shakuhachi playing FAQ's

Why do I feel dizzy?

If you blow out too much you will dispel too much carbon dioxide from your system and the ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide will become too great. This leads to hyperventilation and the dizzy feeling. One solution is to stop breathing for a while!

When you are practising to get a sound from the shakuhachi, try to pause between the inhalation and exhalation and between the exhalation and inhalation. When you pause after breathing in, imagine the breath sinking down into your belly with a gentle outwards and downwards pressure.

I want the air to come out from the centre of my mouth?

This is not necessary and even undesirable. It is normal for the opening between the lips to move to one side or the other. You may notice that in the middle of the top lip, there is a “tear drop” hanging down. This will disrupt the air flow coming from your mouth and create unwanted sounds. So it is better for the air to come out on one side or the other. It does not matter which side. Just relax and let it move naturally. Look regularly in the mirror to see where it is and then move the flute to where the air is coming from.

When I look in the mirror I cannot see the shape of the opening between my lips or even where it is?

You must be blowing in the wrong direction. When you sit opposite your teacher, you should be able to see the shape of the embouchure (opening between the lips) and where it is (one side of the mouth or the other).

The air should be coming from your lips at an angle to the horizontal of about 15-20 degrees. It is natural for beginners to direct the air down towards the shakuhachi, as if they were playing a recorder. Check which direction your air is going. It should be more horizontal than vertical. Change you way of “blowing” so that you can see the shape of the embouchure in the mirror.

I can’t seem to make the correct embouchure shape?

Don’t “make” any shape. Close you lips naturally. Pressurise your diaphragm and let the air escape naturally through closed lips. The correct shape will be created automatically. Do not try to make the shape yourself.

My “RO” is not strong. Why?

More than anything, the condition for a strong “RO” is one of high focus and at the same time relaxation, especially of the lips. These requirements seem to be contradictory but they are not. In our effort to make a big sound we tense up, blow harder, get frustrated, etc.

Relax, remember the basics, accept and be thankful for the sound you make (or don’t make!), listen to the sound, and don’t try to “make” the sound. Remember that even the best players are NEVER happy with their sound.

Make the sound? What do you mean don’t make the sound?

The playing of shakuhachi is simply concentrating on focussing your breath for as long as possible. That is all. The fact that this concentrated exhalation results in a sound is not the issue.

Take the example of electrons passing through a fluorescent tube. They travel, with great intensity from one electrode to the electrode at the other end. That is all. Their job is finished. The light is a separate process. The electrons do not “make” the light. Thunder follows a lightning flash. The lightning does not “make” the thunder. That is a separate process of air rushing to fill a hole made by the lightning.

Try to imagine the sound of the shakuhachi appearing from the air like the growth of many snowflakes. From a Zen perspective, the sound already exists. You do not “make” the sound. If you try to do that, your sound will always be limited by ego. It can never reach the heights of true enlightenment. Just focus and relax. The sound will appear as if by magic. It can then be the “Sound of God”.

Why do my hands hurt?

This is due to tension. Don’t grip the flute too hard. Release you grip until the shakuhachi starts to slide and then increase the grip only enough to stop it from sliding. Practise doing this regularly. Look at your fingers covering the holes. Is there any “whiteness” around your fingernails? If so, then relax them more. When you open and close holes do so lightly. Imagine you are holding lifting your arms to hold the shakuhachi using your back muscles.

At what angle should I hold the shakuhachi?

45 degrees…..always. Even when you are playing using music scores.

I have been playing for too long and my lips are really tired.

This happens to all players. As you practice more, you can play longer. Please remember, practising when your lips are tired is the best practice. In Aikido we learn that using strength is not only unnecessary but undesirable. It is the same with shakuhachi. Try to focus your breath without using muscles but rather by focussing and projecting the”breath ki”. Imagine this “ki” extending outwards from the top of the shakuhachi, radiating in all directions.

Why can’t I play soft sounds in the second octave?

The answer is simple but the explanation complicated.

* To play the higher harmonics, the speed of the air passing over the mouthpiece must be increased

* If you blow harder you can play higher sounds, but the sound will be coarse. Sometimes we want this effect. But it is not possible to play pianissimo sounds this way.

* To reduce the loudness the amount of air must be reduced but the speed of the air must be maintained. So the embouchure must be narrowed and the pressure of air maintained.

* How do I narrow the embouchure? ….by increasing the pressure between our lips. Very simple, and try to keep it that simple.

* But when I do this, the sound disappears!......This is purely a matter of correct alignment. With a thin stream of air, the alignment must be more precise to ensure this air stream hits the target.

* But my high sounds are flat in pitch!.......with the effort and increased pressure, sometimes the lips ‘bulge out’ more, making a kind of meri technique. Make a mental image of this and compensate a little by holding your lips in.

* It is easier to play soft sounds if I get my lips closer to the blowing edge, however, again, the sound is flat in pitch!........ Most players will move closer to the blowing edge to some extent for kan and especially to play delicate dai kan high sounds. To maintain the correct pitch the side of the flute can be opened up by rotating your head sideways, to the left or to the right.

* How can I check that in the beginning my ‘alignment’ is correct? ……..Try this exercise. When you play a note (start with RI, the easiest of notes) start with your lips closed and blow through these closed lips. There should be an initial ‘spurt’ of air. Imagine you are spitting a grain of rice across the room. If you do this with intensity AND if your alignment is correct, then there should be an initial’ squeak’ of the higher harmonic sounds. If your alignment is incorrect you will not get this squeak.
At the beginning of every day, check your alignment by carrying out this exercise.

…to be continued

Back to hints Back to main menu