Shakuhachi and Bansuri

[Akita Suggagaki]

Japanese and Indian flutes. Maybe you have heard them in foreign movies. I love that it does not take long to be able to play notes on a scale. But it takes an entire life time to master.

 

[Benam]

Love these, especially the Japanese one. I play Irish flutes and pennywhistles myself.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Love these, especially the Japanese one. I play Irish flutes and pennywhistles myself.

I like the simplicity of one note at a time.

 

[FireDragon76]

I recently took up learning the shakuhachi. It's hard to play, especially as I have no experience with open flutes. But I can get solid notes out of it, it just took about four hours of practice.

I also have a Native American style flute (made popular by Carlos Nakai back in the 80's and 90's). It's alot easier to play (fairly simple in comparison, it has a block or fipple similar to a whistle or recorder), but doesn't have the same type of dynamics as an open flute.

My shakuhachi is actually made from PVC by a flutemaker in Brazil. I ordered a resin model from Japan that should arrive before Christmas.

I'm interested in exploring suizen (blowing Zen) with the shakuhachi. This isn't actually about music meant to be performed so much as a spiritual practice. Some have argued it's "anti-music".

Here's an interesting video about an African American man who left the US on a boat years ago for Japan with his wife. He's a Chan (Zen) priest and is also a modern day Komuso in Japan.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I recently took up learning the shakuhachi. It's hard to play, especially as I have no experience with open flutes. But I can get solid notes out of it, it just took about four hours of practice.

I also have a Native American style flute (made popular by Carlos Nakai back in the 80's and 90's). It's alot easier to play (fairly simple in comparison, it has a block or fipple similar to a whistle or recorder), but doesn't have the same type of dynamics as an open flute.

My shakuhachi is actually made from PVC by a flutemaker in Brazil. I ordered a resin model from Japan that should arrive before Christmas.

I'm interested in exploring suizen (blowing Zen) with the shakuhachi. This isn't actually about music meant to be performed so much as a spiritual practice. Some have argued it's "anti-music".

Here's an interesting video about an African American man who left the US on a boat years ago for Japan with his wife. He's a Chan (Zen) priest and is also a modern day Komuso in Japan.

FOUR HOURS!!! It took me 2 days!
Is that the Shakuhachi Yuu that you ordered. I also just ordered one last week. It should be here late January. I hear good things about it.

My better one is from Monty Levenson. So I cant blame the shakuhachi. I don't move my head as well as the pros.

I started to watch the video. I will watch the rest later. But he is right about the music, no ego, blowing Zen is meditation, stream of consciousness. That is why I like it. It is all about freedom rather than playing a "song" correctly.

Stay with it. It is worth it. So subtle.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

This guy is pretty intersting.

 

[FireDragon76]

No, I did not order the Shakuhachi Yuu. It's a very good flute, though, that's my understanding.

From what I am reading, modern style honkyoku music is very put-together and formalized, whereas the real Komuso of the premodern eras were less formalized in their style. The modern shakuhachi is also more refined than the older hotchiku (Dharma-Flute), which is what many of them actually played, and also lacks a rougher and more raw bamboo sound (and also is subject to less wetting out since it's lacquered):

Watazumi Doso Roshi was an eccentric Zen priest and trying to recreate more of an authentic Suizen type sound. "If it sounds like music, you are doing it wrong" sums up this style of philosophy.


This eBay seller's PVC shakuhachi flute is the one that I have. They are based in New York, but their flutes are made in Brazil. It's an easy to play flute, even if I can't speak to whether it's "concert grade" or not.

PVC Shakuhachi 1.8 -for beginner Or To Be Taken On The Road | eBay

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

"If it sounds like music, you are doing it wrong"

O, well I guess I am doing it right then.
PVC is a good way to start. Plastic recorders are available for like $8 it seems there ought to be inexpensive shakuhachi. Once we get into bamboo things get complicated and price has to go up.

I started with one I got for $40 and then thought I was ready for something more.
Shakuhachi-Traditional Japanese Bamboo Flutes. Traditional Musical Instruments of Japan used for zen Buddhist meditation, classical, jazz & folk music.
These are beautiful. I have had one about 15 years now. (I think it was $800) As you may know, for a musical instrument that is still not bad. But You can get a very high quality Bansuri for $200.

One World Flutes.

Bansuri is a completely different mood and sound than shakuhachi.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

And I have found that even a few minutes of playing really relaxes me because of the controlled breathing.

 

[FireDragon76]

O, well I guess I am doing it right then.
PVC is a good way to start. Plastic recorders are available for like $8 it seems there ought to be inexpensive shakuhachi. Once we get into bamboo things get complicated and price has to go up.

I started with one I got for $40 and then thought I was ready for something more.
Shakuhachi-Traditional Japanese Bamboo Flutes. Traditional Musical Instruments of Japan used for zen Buddhist meditation, classical, jazz & folk music.
These are beautiful. I have had one about 15 years now. (I think it was $800) As you may know, for a musical instrument that is still not bad. But You can get a very high quality Bansuri for $200.

One World Flutes.

Bansuri is a completely different mood and sound than shakuhachi.

I have a Chinese dizi flute, which is similar except it has a kazoo-like membrane (so it sounds reedy in comparison). It's difficult to get a consistent tone, you have to have a laser precision airstream.

And I have found that even a few minutes of playing really relaxes me because of the controlled breathing.

Flutes in general are good for that. It forces you to breathe deep.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I have a Chinese dizi flute, which is similar except it has a kazoo-like membrane (so it sounds reedy in comparison). It's difficult to get a consistent tone, you have to have a laser precision airstream.

Rather mazing.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

BTW, I have been enjoying the Daily Doug

https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thedailydoug