Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

This size of bamboo could be suitable for a 2.3 (69.7 cm) or less depending on node spacing.  There's not much reason to use a vent hole at the bottom unless you are concerned about having a certain number of nodes on the instrument but the node placement doesn't suit the hole spacing.  However, you might consider the closest size of instrument where the foot ends at a node,  the utaguchi is at a node and holes don't fall on nodes for the size that it is.  I'm not trying to discourage you from trying the vent hole approach, I'm saying that you might be able to acheive a good instrument without it.
good luck

Tairaku wrote:

I have a flute which has great tone and plays perfectly in tune for a 2.3. The problem is it's a 2.4. It was made by one of Watazumi's students. The fundamental note is A but the holes are all placed for a Bb flute. Duh! They must have been smoking some strong stuff when they made this one. Anyway I showed it to Perry and we debated for a while about leaving it as is, cutting off the root to make it in tune, or doing as you mention, a "vent" hole. We opted for the latter and turned it into a Bb instrument because we didn't want to lose the root. Whether that makes it a traditional or acceptable solution I don't know. Perry liked the results enough to put his hanko. Perry do you have pics of that?

Hi Taikaku, I remember that flute well. I remember playing it with you at Bryant Park on 42nd street jamming with the buzz and hum of midtown traffic! We debated for a while but I eventually drilled a 1/4"- 3/8" vent hole to save the root. It played very well in tune after that. When you saw it, you said it would be nice to hang a bell off the hole! What a great idea that was. Hope you don't mind if I steal it for performance

Unfortunately , I don't have photos of that flute anymore. It was done in 2003? - pre-Sasa days. Different computer,  different life.

Namaste, Perry

Hi Shakulingus,
Professional makers who make shakuhachi commercially avoid the node. In Japan, a flute with a finger hole on a node will not sell. However, this does not mean that other makers care about this as hobbyists and monks make flutes with all kinds of visual no nos. 

The visual aesthetics are very important in Japan, sometimes even more than the playability. Everyone can judge the looks of a flute and how well it full fills the present standard, but relatively few can judge it's playability.

Making the flute with the vent hole may allow it to be more visually acceptable, but difficulty to say how it will affect the playability since we know nothing about the aspect ratio - Length X Diameter.

If you have a small bore, using a vent hole may be OK. If you have a large bore, it may have an adverse affect on the playability.


Good luck and please do let us know the results.

Namaste, Perry

Thanks, Perry

The piece of bamboo in question is about 38mm on the outside by right at 55 cm and is from some of this wierd Georgia stock I have.  It is kinda fat.  If I try and make it into a 1.8, the bottom hole and hole 2 will be dead on a node, hole 3 out in the middle of a section, the bottom of hole 4 touching a node, and the thumb hole in the middle of a section.  I am not too concerned with the "look" but was just wondering how much trouble it will cause with some of the holes on a node or in close proximity to a node.  I would really perfer to make it into a 1.8.  It has a beautiful curve at the root, and I would really like to use it that way.  A very old friend stopped by the other day and saw it.  He picked it up and asked if I was making a bong!  I laughed and told him that what it was going to be was WAY more cosmic than that!  LOL  I then played him some Shakuhachi music, and he agreed that my use for the bamboo was a much better idea.  LOL  I guess being blessed to make it to "middle age" does have some advantages.  Anyway, any help or suggestions, as always, is much appreciated.

Peace, Steve

Last edited by Shakulingus (2007-10-08 02:29:43)

It is ideal to have the utaguchi and end on a node. However, this may not be possible if your goal is make only a 1.8 shakuhachi. The key question is: do you want a shakuhachi that is 1 shaku 8 sun in length i.e 54.5cm or do you want a shakuhachi that plays the note with all holes closed to be D??? If you want the former as I said the bottom pitch will probably be lower than D unless you add filler to the bore. If you want the latter, it may mean the bottom not ending on a node. Make sure to have the utaguchi on a node (good pictures elsewhere on the forum). Having both bottom and top on a node as well as all holes between nodes will make the shakuhachi less likely to crack in the long term.

Hey Kerry and Philthefluter,

Thanks for the input.
The diameter at the utaguchi is around 24mm (also quite fat), at the root bore it's19mm (close to right?).  It will be a one piece.  Absolute pitch is not that big a deal, so I can live with a "little flat" or not exactly "D".  The main thing I was trippin' about was holes on a node.  I just want it to be in tune with itself.  Kerry, you are absolutely right about it being a long journey. LOL.  Man, I had no idea I would end up being addicted to Bamboo Tubes!!!  It's almost like Women.  They both tell you things that you need to really pay attention to, but the Boo is real subtle about how IT wants to be caressed.  I think I might just possibly be catching on to some of this.  Lord knows I have read almost everything I can find.  I'm going to cut the utaguchi tomorrow and see where it stands.  Fingers crossed at this point!

Thanks again for all the info,
Peace, Steve