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Topic: Koto Anybody |
Paul Crawford
From:
Orlando, Fl
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Posted 21 Aug 2001 11:23 am |
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Has anybody played a Koto? This is the traditional Japanese instrument very similar to a lap steel.
I've had one too many sushi lunches lately and I'm thinking about adding one to the inventory. Advice? Dissent? Opinions? Help?
Thanks! |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 21 Aug 2001 12:06 pm
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| I think the Koto has faded from the scene along with the geisha, except for a few catering to the very wealthy at the top of the corporate ladder..... I doubt that even a "knocked out" koto player would be much in demand anywhere else! |
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Roy Thomson
From:
Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada
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Posted 21 Aug 2001 3:24 pm
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Hi Paul:
The Japenese Koto caught my interest sometime back also. I love the sound of the instrument.
You can research it quite easily on the WWW.
It is really a hollow log with 13 strings tuned by moving adjustable bridges. There is a very haunting sound by plucking a string and pushing it up and down behind the adjustable or movable bridge. There are several tunings and they seem to all be buitl on the pentatonic scale.
I see very little resemblance to a lap steel BTW.
I have a ten string acoustic steel and tune it diatonicly. I have learned "Sakura" and a few other traditional peices. It is hard to come close to that sound but fun to try.
Roy T. |
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Mike D
From:
Phx, Az
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Posted 21 Aug 2001 8:21 pm
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I sat in a restaurant with my wife a few months ago and listened to a girl play one. Very interesting, although tough on a "Western Ear" like mine after awhile.
I had an almost uncontrollable urge to run over and play it with my steel during her break  |
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Paul Crawford
From:
Orlando, Fl
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Posted 23 Aug 2001 10:51 am
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With your encouragement, I've been surfing some information on the Koto. Absent a teacher available in the area, (I'll check with my Sushi bar), I may rethink this one.
From what I can gather, it typically takes about 2 months to learn to sit behind the instrument properly for good tone. With my back and gut, this might not be a wise idea after all. More research is in order.
Thanks for the leads. |
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