Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

madoherty wrote:

I am wondering if anyone out there has been successful in creating a thumb rest for shakuhachi.  I have an issue with loose jointedness that transfers tension from my thumb up my arm that I believe will be helped with the addition of a thumb rest.  I was think of the type on a clarinet, or similar.  I might purchase one to fit to my shakuhachi, but wondered if others had a different fix for this issue.

Thank you.

This may not be sufficient for your requirements, but I have seen rectangles of sandpaper or emery paper (black and unobtrusive) attached to the area covered by the thumb with good quality double-sided tape. 3M makes a very good version that has a thin backing and good adhesion (clean the surface with alcohol or Bestine before applying). The increase in friction will reduce the tension required to hold the flute. It's easily removed, so it may be worth a try. 150 or 100 grit seems to be a good place to start. Some sandpapers may even match the color of your shakuhachi