Glossary

 

Here is an exhaustive list of terms we use during practice.

 
Term Definition
Bachi (Òü░Òüí) The wooden sticks used to play taiko, comes in all sorts of sizes depending on the type of drum or song
Taiko (Õñ¬Ú╝ô) Japanese word for "drum", comes in various sizes and forms
Kuchi sh┼ìga (ÕÅúÕö▒µ¡î) Musical notation used in taiko playing through phonetics
Kiai (µ░ùÕÉê) Intended shout or yell in order to add expression or vocal components to a musical piece
Nagado-daiko (ÚòÀÞâ┤Õñ¬Ú╝ô) Japanese word for "long-bodied drum"; medium-sized drum that produces a low, deep sound
Shime-daiko (þÀáÒéüÕñ¬Ú╝ô) Japanese word for "tightened drum"; small-sized drum that produces a higher-pitch sound
Fuchi (ÒüÁÒüí) Edge or rim of a drum
Jiuchi (Õ£░µëôÒüí) "ji" for short, a repetitive base beat or underlying rhythm played in a musical piece
Genki (Õàâµ░ù) Japanese word for "energy" or "spirit"
┼ìdaiko (ÕñºÕñ¬Ú╝ô) Japanese word for "large drum"; large sized drum that produces a low, bass sound deeper than a nagado-daiko. Also the name for a style of play, where the drum is high up on it's side, often with the player facing back to the audience
Uchiwa-daiko (ÒüåÒüíÒéÅÕñ¬Ú╝ô) A small handheld drum played with only one bachi
Shinobue (þ»áþ¼ø) "Fue" for short, a style of traditional Japanese bamboo flute that emits a high pitched sound
Chappa (ÒâüÒâúÒââÒâæ) Small Japanese hand cymbals
Atarigane (Õ¢ôÒüƒÒéèÚçæ) A small hand held brass gong
Bita (Òü│Òüƒ) The standard style of play where the drum is facing uprite
Hachijo (Õà½õ©ê) A style of playing where the drum is high up on it's side, often with one person playing on either head of the drum. Named after Hachijo-Jima, where the style originated.
 
 

Kuchi Sh┼ìga (ÕÅúÕö▒µ¡î)

 

Here is a list of common phonetics we use to learn a musical piece. The phonetics come in pair, where the first word denotes a bachi hit from the right hand, and the second word denotes a bachi hit from the left hand.

 
Phonetics (R L) Translation
(San/Don) (Kon/Ron) Deep-sound hit on the drum; commonly played as quarter notes
Do (Ko/Koi/Ro) Quick or light hit on the drum; commonly played as eighth notes
Ka Ra Hit on the fuchi
Ki Ri Hit bachis together, right over left (Ki) and left over right (Ri)
(Tsu/Su) (Ku/Ru) Rest from hitting