Glossary of Taiko

bachi (bah-chi)

Also buchi. General term for drum sticks.  Almost all taiko are struck with bachi

chappa (cha-pah)

Also called tebyoshi. Small hand cymbals. Size in "go" where one go is equal to one sun. Usual sizes range from 4 go to 6 go

chu-daiko (chew-dai-koh)

General term for a medium sized drum

-daiko (dai-koh)

Suffix used to indicate a type of drum, a taiko group, or a style of taiko playing in a compound word

happi (hap-ee)

Short kimono-like coat often used in festivals and performances

hara (hah-rah)

belly location of the Ki energy in humans. Also refers to center of the drumhead

kane (ka-nay)

A gong or large bell. Also colloquially to refer to the atarigane

ki (key)

Your body's energy or spirit

kumi-daiko (ku-mee-daee-ko)

Lit. "grouped drums". A taiko ensemble. The modern style of taiko playing using many drums and performers at the same time

kuchi showa (koo-chi show-ah)

also kuchi shoga, kuchi shoka. The mnemonic syllables (and system) used in learning traditional Japanese music. One syllable will correspond with one sound/note of an instrument

do - medium hit on the hara, right hand

don - hard hit on the hara, right hand

ka - rim strike, either hand

ko - medium hit on the hara, left hand

kon - medium hit on the hara, left hand

tsu (or su) - lightest possible touch on hara, either hand

ma (mah)

The space between two events (two notes or beats on the drum, etc). Somewhat equivalent to a rest in Western notation, but with a deeper connotation than mere absence of sound. Ma is just as important as the notes that surround it, giving shape and contrast to the sounds that we hear. A very important concept in many traditional Japanese arts, not just music

matsuri (maht-su-ree)

festival

o-daiko (oh-daee-ko)

literally - big, fat drum

taiko (taee-koh)

Japanese word for drum