Shakuhachi Meri Note Pitch

(For a Meri note fingering chart, see the Shakuhachi Note Charts)

You’ll often encounter differing opinions on the pitch of Meri notes on the shakuhachi. These are the notes that are intentionally flattened from the instrument’s standard ‘natural’ or ‘open-hole scale’ (minor pentatonic). Some advocate for Meri notes to be flatter while others prefer them to be sharper.

The Challenge of Meri Pitch

Undoubtedly, achieving precise Meri notes is one of the most challenging aspects of shakuhachi playing. Objectively, it requires greater skill and effort to play Meri notes deeper or flatter. This is akin to a dancer who possesses the ability to jump high or far. Just as that dancer has the artistic choice to utilize their full range, or not, players have similar choices with Meri pitch. And, of course, many dancers simply may not have such a high jump, which is perfectly fine.

Similarly, some players are renowned for their ability to execute very deep Meri notes. Of course, players who may not be able to Meri as deeply can still produced beautiful and compelling music. While rare, some highly skilled players can Meri deeply but choose not to, sometimes only for specific pieces or styles. Just as with dancers, we can choose to appreciate and enjoy this variety in Meri note pitch. One can see that these variations ride on the same underlying current or core spirit.

Meri Pitch in Broader Japanese Music

It’s important to note that most traditional Japanese stringed instruments and vocalists produce these notes on the deeper, flatter side. Unlike the shakuhachi, for them this requires little to no extra effort. Of course, this only holds true if they’re not having to consciously adjust their pitches to match a shakuhachi player who performs Meri notes on the sharper side.

Therefore, in the broader context of traditional Japanese music, these notes are generally understood as being flatter. The shakuhachi community, likely due to the inherent difficulty in achieving flatter Meri pitches, maintains a wider acceptable range for these notes.