"I just checked my pitch on an electronic tuner and found I
am way way flat!"
Dear Tots,
I always enjoy your questions and informed comments; fortunately for
us all, when it comes to shakuhachi there are few "dumb" questions...
Your query, as with most shakuhachi-related questions, is an issue
with legions of players. The most likely answer to the "could it be
the flute?" part is "yes and no." Since it is a wooden (ie, turned)
flute, it is almost certainly made to repeatable dimensions; the
length, bore diameter and hole placement are all predetermined, thus
there is more control from the maker over pitch consistency. Having
said that, it is also possible that ALL those massed produced flutes
are pitched a little low--they are STUDENT flutes, after all.
Regarding the "I must be doing something wrong" part (which is a more
likely,though perhaps incorrectly phrased, element...): blowing angle
(meri-kari) is not the only determinate of overall pitch. Indeed, the
embouchure, the speed of the airstream, and the distance of the
blowing edge (utaguchi) from the lips all affect overall pitch.
Embouchure development and airstream speed are interrelated and
developed over time (and are also an individual "stylistic" feature
in the sound a particular player produces...). That is to say, you
have just not been playing long enough, kari or no kari. The aspect
of the distance between the blowing edge and the lips is more murky
but is still something you can study and adjust, even use to good
effect: what is happening at the blowing edge is exactly the same
thing that happens when you change the hole size with your finger(s):
reducing the hole size (everything else being equal...) causes a drop
in overall pitch, likewise, pushing the flute TOWARD your lips
(everything else remaining equal...) reduces the "hole size" at the
utaguchi and causes a drop in overall pitch.
This is not simply another way of looking at meri-kari, which also
changes the distance between lips and blowing edge; you can see this
by just blowing a note, holding your head angle steady and pushing
the flute toward or pulling it away from the teeth. The note will
drop or rise in pitch respectively.
Suffice it to say that you are surely not alone, AND are doing
nothing "wrong," but are just "crawling before walking" so to speak.
Note also that this analysis is humbly assembled from the teachings
of Riley Lee, a player whose pitch is perfect.
-- "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." -Benjamin FranklinedBeaty edosan@indra.com
****-_-_-_ ^..^ > /\ /\ "Buzz"
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Feb 03 2003 - 09:09:50 PST