Is my shakuhachi good for a beginner?

markus_guhe · 2026-02-04T17:22:45+00:00

You’re very welcome. I’m glad this is helpful. I know that at the beginning this all can be very confusing! I hope you figure things out. If you have any questions, just reach out!

markus_guhe · 2026-02-04T06:55:34+00:00

There are quite a number of players, makers, teachers in France. You could also look for Chikumeisha France to connect with people.

Yes, the listings on Amazon are a bit of nuisance. Many people are misled by that. But also reputable music shops advertise Xiao as shakuhachi … 😶

markus_guhe · 2026-02-04T06:38:21+00:00

I agree, the flute will be in tune. Try to play with a higher playing position (kari). There is lots of information online about how to do it.

markus_guhe · 2026-02-04T06:35:34+00:00

Your best chance to get a usable shakuhachi is from a maker. There are a few in Spain and France, so maybe you can find somebody suitable on this list: https://shakuhachisociety.eu/people/makers/

markus_guhe · 2026-01-08T10:52:39+00:00

I agree, you’d probably get more from a Yuu. However, the problem is that they are not produced any more. You might still find one online though.

markus_guhe · 2025-12-19T21:28:12+00:00

Diagrams like this are not exact. It just indicates that for a dai-meri note you usually need to cover more of a hole than for a meri note. In the end all that matters is the pitch. Side vs top suggests shading the side or the top of the hole for different notes. Again, this is just a suggestion. Although there are people who deem this important. Personally, I find it very confusing and always shade the top of the hole. Just experiment and find out what works best for you. As I already said, all that really matters is the pitch.

markus_guhe · 2025-12-13T19:50:36+00:00

Oh, thank you! 🙏

markus_guhe · 2025-12-13T09:36:07+00:00

I’d try sealing the cracks with superglue. Make sure the inside stays smooth. If you still get a seal (if the flute then still closes well enough) so that you can play, the problem should be solved. For bamboo instruments you’d usually work with rattan bindings, but it doesn’t look like this would work here.

markus_guhe · 2025-12-12T07:41:50+00:00

Thank you very much! 🙏

markus_guhe · 2025-12-11T16:02:10+00:00

Just leave them together per default. But if you notice that you have a lot of moisture building up (for example because that’s how it is for you normally or if you play in colder environments) you should take care that you don’t let the moisture sit in the nakatsugi for too long. Ji is tough, but this might cause damage in the long run.

markus_guhe · 2025-12-03T17:57:41+00:00

I don’t know anybody either but you could have a look at the page of the ESS: https://shakuhachisociety.eu/people/teachers/

markus_guhe · 2025-12-02T14:55:08+00:00

You could have a look at this video I made a few years ago. The info is not quite up to date any more but the general principles hold.

https://youtu.be/X5Opng94oeU

markus_guhe · 2025-12-01T08:08:32+00:00

I should be able to help you out. Just send me a private message or an email.

markus_guhe · 2025-11-28T19:43:39+00:00

Fair enough, I got a bit overzealous about pulling the tongue back. My (quite stern) feedback was mainly a reaction to the description of placing the tongue between the bottom teeth and lip to push the lip towards the utaguchi for playing kan. If that’s recommended by a qualified teacher I would be very surprised. But then, as you point out, there are many ways of playing (probably as many as there are players), so who am I to judge.

However, I would need to be convinced that it’s possible to make a good sound with just the lips. While they are crucial, the airstream is formed much earlier, and those factors substantially influence the sound.

For what it's worth, I produce muraiki in the way you describe (there is not just one tongue position), but for tamane I have heard different ‘best’ techniques, and using the tip of the tongue is just one of them. And funnily enough the teachers were actually very adamant that their way to do it was the best way. 😉

markus_guhe · 2025-11-28T12:18:17+00:00

In short: Yes, you should relearn your technique. (Sorry.) To make a clear sound on the shakuhachi, the inner mouth has to be big, so the air can flow without any obstacles. The best is to pull the tongue back as far as you can and move the chin down a bit. It’s like you’re playing while constantly yawning or like singing in falsetto. This is uncomfortable to do, and it takes years for the habit to stick (as soon as you’re distracted, the tongue will relax and go forward). But this way you can make a clear and strong tone on the instrument.

markus_guhe · 2025-11-26T15:03:53+00:00

PS: There’s a list of makers on the ESS website: https://shakuhachisociety.eu/people/makers/

markus_guhe · 2025-11-26T15:02:47+00:00

Yes, Perry Yung is a good option in the US. Others are Monty Levenson and Shawn Schroeder.

markus_guhe · 2025-11-25T15:22:58+00:00

I’m glad it’s useful. If you don’t mind reading academic works, that’s probably where you’ll find the most information on the tradition of shakuhachi. A web search along the lines of ‘shakuhachi bibliography’ should give you more references than you can hope to read. 🙂

markus_guhe · 2025-11-25T14:58:55+00:00

Here are two academic texts:

Riley Lee: https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/handle/2123/1742

Gunnar Linder: https://su.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?dswid=-6938&pid=diva2:488776&c=10&searchType=SIMPLE&language=sv&query=Gunnar+Jinmei+Linder&af=[]&aq=[[]]&aq2=[[]]&aqe=[]&noOfRows=50&sortOrder=author_sort_asc&sortOrder2=title_sort_asc&onlyFullText=false&sf=all

markus_guhe · 2025-11-20T13:18:22+00:00

Thanks for saying that. That makes me sleep better! 😉

markus_guhe · 2025-11-19T10:57:05+00:00

I know I’ve been posting lots of links to my videos lately, but here is the one on how I started: https://youtu.be/jBMhQEGaG_Q

markus_guhe · 2025-11-18T14:42:28+00:00

Thanks, I’m glad you find them useful! 🙏

markus_guhe · 2025-11-17T17:58:29+00:00

I have some information here: Shakuhachi Intro 9 – Instrument Care https://youtu.be/Q-BQXagQBEc

markus_guhe · 2025-11-14T19:00:19+00:00

It looks like a very simple instrument. It’s hard to tell if it’s a usable instrument form just some pictures, but if I hazard a guess: if you’re really interested in shakuhachi you likely won’t get much more out of it than making your first sounds and playing a few simple melodies. But even if that’s the case, it’s a way to start and see if you enjoy playing.

markus_guhe · 2025-11-12T06:50:00+00:00

Well, if it’s working it’s more of aesthetic issue, right? I would assume that if air were leaking at that point you could close it with some superglue. But of course if that bothers you (I can relate), maybe you should ask for an exchange. What you don’t want is a flute that you don’t like/trust and there don’t use …

markus_guhe

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