One Breath, One Sound — A Beginner's Guide to Shakuhachi

One Breath, One Sound

A Beginner's Guide to Shakuhachi

The shakuhachi begins with something remarkably simple:

one breath, one sound.

You do not need to be a musician.

You do not need to read music.

You do not need to know anything about Zen.

You only need a flute, a breath, and a willingness to listen.

One Breath, One Sound is a gentle introduction to the Japanese shakuhachi and to the quiet practice that surrounds it. Rather than beginning with musical theory, this guide begins where the shakuhachi itself begins — with posture, breath, listening, and the first sound.

Inside you will learn:

• How to hold the shakuhachi comfortably

• How to position the flute and find the blowing edge

• How to produce your first clear sound

• The six fundamental notes: RO, TSU, RE, CHI, RI, HI

• Basic fingering with clear visual diagrams

• Simple breathing and listening practices

• How to approach the flute as meditation rather than performance

• How to begin developing your own daily practice

More Than a Flute Manual

For centuries, the shakuhachi has been more than a musical instrument.

In the practice of suizen — “blowing Zen” — the sound of the flute becomes a way of listening to the breath, the body, and the present moment.

There is nowhere you need to arrive.

There is only this breath.

And then the next.

From the KODOAN Workshop

This guide grew from years spent studying, playing, building, and listening to bamboo flutes.

The photographs and teachings come from an actual working flute maker's bench — from selecting bamboo to shaping an instrument and finally giving it breath.

The imperfections of bamboo are not defects to be hidden. They are part of the instrument's character.

The same might be said of us.

Your Copy

This purchase includes the complete KODOAN Digital Edition as a downloadable PDF for personal use.

Read it on your computer, tablet, or phone, or print a personal copy and keep it beside your flute.

$12.95 — instant digital download

KODOAN — A Place to Breathe.

Come. Let's walk together for a little while.