Now that I have “finished” my shamisen, I have started playing with my friend, who is starting on the shakuhachi. Shakuhachi players don’t have a community like this (to my knowledge) and I know at least those of the Abbott family have some knowledge about this.
My friend wants to know: is there a special trick to getting the kan octave? He can hit several of the notes, but a few still elude him. Also, any advice or links to advice in general for him would surely help.
Thanks!
Bryan, tell him that the short answer is “keep on blowing”. You need to visualize the air stream as being narrower and more concentrated than it is in the lower register.
There is a lot on the Internet in English about Shakuhachi, but there are two sites that I would start with. This forum has a huge store of information, but it isn’t active anymore:
http://shakuhachiforum.com/index.php
This one has sort of taken over where the other one left off, with many of the same members, who are helpful and friendly in my experience:
http://www.shakuhachiforum.eu/index.php
Thanks for the links!
Ooh! I’ll see if I can get Papa on this!
At some point, we’re going to add in community/learning center pages for shakuhachi, koto and all the hougaku instruments, but that might start at the end of this year.
The high octave RO can be made easier by very slight opening of the top hole (thumb). But this puts the pitch of slightly so best only do for short time till lip muscle is ‘educated’ . Precise control of the fine muscles of the lip is the secret, and just take much playing to strengthen and awaken them.
The suggestion above about “visualize the air steam” speaks to the awakening somewhat. The “narrow air stream” speaks to the strengthening of the lip muscles somewhat.
Blowing more air can help until lips are fit. Just think of it as jogging without running. 
Oh, and be sure to spend time watching yourself in the mirror blow. That visual feedback can help a lot sometimes. Part of the awakening process.
Oh, and be sure to spend time watching yourself in the mirror blow. That visual feedback can help a lot sometimes. Part of the awakening process.
I have started practicing shamisen in front of mirror recently, and must say its great, dunno why I havent done it earlier…keep checking my posture especially the bachi grip