Bamboo (Uta) Shinobue + Bag + Playing Instructions
This Shinobue flute is of the Uta type, the most common type of Shinobue flute. Uta is also known as 'Song'. It is heard in Shinto music such as kagura-den and in traditional Japanese folk songs. The uta Shinobue is properly tuned to the Western major / minor scale, and can be played together with other musicians, or as a solo instrument in an improvisational setting.
The flute is fully made of bamboo. It is played like a western flute, blown from the side and held horizontally. It requires a little practice to get comfortable playing such an instrument.
This flute plays most comfortably in C major and D minor, and can play together well with an 1.8 Shaku (D) Shakuhachi.
How to play this flute?
- Aim your airflow against the edge of the embouchure hole
- This requires some practice and patience
- The flute is held horizontally, this too requires some practice
- There's 7 fingerholes on top, and no thumbhole on the back
- The 7th fingerhole is for the right hand pinky and is mostly ignored
- Cover the holes with the pad of the fingers, not the fingertips
The musical possibilities
- This flute easily plays in the key of C major, D minor, F major and A minor
- It is also possible to play notes outside of these scales
- This is done by half-covering fingerholes
- The flute has a reach of more than 2 octaves
