Shakuhachi Modes and Scales, Session 1: The Evolution of Hon-Choshi

In this video I discuss the origins and evolution of Hon-Choshi, the most commonly employed mode in shakuhachi honkyoku. It has its roots in the Ritsu and Ryo scales used in hitoyogiri shakuhachi music, of which one mode was preferred as the Fuke shakuhachi came into being during the early Edo era. From the latter half of the Edo era, we also have the Miyakobushi scale in popular music, which seems to have influenced many shakuhachi schools, and also explains the difference in the pitch of Tsu employed by many Myoan players, as opposed to that used in Kinko and other honkyoku schools.