Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

jaybeemusic · 2009-02-02 22:27:21

hi everyone...

what is the "most common" way to play in a major key on the shakuhachi....

i know that a standard 1.8 is tuned to D minor so you could play in the relative major scale of F major

but there's a video on Youtube of Riley Lee playing a hawiian song in D Major, and he is using a 1.8....

i know that there is no absolute rule here but what is the most common way.... i'd like to transcribe a few songs out and
i'd like to make it as "right" as possible...

thanks everyone..

jacques

Last edited by jaybeemusic (2009-02-02 22:28:38)

geni · 2009-02-02 23:37:05

hi jacque, you can play anything with shakuhachi. Slowly, but everything.
Is a good idea to know the scales in theory first & play them with piano/guitar in your case (sing them) & than try to play them with shakuhachi.

Tairaku 太楽 · 2009-02-03 15:12:12

Hi Jacques,

The "easiest" ways to approach major scales are using either tsu or ri as the fundamental notes.

For example on a 1.8 the C major scale is ri, ro, tsu chu meri, tsu, re, chi, ri meri, hi.

Ciao, BR

Jim Thompson · 2009-02-03 15:37:00

Jacques,
There is an Okinawan piece( they use the major mode a lot) called Ryukyu. It is in G major. That would be a major scale based on re on a 1.8. The scale would be re, chi, ri chu meri, ri, ro, tsu chu meri, re meri, and re. It was difficult mainly because of ri chu meri. It's good practice.
Go get 'em
Jim

Last edited by Jim Thompson (2009-02-03 15:44:27)

edosan · 2009-02-03 15:47:19

Jim Thompson wrote:
Jacques,
I had to play an Okinawan piece( they use the major mode a lot) called Ryukyu. It was in G major. That would be a major scale based on re on a 1.8. The scale would be re, chi, ri chu meri, ri, ro, tsu chu meri, re meri, and re. It was difficult mainly because of ri chu meri. It's good practice.

Riley Lee uses that scale quite a bit in improvising.

I think a good way to get into all this is to play lots (half to one hour a day) slow and fast chromatic scales using a tuner or a handy piano to check your intonation. It helps a lot to loosen up all those meri notes, so as not to be confined by them, and makes the study of any scales/modes a lot more 'friendly'.

axolotl · 2009-02-03 17:57:59

I would bet the 'least common' major key for a 1.8 is Ab major. Beware trying to play along with "Glassworks".

Bas Nijenhuis · 2009-02-03 18:51:23

playing in that key or C#, makes me play in very strange Japanese tuning with varying pitches!

axolotl · 2009-02-17 12:29:43

There are some lovely songs out there in Eb, and they aren't easy to play along to either.

Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

#1 2009-02-02 22:27:21

Playing in a Major Key.....

#2 2009-02-02 23:37:05

Re: Playing in a Major Key.....

#3 2009-02-03 15:12:12

Re: Playing in a Major Key.....

#4 2009-02-03 15:37:00

Re: Playing in a Major Key.....

#5 2009-02-03 15:47:19

Re: Playing in a Major Key.....

Jim Thompson wrote:

#6 2009-02-03 17:57:59

Re: Playing in a Major Key.....

#7 2009-02-03 18:51:23

Re: Playing in a Major Key.....

#8 2009-02-17 12:29:43

Re: Playing in a Major Key.....

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