Taiko Drum Lesson Taiko Drum Lesson
Played RLRLRLRLR... with a sharp bounce feel, like a jazz ride cymbal beat. Or, think of Gene Krupa playing "Sing, Sing, Sing."
Played R_RL R_RL R_RL R_RL... sometimes the "1" is accented. Or, you can accent each beat of the pulse (the 1/4 note on the bottom line).
Played R_RL R L R_RL R L... the "1" the "& of 2" the "3" and the "& of 4" are accented.
When arranging a taiko song, typically the "Ji-uchi" is played in what feels like double time of the phrasing of the song part (the "O-uchi"). So, the count for this example -
The "bounce ji-uchi" (top) would be:
"1..e2..e3..e4..e5..e6..e7..e8 e.." (the sticking is RLRL...)
While the soloist (bottom) might play:
"1...2..e3...4.&.5...6...7...8e&." (the sticking is R...L..LR...L.R.R...L...R...LLR.)Since the "O-uchi" phrasing has a feel of 8 counts to the bar, rather than 4, the "Ji-uchi" feels more natural when counted in 8. Which would make the meter 8/4 or 8/8, rather than 4/4. A lot of taiko phrasing seems more natural when thought of in 8 beats, and the sticking and syncopation become more interesting as well.
Use in Taiko
Taiko, along with other traditional Japanese music, uses shouts and verbal cues called "kakegoe" or "ki-ai." While those
terms can be used somewhat interchangeably, "kakegoe" is generally a more orchestrated use of a sound or expression,
where as "ki-ai" seems to be more like a spontaneous shout. Using these verbal cues is an important part of any taiko
performance. They may set the mood of the song, or indicate a change in rhythm, or the beginning or end of a section
of music. Sometimes they are used as a "call" or "answer" to a beat on the taiko, or used to hold a rest. Regardless
of how they are being used, a taiko performance would be much less lively and energetic without them.
Use in Minyo
Many Japanese folk songs (Minyo) include extra stress on certain syllables, as well as pitched shouts (kakegoe). Kakegoe are
generally shouts of cheer, but in music such as minyo they are often included as parts of choruses. There are many
kakegoe, though they vary from region to region. In Okinawa Minyo, for example, one will hear "ha iya sasa!"
In mainland Japan, however, one will be more likely to hear "yoisho!," "sate!," or "sore!" Other common kakegoe are
"donto koi!," and "dokoisho!"
Common kakegoe used in taiko
Dokkoi
Dokkoi sho
Donto koi
Ha
Hai
Ho
Iya
Sa
Sate
Sore
Sei sei
Yoi sho
Yo
Ya
Use in Noh
To western ears, the "kakegoe" calls used in "Noh" might sound comical at first. Of course, the actors and drummers
are not employing the use of these sounds for laughs. In noh, there is very little needless movement or action by the
performers. The drummers exhibit the same economy of movement and stylized form which is characteristic
of the actor-dancers. Stylization extends into the drum calls and the kakegoe, these are very important in setting the
tone of the play or expressing changes of emotions throughout the play.
In all noh plays there are either two or three drummers. The stylized kakegoe which go with each drum vary slightly but can be divided into four basic types: yo, ho, iya and yoi. The yo and ho are the most common, both creating and seemingly riding the underlying pulse to a musical section. Yoi usually signals the coming of the end of a section, while iya is used at the end of a section and beginning of a new section, or otherwise to accent certain words or phrases.
These calls are themselves meaningless syllables. But they serve as important signals among the drummers or between the drummers and the chorus and actors. Since there is no conductor in a noh performance, the kakegoe keep all the performers together and aware of where they are in terms of the fundamental eight-beat structure of the music. They also can be lengthened, shortened or timed to give elasticity to the rhythm (called "ma"). One of the reasons why it is nearly impossible for the uninitiated to count out the eight-beat rhythm.
Most noh drummers would agree that the kakegoe are a more important part of the rhythmic texture than the actual hitting of the taiko. Noh instructors say that the kakegoe calls are actually the main focus of drumming. Needless to say, the quality of the kakegoe, their strength and intensity, make them a very important musical element in noh - as well as taiko drumming.
Many students have asked if there is any published material with music, rhythms, or exercises for learning taiko. Something like snare drum rudiments for western drummers, or scales for pianists & guitarists. Unfortunately, at the present time translated material is in rather short supply, so first-hand information from Japan is difficult to obtain. Also, because taiko is very much a folk art form, until recently most of the music was never written in western notation.
As a result, I am going to use this web site in an attempt to create some "Taiko Rudiments" for use by taiko students around the world. If anyone visiting this site would like to add to the list, please email tatsumaki@email.com with your suggestions.
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