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Lessons
  1. Basic Notes
  2. Breathing
  3. First Tune
  4. Meri/Kari
  5. Chin Meri Type

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Lesson 3

Your first tune

The first tune everybody learn is Kimigayo, the japanese national anthem. Here below follow the words, along with the notes and when to breathe. There is no tempo information, use the video for that.

For every pair of rows, the lyrics are on top and the shakuhachi notation below. Start in the lower octave; after * play an octave higher till the end of the line.

Kimigayo

kimigayowa 
retsure chiri chire-(breath)
chiyoniyachiyoni 
chiriro ri ro*retsurori-(breath)
sazareishiwo 
chiriro*re tsure-(breath)
iwaotonamire 
chirirorichirire-(breath)
kokeno,musumade 
rotsuretsu retsu rotsu ro richi re-(breath)
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O: open hole
X: closed hole

Ro Tsu Re Chi Ri(Hi) I(Go no Hi)  
X X X X X O 5th hole (back hole)
X X X X O O 4th hole
X X X O O O 3rd hole
X X O O X X 2nd hole
X O O O X X 1st hole

The shortest anthem in the world!

And this is my take on it: