Shakuhachi
Online Lessons
Online Lessons
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
| ki | mi | ga | yo | wa | |
| re | tsu | re chi | ri chi | re | -(breath) |
| chi | yo | ni | ya | chi | yo | ni | |
| chi | ri | ro ri ro | *re | tsu | ro | ri | -(breath) |
| sa | za | re | ishi | wo | |
| chi | ri | ro | *re tsu | re | -(breath) |
| i | wa | o | to | na | mi | re | |
| chi | ri | ro | ri | chi | ri | re | -(breath) |
| ko | ke | no, | mu | su | ma | de | |
| ro | tsu | re | tsu re | tsu ro | tsu ro ri | chi re | -(breath) |
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: