Kuroda Bushi

Get the notation for Kuroda Bushi plus a super useful play along file to help you learn and practice the song!

You can download the files from your customer account page after the purchase – a link will be provided in the order confirmation e-mail.

Wanna have a short listen to see if you like the tune? Here’s the beginning of Kuroda Bushi:

About the song:

Kuroda Bushi is a popular traditional Japanese folk song from Fukuoka Prefecture. As every folk song, it comes in countless variations. This version is written out for shamisen in bunkafu (tabulature) notation. This version is without lyrics and is suited for beginners. As the range of positions is not very wide and there are no difficult techniques involved, this song is very well suited for absolute beginners.

• Tuning: Niagari
• Techniques: double string strum

Note: The gray dotted line indicates the beginning of the verse.

Tuning:

In niagari tuning, the strings are tuned in a certain relation to each other. For folk songs, there’s no fixed rigid tuning to a definite pitch (in contrast, the A-string on the violin is always tuned to 440 or 442hz) but what’s most important is how the strings are tuned in relation to each other.

A good rule of thumb is to tune your instrument over the base of C. This means, the big string will be tuned to C and the other strings according to the tuning of the song:

Honchōshi: C-F-C

Niagari: C-G-C

Sansagari: C-F-Bb

Access to the pdf:

Please note that this item is downloadable once only – just as receiving a physical copy of the scores would be. Consider it a “direct delivery” 🙂

After the purchase, you can download the file from your account page under “downloads” or via the link in your order confirmation email.

Make sure you save your file in an easy to locate directory. Please don’t hesitate to contact us via email if you need further assistance.