Table of Contents | What Song's What Song | What's What | History

 

Whatfs What
In Taiko Styles and Stuff


1. Nidan Uchi - Playing two drum faces at the same time. (in the sukeroku style)

2. Yodan Uchi - Playing four drum faces at the same time. (in the sukeroku style)

3. Tachi Uchi - Playing the drum facing up.

4. Yokomen Uchi - Playing the drum horizontally.

5. Naname Uchi - Playing the drum in a slant style (sukeroku)

6. Kumi Daiko - Playing multiple drums at one time...reminiscent of kit drumming.

7. Atarigane - a metal instrument held in one hand, played with ivory tipped bachi.

8. Chappa - Two small metal cymbals held and played with each hand.

9. Shime Daiko - 'shime' from the verb 'shimeru' meaning 'to tie'. Also called Ko-daiko.
Different sizes include:  #1 (thinnest skin), #2, #3, #4,  #5(thickest skin), or more properly...Namizuke, itcho, nicho, sancho, yoncho, gocho.

10. Nagado Daiko - from the words 'nagai' and 'do' meaning 'long body'.  The nagado is usually made from one piece of a hollowed out tree.  In Japan, nagado daiko measurements are usually calculated in the old style of 'shaku' and 7sun' (pronounced shakoo and soon).  For example, 30cm. is 1shaku.  Each 'sun' is roughly 3cm. so 48cm. is the standard 1shaku, 6sun.  60cm. is 2shaku, etc.

11. Okedo Daiko - a much lighter drum made from straight-sided barrel staves (as opposed to curved wine barrel staves).  The skins on this drum are roped and therefore able to be tuned.  A very versatile drum that can be used from an upright position, or can be played while carrying, allowing movement while playing.

12. Shinobue - a horizontal flute made from bamboo.  Usually has between six to eight holes depending on the desired pitch of each flute.  Usually made for playing in the Japanese music scale.  Flutes made in the western Do,Re,Mi...scale have just recently become more popular.

13. Shakuhachi - a vertical flute made from bamboo.  Much thicker and deeper sound than the shinobue.  The name reflects the standard length of the instrument ? 1shaku, 8sun...or 54 centimeters, even though it is made in longer measurements as well.  The longer the shakuhachi, the deeper the sound.  As a real bamboo shakuhachi can be quite expensive, wooden shakuhachi are usually used for practice.