaker breath 11:24
*17:29 Best advice for beginners on shakuhachi choice and playing style

Пікірлер: 47

  • @rollremedies
    @rollremedies4 жыл бұрын

    Many thanks to you Jon. I’ve been studying for about a month with a teacher now never having played any sort of woodwind instrument and I can honestly say your videos have been a huge support. My teacher has remarked that I’m making unusually fast progress and I believe I have teachers such as yourself to thank for this.

  • @JosenShakuhachi

    @JosenShakuhachi

    4 жыл бұрын

    You're most welcome. Thank you for taking the time to comment, it's very nice to hear that this is helping you enjoy shakuhachi 🙏

  • @Whiskey0880
    @Whiskey08803 жыл бұрын

    I really appreciate your tutorials my friend. Can't tell you how happy i was just achieving a broken note 😂

  • @CrazzySteveable
    @CrazzySteveable3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so so so much for this and the embouchure videos!! I handmade a PVC shakuhachi over a year ago and gave up trying to play it because I couldn't figure out how. Everything I could find online was vague at best on instruction. The way you teach and explain your technique is absolutely brilliant and I can get excellent sound out of my dinky homemade flute! I love how you give close ups of the lips and really take your time to give concise and clear instructions. I still need to practice A LOT but at least I have make some progress. You have my sincere gratitude!!

  • @lindeez2
    @lindeez23 ай бұрын

    Oh thank you so much for this video! I have been learning for more than a year and apparently I have used all the things beginners do to get a sound that keep me from improving. So now I guess I’ll just have to start over again and try to stop all my bad habits 😅 Anyway at least I understand why the sound isn’t improving and why I can’t play long notes. Thank you again and I hope I’ll get it better this time.

  • @Jim-iw1yd
    @Jim-iw1yd3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, very useful video. Just got a pvc shakuhachi yesterday and so the journey begins . . .

  • @kahwahtan2420
    @kahwahtan24204 жыл бұрын

    Informative and instructive....

  • @twoowls5570
    @twoowls55702 жыл бұрын

    Really good, informative video. You’ve answered many questions that some of us have that don’t have an instructor or access to online lessons. Thanks for sharing your expertise with us.

  • @Galaxoid
    @Galaxoid2 жыл бұрын

    Best beginner shakuhachi vid on KZread, Jon. Well thought out and informative. Thank you for posting.

  • @sammyersfingerstyleguitar
    @sammyersfingerstyleguitar4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, Jon.

  • @chris1309013600
    @chris13090136003 ай бұрын

    Great tips ❤

  • @zhang393
    @zhang3933 жыл бұрын

    Your video is gold. I have practiced Chinese Xiao which is a cousin to Shakuhachi for about two years. I noticed the pitch and tone differences and knew these are related to alignment and angle but did not really know how and why. Your explanation is so thorough and clear. It definitely gives me directions to focus on improving. Thank you so much!

  • @JosenShakuhachi

    @JosenShakuhachi

    2 жыл бұрын

    Very happy to help! I love when these things aid with other instruments, though Xiao is so similar

  • @h3zper
    @h3zper3 жыл бұрын

    Muchísimas gracias, súper claro.

  • @66rogerp
    @66rogerp5 ай бұрын

    Very best tutorial

  • @TomsThriftyLife
    @TomsThriftyLife3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much, your videos have been super helpful so far.

  • @PharaohciousX
    @PharaohciousX2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!!!! Excellent instruction

  • @ikreate4u
    @ikreate4u2 жыл бұрын

    Awesome. So many great tips! You are appreciated. 🙏🏽

  • @MikeProut
    @MikeProut Жыл бұрын

    Incredible instructions! Thank you so much! Wonderfully articulated! So helpful.

  • @maclabla9789
    @maclabla97893 жыл бұрын

    Gracias por compartir el camino del bambú. Se agradece tu guía.

  • @freddiekinsler1890
    @freddiekinsler18902 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this video just ordered my Shakuhachi Bell ,from you. Cant wait to try these out, Thanks Jon, keep up the awesome job you do. Great video, this helps out a lot. Just wish you had a instructional DVD., from beginner to advanced playing Shakuhachi, I would buy. Again thanks . Have a wonderful New Year coming up.

  • @alexcarter8807
    @alexcarter8807 Жыл бұрын

    This is wonderful, thank you.

  • @carloswendel4834
    @carloswendel48344 жыл бұрын

    Muy bueno

  • @AndrewElward-sd7gs
    @AndrewElward-sd7gs Жыл бұрын

    Fantastic video, very informative and useful, thank you.

  • @angelicabriones9554
    @angelicabriones95543 жыл бұрын

    thanks a lot.

  • @KK-kg9hv
    @KK-kg9hv2 жыл бұрын

    Hi, I just want to say thank you. It's very helpful

  • @tiercincachou7836
    @tiercincachou78364 жыл бұрын

    hello, interesting but my English is poor I do not understand everything, why, beginner, when I play the sound is full of air in the background ....... the note is not clear but mixed with air thank you continue didier

  • @JosenShakuhachi

    @JosenShakuhachi

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi, Do you speak French or Spanish? Usually airy sounds are caused by two things. #1 too large of an opening at the lips/embouchure. #2 lips too far away from the edge/utaguchi.

  • @mikebaker9514
    @mikebaker9514 Жыл бұрын

    Great video and thoughtful teaching ... however, I have been trying for a month now on my own - me and my mirror - and not a sound. Not a peep. Not a smidgen. Not a .... I mean, how hard does this have to be??? I can play the Maori flute - Kōauau, which is by no means easy and requires careful positioning and approach but this ...?

  • @leonardsiebeneicher5550
    @leonardsiebeneicher5550Ай бұрын

    Thank you for your tutorial. I am new to Shakuhachi, but I finally get sound out of it. It appears to me that I need to be careful not to press the Shakuhachi too strong against my mouth. If I do, it seems to have an impact on my lips, and I get broken sound. But if I try to place my Shakuhachi more gently against my lips, it appears that I have more control maintaining an even sound. Does the tongue do something in 'normal' tone production? Or, does it keep away from lips? Happy creating!

  • @kylerasmussen1455
    @kylerasmussen14554 жыл бұрын

    I definitely have the problem where my shakuhachi twists in the direction of my lower hand. Do you have any tips on how to prevent that?

  • @JosenShakuhachi

    @JosenShakuhachi

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Kyle! One of my students thought of something which helped them. They adhered a small object at the root which faces up when they're in position. They can see with their peripheral vision if it's not facing up. Note that some of us have to rotate a bit for the best sound, such as my self. When the edge is level I'm actually not aligned. So aligned doesn't always mean level.

  • @mokuho
    @mokuho Жыл бұрын

    Thank you i will peactice correct embrochure, my sound with shakuhachi is unstable!😞🙏

  • @ryanphillips5412
    @ryanphillips54122 ай бұрын

    Got the cheap PVC version in Japan last month but can't get any sound despite all these tips...

  • @alexw3403
    @alexw34032 жыл бұрын

    Hi there. Just got a shakuhachi. Can't get a sound out of it. Watched many videos. Could you Jon help me?

  • @JosenShakuhachi

    @JosenShakuhachi

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hi, I'd recommend getting live lessons with a teacher. You can find a list of them on komuso website with a google search

  • @RAMAKAVYA
    @RAMAKAVYA2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for explaining. Can you please suggest me.. where i could buy a good shakuhachi in europe? ( i live in Italy)... and which type of instrument.... my budget is about 150-250 euros! thank you very very much.!!

  • @JosenShakuhachi

    @JosenShakuhachi

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hi, For your budget I would try the shakuhachi facebook group for recommendations. I offer one called the Bell Shakuhachi but with shipping and import duties it would be around $300+

  • @RAMAKAVYA

    @RAMAKAVYA

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@JosenShakuhachi thank you for answer.. I have just buyed a YUU shakuhachi... may be in future i will buy something more expansive. Thank you for your work.. regards.

  • @kinkyoku777
    @kinkyoku7773 жыл бұрын

    I have a problem to produce this loud sound! I can produce a sound and play with my shakuhachi but I can reach you this quality of sound! I wondered if you could help me please ?

  • @JosenShakuhachi

    @JosenShakuhachi

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hi, Can take lots of time and practice but generally more power from the gut which has to be in balance with the opening size. Like explaining how to swim though! Practice is 90% then a teacher can help with the 10% in live lessons

  • @kinkyoku777

    @kinkyoku777

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@JosenShakuhachi thanks

  • @bricefunk146
    @bricefunk1468 ай бұрын

    So hard my sound is very bad !

  • @mayoHou
    @mayoHou3 жыл бұрын

    Very intellectual and a little bit boring approach to my taste… this said, it may be fine for some folk, but may also confused others. Yes, one can analyze, hack, disassemble, decompose… everything, but sometimes blowing and listening is just fine… your body will find the right way naturally.

  • @JosenShakuhachi

    @JosenShakuhachi

    2 жыл бұрын

    I've had to adapt my teaching style to accommodate all kinds of learners. I learn instinctually without these explanations. However, having to teach people with different learning styles has helped me as well. All is good. Ignore what you don't like is my advice

  • @jeanmtiger

    @jeanmtiger

    Жыл бұрын

    If you know a better approach why don’t you upload a video and let us know?

  • @mayoHou

    @mayoHou

    Жыл бұрын

    @@jeanmtiger Let me guess… maybe I'm not a video producer, nor a shakuhachi teacher? As You seem a very smart guy, why don't you change the rules on KZread and determine who has the right to publish and what we can say… after all, You the American supremacists, you rule the world, aren't You?