(main menu)
A “Shaku” is a measurement of length, and “hachi” means eight. So “Shakuhachi” literally refers to a unit of length.
Different sized shakuhachi use the same notation and mostly the same fingering, (though every flute is an individual and often has certain preferences for fingerings). A longer shakuhachi’s range is lower, and shorter ones are higher.
The “1.8” shakuhachi (1 shaku + 8 tenths of a shaku, or “sun”) is thought of as the standard size. Its basic note with all holes closed (“Ro”) is D4 on the western scale.
(A “2.8” Shakuhachi’s “Ro” is G3. A “1.3” Shakuhachi’s “Ro” is G4.)
If you’ve got a longer or shorter flute, choose its length from the dropdown. Click tune ro to hear that pitch in a more hands-free kind of way. (Tune ro will deactivate auto test tone.)
Auto test tone will allow you to hear a sample tone when changing certain settings like shakuhachi size, note buttons, scale root, and note volume.