HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE BAMBOO SHAKUHACHI PART 1

[sigwadaflutes]

I sent you personal message. re your first shakuhachis. congratulations.

[sigwadaflutes]

Hi Cristiflorin, Great Shakuhachis. Sounds soulful. You play well too. Congratulations. Most importantly you made them yourself

[1cleandude]

Thanks for the posting its very well done.. Can you tell me if it is harder to create tone with a 45 degree utaguchi compared to a 30 degree?

[sigwadaflutes]

@1cleandude

Thanks. To clarify, 30 degree is a more horizontal angle and 45 degree a more vertical one. I'd say it's easier to create tone with a 45 degree utaguchi since 1.the hole is bigger due to the deeper angle, 2. your breath and blowing can be stronger due to number 1; 3. easier to produce lower notes. On the other hand with a 30 degree angle your blowing has a narrower (literally) window. I notice too that a more horizontal utaguchi is created for long and big-bore flutes.

[ponsmusic]

thanks for this vid! learned a lot from it

[sigwadaflutes]

@ponsmusic

thanks too and very welcome. your composition using shakuhachi is great. keep up the good work. btw am in manila do drop by if you re around.

[khyemamri]

nice intro.

mellow soundtrack.

peace.

[sigwadaflutes]

Thanks. I practiced that for a long time.

[27069614]

is this a dizi

[sigwadaflutes]

Not a dizi but a shakuhachi. Dizi is Chinese whereas shakuhachi is Japanese. Dizi is transversely blown while shakuhachi is endblown. Dizi blowing hole is on the topside whereas shakuhachi blowing hole is notched at the top edge.

[sigwadaflutes]

For thick inside nodes, I also burn over a flame the tip of the drill to red hot to make it easier to punch through the bore.

[munyew1987]

hi sig,

i have a question, may i know how did u clear the blockage inside the bamboo? it obstructs the air from flowing smoothly. thanks!

[sigwadaflutes]

Hi munyew, As I said in video, first I use a drill bit welded to a long iron rod to open up the rigid membranes inside the bamboo. Thereafter I use a rasp welded also to a long iron rod to widen the opening done previously and file down the remaining blockages. Some makers me included don't file down completely to create a dark tone. You can buy drill bit and rasp from a hardware store and have these welded to rods at a welding iron shop for a small fee.

[sigwadaflutes]

So yew see, for the simple bamboo shakuhachi that we are making, our method is also simple and inexpensive. Enjoy making one thereafter enjoy playing it, more so that you made it yourself

[sigwadaflutes]

Hi munyew, your question is the most important one tackled in the video since actually in making a shakuhachi the first and one of the hardest part is getting or making the tools in making shakuhachi.

[munyew1987]

well thx sig for the answer.. you taught me a lot.. chill!

[sigwadaflutes]

Welcome, munyew, it's a pleasure. Oh yes, at the other end of the iron rod make a handle with good leverage since you want to twist and handle it a lot inside the bamboo.. See video.

[Simonomon2]

This instructional is kinda hard to follow. I didn't understand some of the things you were telling me to do.

[sigwadaflutes]

Please specify what part. I'll try to elaborate and explain further. Thanks too.

[SoundPath]

great video. Is it possible to cut the flute in half to adjust the nodes?

[sigwadaflutes]

Thanks. Yes, much shakuhachis called jiari are cut in the middle in order to perfect nodes and holes placements as well as to facilitate the putting of pastes inside the bore that will harden and improve tone volume and pitch. But more and more shakuhachists, myself included, now prefer uncut no-pastes-in-the-bore bamboo that produce natural sound and voice. These shakuhachis are called jinashi.

[mir0ki]

@sigwadaflutes hi, thanks for your nice instructions. Do you put any oil inside bamboo or does no-pastes-in-the-bore mean that you don't put anything? What is good ratio between length and diameter? Thanks for your help.

[Tanisha1994]

um hi! i saw ur video and i think its really cool! but i wanna know if just any wood can be used or does it have to be bamboo?

[sigwadaflutes]

Thanks. Sure you can use wood but it would be difficult to hollow it out. Aside from the ready made hollow, the advantages of bamboo are: the fibers make up, the irregular remaining nodes inside, and the root end structure make the voice of bamboo unique pleasing and haunting.

[sigwadaflutes]

Plus of course the exterior look is cool.

[jacobninja25]

if its too short*

[sigwadaflutes]

If you cut too long relative to its diameter,you can get kan easily but the otsu will not honk. If it's too short, the otsu honks but the kan would be difficult.

[jacobninja25]

thanks for the tips

[sigwadaflutes]

welcome. and thanks too for the comment.

[jacobninja25]

what is its too short

[febi51]

good. At the next week...

[sigwadaflutes]

Thanks. I saw that you also made flutes. Your fujara is awesome. Also your bamboo paintings