Odaiko Fundamentals

• Keep your shoulders and grip relaxed. This will allow you to play longer without much effort

Song: Odaiko Kakeai Kihon Kyoku

• Arrangement

  • Ji 8x

  • Melody- A caller

  • Melody- B caller

  • Solo 1

  • Solo 2

  • Solo 3

  • Ji played softly then gradually louder

  • Melody- A caller

    • Play final line 8 loudly and with confidence!

Odaiko Fundamentals

• Hit the taiko in its center. This is where the sound is deepest and loudest

• When playing the ji for another player, play it loud enough for them to hear, but do not overpower their sound

  • You are providing support--keeping time, accompanying, backing up the person playing the melody or solo

Odaiko Fundamentals

• When creating a solo, play what you know!

• Play the OKKK melody as you solo!

  • Try changing the order of the lines, playing only part of a line, or repeating a line more than once

  • Consider using "ma" or space during your solo. Ma can be a break from playing the taiko and a chance to include movement

  • Additional rhythms to consider

    • Don Hup! Kon Hup! Don Hup! Kon Hup!

    • Don Doko Don Doko Don Doko Don Doko

    • Doro tsuku Doro tsuku Doro tsuku Doro tsuku

    • Don Kon Do Kon Ko

Song: Odaiko Kakeai Kihon Kyoku

• Practice singing and playing along with the video

  • Pick Koh or Trisha's role and play along, sing the other role, then switch!

• Remember to sing the lines while you play. This will help you memorize the song.

Odaiko Fundamentals

• When playing "do Kon ko Don", Bring the arm up to the ear, and bring the non-playing hand up in a "scissors" motion

• Play into the center of the drum by changing the angle of the stroke to be more upwards

• Have a more circular stroke so you lead a little more with your elbows

Song: Odaiko Kakeai Kihon Kyoku

• Practice singing and playing along with the video

  • Pick Koh or Trisha's role and play along, sing the other role, then switch!

• Here's a metronome that can serve as a ji. It is set for 208 but feel free to set it slower if you want to practice the song at a slower pace.

Odaiko Fundamentals

• Stance

  • Arms should be extended and relaxed when set

  • Bachi are parallel to the taiko, a few inches from the drum surface

• Stroke

  • Aim for the opposite side of the taiko

  • Small strikes (tsuku)- lightly wiggle your bachi using only your wrist

  • Medium strikes (doko)- bend your elbows

  • Large strikes (Don Kon)- use your core and shoulder to bring your arm up to your ear

    • aim with your elbow, keep hand relaxed, bachi will naturally fall back

    • throw your bachi through the taiko, grip tightens as bachi bounces back and then relaxes

Odaiko Drill

• Start with tsuku tsuku (small hits), work your way up to Don Hup! Kon Hup! (large hits) then work you way back down

• Repeat as many times as desired

• This is a great way to build stamina and practice your form

• Take your time and feel free to play slow so you can pay close attention to your form

• Tsuku tsuku 8x

• Don Kon 8x

• Don Hup! Kon Hup! 8x

Song: Odaiko Kakeai Kihon Kyoku

• Practice singing and playing lines 1-3

• Here's a metronome that can serve as a ji. It is set for 208 but feel free to set it slower if you want to practice the song at a slower pace.

• Don Kon (6x) Doko Doko Do Kon

• Don Kon Doko Doko Do Kon Ko Don Kon

• Do Kon Kon Kon Ko Don Kon Su Ko Don

Song: Odaiko Kakeai Kihon Kyoku

• Odaiko- Big fat drum

• Kakeai- Call and response

• Kihon- Fundamental

• Kyoku- Song

• Practice singing and playing lines 1-2

• Don Kon (6x) Doko Doko Do Kon

• Don Kon Doko Doko Do Kon Ko Don Kon

Odaiko 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

  • Bachi should be parallel to the head of the odaiko

  • Hold bachi the width of your chest

• 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 back then exhaling when you throw bachi forward

• 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- rest

  • Hup! Sore!- kiai, vocalization

Odaiko Drill

• Tsuku tsuku (8x)

  • Wiggle just your wrists, alternating right and left

• Doko Doko (8x)

  • Bend your elbows, alternating right and left

• Doko Doko (8x)

  • Lift bachi with your shoulders, alternating right and left

Song: Odaiko Kakeai Kihon Kyoku

• Written by Kenny Endo

• Focuses on fundamentals, basebeat (ji), and solo improvisations