Beta Fundamentals

• Breakdown of basic Don

  • Lift arms straight up to the sky

  • Bend elbows pointing them at the taiko

  • Keep a loose grip. Bachi should naturally bend back towards you

  • Snap wrist forward to hit taiko

• Practice each move separately then in one fluid movement

Beta Fundamentals

• Practice drill

  • Large- Don Hup! Kon Hup! 4x

  • Medium- Doko 8x

  • Small- Tsuku Tsuku 8x

• Practice playing these hits in this order

  • Large, medium, small, medium, large, etc.

• Remember to keep a loose grip and only tighten to catch the bachi as it bounces off the taiko then immediately loosen your grip again

BRATs Renshu: Lines 1-5

• Refer to video for the first 5 lines

  1. Don Kon Don Kon Doko Hup! Doko

  2. Don Kon Don Kon Doko Kara Don Kon

     • Repeat lines 1 and 2

  3. Su Don Su Kon Su Don Kon

  4. Su Doko Su Doko Do Kon Ko Don

  5. Doko Doko (Doko Doko) Doko Doko (Doko Doko)

Beta Fundamentals

• Tips on different types of taiko hits

  • Small hit (tsuku)- wiggle your wrists

  • Medium hit (doko)- bend your elbows

  • Large hit (Don Kon)- Lift arms with shoulders 

BRATs Renshu: Lines 1-4

• Refer to video for the first 4 lines

  • Don Kon Don Kon Doko Hup! Doko

  • Don Kon Don Kon Doko Kara Don Kon

  • Repeat lines 1 and 2

  • Su Don Su Kon Su Don Kon

  • Su Kodo Su Doko Do Kon Ko Don

Beta Fundamentals

• Stance

  • Wide, relaxed stance with toes facing forward

  • Hara (your center or hips) face the taiko 

  • Knees are slightly bent, not locked

• Bachi position

  • Arms are straight and relaxed. Do not lock your elbows

  • Tips of bachi are pointing towards the center of the taiko, forming a "V."

  • Use your ring and pinkie fingers to control your bachi. The rest of your fingers should be loosely wrapped around the bachi

• Stroke

  • Keep a loose grip

  • Grip only tightens when bachi bounces back after striking drum and then relax

  • Use the momentum of the bachi! Practice inhaling when lifting your bachi up then exhaling when you drop your arm

• Lead with your elbow

Song Learning: Kuchishoga

• Taiko traditionally learned through kuchishoga ("kuchi" means mouth, "shoga" means song) or singing the lines

• Each word means a different kind of hit

  • Don Kon- loud right then left

  • Doko- medium right then left

  • Tsuku- soft right then left

  • Ka Ra- rim right then left

  • Su- space

  • Hup! Sore!- kiai, vocalization

BRATs Renshu: Lines 1-4

• Refer to video for the first 4 lines

  • Don Kon Don Kon Doko Hup! Doko

  • Don Kon Don Kon Doko Kara Don Kon

  • Repeat lines 1 and 2

  • Su Don Su Kon Su Don Kon

  • Su Kodo Su Doko Do Kon Ko Don