Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Kamesan,

Yes, i'm paddling that same boat :-).  As Edosan says, it comes a bit at a time.  Daily Ro, Ro Buki and long tones, as well as technical exercises help a lot.  I've also noticed that after i've warmed up is the best time to tackle the higher octives.  It seems after playing for 45 minn or an hour the muscles are getting tired and it's more a strain to get them. 

KenC

San no Ha is one of those fingerings which may have to be adjusted for different flutes, but here's the basic idea:

First, the pitch on a 1.8 should be D#/Eb (one half step above the second octave D, which is Go no Ha).

Try this first:

    First hole closed

    Second hole open

    Third hole shaded at the top of the hole

    Fourth hole closed

    Fifth hole (thumb) cracked--just pivot your thumb back slightly to open the bottom of the hole.

    Maybe a slight meri

Good way to get there is to play Go no Ha (top of second octave--two octaves above Ro-otsu) by closing all the first four holes and cracking hole five--slight meri. Then open hole two, shade hole three, and adjust the meri (if necessary) to raise the pitch one half step.


Check the pitch by playing Ro-kan followed by Go no Ha (should be one octave higher), then play San no Ha.

This fingering should work fine on Monty's flute--never played one that it didn't.

This all assumes that your overall pitch is on target.

eB

Last edited by edosan (2006-10-19 23:05:36)

Very well answered!  Thanks.