Kuchi shoga
Encyclopedia
Kuchi shōga also known as 'kuchi showa' and 'kuchi shoka', is a Japanese phonetic system for 'pronouncing' the sounds of drums, especially Japanese drums (taiko
).
Although specific usage of kuchi shoga varies, certain words are relatively universal. For example, a deep, sustained sound from the center of the drum might be rendered as "don". "Do" sometimes represents a short beat that is not allowed to resonate, and "doko" often represents two beats in rapid succession. Two quick beats may also be pronounced "dogo" or "doro," depending on the rhythmic feeling, song or group. "Tsu" represents a lightly struck note, and a sharp tap on the side would be "ka." Two quick tsu's (soft right and soft left) or ka's (tap right and tap left) would be pronounced "tsuku" or "kara."
Some taiko groups use "don," "do," "tsu," and "ka" to represent a hit with the right hand, and "kon," "ko," "ku," and "ra" to represent a left-hand hit. This allows the "sticking" of the song to be conveyed by the kuchi shōga. Kuchi shōga is also used for smaller drums; for example, the two sounds of the tsuzumi
(also known as kotsuzumi) are "ta", a tap on the side of the drum, and "pon", a full-handed beat on the center of the drumhead.
Rests or pauses are often sung using scripted sounds like "sa," "ho," "iya," or words like "sore" and "dokkoi" (a two beat rest). This is called "kakegoe
." If the rest is not sung, the space is often filled with unscripted sounds called kiai
s. Explicitly assigning words to represent the periods of silence in a song is likely linked to the Japanese concept of Ma, where the space between notes is as important as the notes themselves in a performance.
Example: don (su) doko don, don (su) don kon, doko don (su) don, in 4/4 time is three measures of beats: 1 . 3&4 , 1 . 3 4, 1&2 . 4. The sticking is: R . RLR, R . R L, RLR . R
The system is used for recording, teaching, and memorization of drum rhythms. It is also used for 'subtitles' in the Taiko no tatsujin
drumming games.
Taiko
means "drum" in Japanese . Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming...
).
Although specific usage of kuchi shoga varies, certain words are relatively universal. For example, a deep, sustained sound from the center of the drum might be rendered as "don". "Do" sometimes represents a short beat that is not allowed to resonate, and "doko" often represents two beats in rapid succession. Two quick beats may also be pronounced "dogo" or "doro," depending on the rhythmic feeling, song or group. "Tsu" represents a lightly struck note, and a sharp tap on the side would be "ka." Two quick tsu's (soft right and soft left) or ka's (tap right and tap left) would be pronounced "tsuku" or "kara."
Some taiko groups use "don," "do," "tsu," and "ka" to represent a hit with the right hand, and "kon," "ko," "ku," and "ra" to represent a left-hand hit. This allows the "sticking" of the song to be conveyed by the kuchi shōga. Kuchi shōga is also used for smaller drums; for example, the two sounds of the tsuzumi
Tsuzumi
The is a Japanese drum of Chinese/Indian origin. It consists of a wooden body shaped like an hourglass, and it is taut, with two drum heads with cords that can be squeezed or released to increase or decrease the tension of the heads respectively...
(also known as kotsuzumi) are "ta", a tap on the side of the drum, and "pon", a full-handed beat on the center of the drumhead.
Rests or pauses are often sung using scripted sounds like "sa," "ho," "iya," or words like "sore" and "dokkoi" (a two beat rest). This is called "kakegoe
Kakegoe
Kakegoe can be literally translated as "hung voice" or "a voice you hang." The "hanging" part is probably meant to be taken in an abstract sense to mean "ornament" or "decoration," as it is the same Japanese verb used when talk about kakemono. Kakegoe, therefore, refers to an auxiliary pitched or...
." If the rest is not sung, the space is often filled with unscripted sounds called kiai
Kiai
is a Japanese term used in martial arts. There are numerous examples of the battle cry in other cultures: kiai is perhaps primarily a development of this. In the representation of Asian martial arts in cinema and in animated cartoons, Modern Kiai are often written by westerners in Romaji as...
s. Explicitly assigning words to represent the periods of silence in a song is likely linked to the Japanese concept of Ma, where the space between notes is as important as the notes themselves in a performance.
Example: don (su) doko don, don (su) don kon, doko don (su) don, in 4/4 time is three measures of beats: 1 . 3&4 , 1 . 3 4, 1&2 . 4. The sticking is: R . RLR, R . R L, RLR . R
The system is used for recording, teaching, and memorization of drum rhythms. It is also used for 'subtitles' in the Taiko no tatsujin
Taiko: Drum Master
"Taiko: Drum Master" , also known as "Taiko no Tatsujin" is a drumming game for the Sony PlayStation 2 based on the popular Japanese arcade game. A drum simulating the taiko is played in time with music. It is made by Namco. The home version can be played with a TaTaCon, a special controller which...
drumming games.
See also
- Bol (music)Bol (music)A bol is a mnemonic syllable. It is used in Indian music to define the tala, or rhythmic pattern, and is one of the most important parts of Indian rhythm. Bol is derived from the Hindi word bolna, which means "to speak."...
, syllables used similarly in Indian music - CantrochCanntaireachdCanntaireachd is the ancient Scottish Highland method of noting classical pipe music or Ceòl Mòr by a combination of definite syllables, by which means the various tunes could be more easily recollected by the learner, and could be more easily transmitted orally...
, a similar system for traditional Scottish Highland piping (pibrochs)
External links
- DrumDojo.com page on Taiko - includes a description of kuchi shoga notation.
- Tatsumaki Taiko - Tatsumaki Taiko's site includes a Dictionary page with "Kuchi Showa" ("Kuchi Shoga") notation, as well as a Lesson page with examples of notated rhythms.
- Ma on About.com