The Shakuhachi Yuu Flute - This Mouthpiece Makes A Difference!

[@basho1967]

Too cool, I’ve seen these Shakuhachi Yuu flutes over the years. So glad you’re offering these as well as the alternate tuning flutes from the Flute Wizard. Horizons continues to grow, thank you👍

[@JonnyLipford]

My pleasure!

[@naiman4535]

Very interesting presentation, Jonny Sensei! Yes, playing without the snap on mouthpiece had more warmth, breathiness and flexibility to the tone, but that's only to be expected. In addition to special breath effects, like Muraiki (patchwork breathing) and Kazaiki (Rough Breathing), a key feature of the Shakuhachi's flexible, open mouthpiece is that you can change the pitch and intonation by changing the blowing angle. Most typically, there are Meri notes, or notes played with the head and jaw tilted downwards, versus Kari notes, or notes played with the head and jaw erect, with the former being flattened notes and the latter being natural pitch notes. This Meri / Kari system is how you play chromatic notes on the Shakuhachi, in addition to half holing. I was a Shakuhachi student for many years, and have even recorded on the instrument.

[@JonnyLipford]

Thank you for the more informed comment on playing the shakuhachi. I hope that viewers of this video will read your comments for a broader explanation of the instrument.

[@dogsterooni]

I play and studied shakuhachi for 7 years now and have 5 tunings they are amazing and incredible

[@JonnyLipford]

That's great. Enjoy them.

[@naiman4535]

My old friend Monty Levenson at Tai Hei Shakuhachi has evolved quite a bit as a Shakuhachi craftsman since I first met him back in the 70s. Google him up and check him out! Anyway, the clip on mouthpiece on the Shakuhachi you demoed made me think of an invention of his: The Shaku-lute, which is a Shakuhachi mouthpiece head joint that attaches to the body of a regular silver flute.

[@JonnyLipford]

Cool! Have never seen that one!

[@naiman4535]

@@JonnyLipfordYes, Jonny Sensei - it's all true! And the best part of it is that Monty Levenson is also a Taurus, and shares my birthday (May 3rd - different year, though.) Tai Hei means, "Great Peace" in Japanese. In Japanese, Tai Hei Yoh, or The Great Peace Sea, means the Pacific Ocean.

[@naiman4535]

Way back in the seventies, Monty Levenson had the honor of posting in the Whole Earth Catalog, and that is where I found him. Since then, he has kept on keeping on, full of "Konki" Japanese for "The Qi or energy of the roots", and now he is making high end, concert quality Shakuhachis for the likes of Masayuki Koga Sensei, who is a very prominent and accomplished Shakuhachi teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area.

[@pollyon]

this i will come back for

[@chriscynefin966]

Love this so much. What are you using for reverb?

[@JonnyLipford]

A reverb pedal found here: www.amazon.com/dp/B00GPZCL0Q?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjlipford-20&creativeASIN=B00GPZCL0Q&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.3GDPOTVXSIMFL&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

[@sunnyflutemusic]

Great, thanks for sharing Jonny. Can‘t wait to try it out 😊🎶

[@JonnyLipford]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@sunnyflutemusic]

@@JonnyLipford The flute arrived today. Thanks for quick shipping. I love the flute🥰, thank you Jonny and Maria 🙏🏻🎶🌸

[@fgg4136]

I just bought one. It seems way harder to play than a native flute but I like that it has the same scale but with more range. I hope some of the skills I learned practicing with an NAF transfer over but even if it doesn't it looks like a fun instrument to learn.

[@JonnyLipford]

Are you using the mouthpiece? Rim blown flutes have a much steeper learning curve that NAFs do, because a precise embouchure is required.

[@fgg4136]

@JonnyLipford I'll try not to use the mouthpiece when I can. I know it's gonna take a while to develop the embouchure, but the learning process is part of the fun.

[@SchoolOf5]

How's your progress coming? I'm thinking of buying a Shakuhachi Yuu but am also thinking I want a Xiao flute, not sure what I should start with first

[@fgg4136]

@SchoolOf5 it's very very hard. But I still recommend it if you only play the naf. There's so much more depth with the shakuhachi that you can't get with the naf. The scale is the same, but you can do more complicated songs with the shakuhachi.

[@Traillesstaken]

I ordered one last nite from ur store

[@JonnyLipford]

Thank you. I hope you enjoy it.

[@MrZanzibar1976]

Very cool, like it a lot ❤

[@JonnyLipford]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ОлегЯрош-щ4п]

Hi. Can you tell me what kind of reverb you use (and what pedal if possible). Thx a lot from Ukraine ✊

[@JonnyLipford]

Here is the reverb pedal I use: www.amazon.com/dp/B00GPZCL0Q?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjlipford-20&creativeASIN=B00GPZCL0Q&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.3GDPOTVXSIMFL&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

[@Christinchong]

Haha I’m so happy to see this video!

[@datguitar361]

Hi John, loved the video. Question for you: Can I fit that mouthpiece into the traditional shakuhachi? or it only fits the yuu shakuhachi? Thank you for a great video. Dat.

[@JonnyLipford]

I’ve tried the mouthpiece on a couple of other shaks with good and not so good success. With shaks being bamboo, there’s a difference in the aperature hole. So it's really a try it and see sort of thing.

[@VidojeV-ku8sm]

Thanks Jonny! Have you ever done a video on the duduk - Persian/Armenian style flute : )

[@JonnyLipford]

Not yet!

[@naiman4535]

The Duduk is NOT a flute - it's a double reed instrument, like the oboe.

[@Traillesstaken]

my shakuhachi came in today from your store, I still can not make a sound on it without the mouth piece insert.

[@JonnyLipford]

It takes a bit of practice. Keep at it and you will get it!

[@anaru.p]

The way he specifically adresses it as "d as in dog" is funny, the clarification is funny.

[@JonnyLipford]

Glad I made you laugh.

[@patrick4065]

Can I purchase just the mouthpiece?

[@JonnyLipford]

We don't sell just the mouthpiece, but it looks like the flute-maker does. shakuhachiyuu.com/shakuhachi-yuu-adapter/

[@LOVE2Flute]

Very nice

[@OriginalFallofMind]

Backorder, dang.

[@JonnyLipford]

Sorry. Yes these sold out a while back. Hopefully we will get more in. You can request an in-stock notification on any product on our website.

[@josuefox]

I had bought on in Mejiro store less than 100 dollars (yen is low) ... It looked very solid and sounded well ( according to demos, not me lol) But now the prices are crazy , close to 200 euros. Too much for plastic.

[@JonnyLipford]

Unfortunatley everything seems to be getting more expensive.

[@josuefox]

@@JonnyLipford To be fair, they sell, on your page you provided, the flute + the mouthpiece for the price of just the flute in the original website (yuu maker), so it's a good deal ! And When I got the yuu flute from Mejiro, I forgot to count the taxes and carrier fees (so total of 150 euros, just the flute)

[@Nasraniksatria]

A lot better at the Shakuhachi than me.

[@壱鸣]

尺八 悠

[@OmulTzuc33]

You miss all the point with that mouthpiece. The purpose is to focus your breathing with the Utaguchi's sharp edge. It's a meditation instrument.

[@JonnyLipford]

Thank you for your feedback.

[@anthonyjs8048]

I think you're missing the point, boss. He said it in the video, it's to help practice. You gonna begrudge a child who uses training wheels to start learning how to ride a bike?

[@OmulTzuc33]

You are very kind with how you express your opinion towards me, I appreciate your openess. The point is to learn how to focus on your breath and utaguchi. Good luck! ​@@anthonyjs8048