Thanks for this David. I have enjoyed playing Mode #4 and jumping between that and a Mixo "Indian" pentatonic scale. 1 , 3 , 4 , b7, and occasionally to the minor pentatonic. This has given me some new toys to play with. Tim
Man it so awesome you did one on this stuff because it made me remember that I have been wanting to put more time into koto music for years.... I love this lp of traditional Japanese music centered around the koto (link below). Its one thing to get those scales and sounds from them, but you really have to listen to what they were on about. They used a bunch of weird ornamentation and clustered chords. They loved ringing minor second dyads as a sort of falling grace note all over the place. And yo, they loved pick scrapping too lol .They do quite a bit of a kind of either call and response or mimicry/copying back and forth between instruments....Some of it almost sounds like they were improvising but I am pretty sure they were not.A few of these pieces pick up speed and get pretty wild for what it is. Something else I noticed that may help getting that sound more is slight slapback delay at times .They seemed to occasionally like their phrasing with another koto or other instrument so that one comes in after the other in a split second.I guess that is what you had to do before fx pedals lol. IDK, it just kinda shows you how to get a lot more impact from those scales (and that they didn't strictly follow them either) than you would with just our western sensibilities thrown at them. ua-cam.com/video/b9oWnNTj79I/v-deo.html
I remember reading an interview of Eric Johnson back in 1986, where he mentions achieving a sound like that on his "Tones" album. He would basically pluck it really hard where his fretting finger was, on the opposite side of the string. Nice stuff! 🤘
Eric Johnson had a "Koto" technique where he plucked extremely close to the fretting hand, and I've seen Andy Wood do it with tapping - lots of ways of bringing out the expressiveness of the instruments. An interesting book on the subject is by William Malm called "Japanese Music and Musical Instruments" available on kindle. It's quite old (first published 1959) but does have a lot of information you could apply. "Scenes" by Marty Friendman has even more overt uses of that harmonic vocabulary than the Cacophony stuff.....very chill. Great lesson, and literally just the tip of the iceberg. (Factoid: "Hira" and "Kumoi" aren't scales per se, they're tunings as you say. Contrast that with "Yona Nuki Minor" 1 2 b3 5 b6. Ethnomusicologists seems to love to learn this stuff, so there are many websites you could check out if you wanted further inspiration)
This was mind-blowing. The different flavours that each mode has is so interesting. There seems to be a real lack of backing tracks for these modes on youtube, one for the first mode, and two for the fourth mode. Maybe you could record and upload some backing tracks for this lesson. This was a real eye opener for the power of modes, and for the power of 5 notes scales. Great stuff man.
Part of the coolest thing about the guitar is it’s versatility and the fact that you can mimic nearly any other instrument. I love exotic sounding scales . Doesn’t the Koto use drone strings similar to a sitar. Rob Scalion has a cool video demonstrating both instructions and every other wild instrument you can think of.
Thank you for this lesson. My approach to the Koto Technique comes from Eric Johnson. And an out of phase Tone gives an interesting flavor that complements the technique. Thanks!
When I hear this type of thing I always think of Gandalf from the old Rankin Bass Hobbit Movie, when Gandalf would appear dramatically I think that they used this kind of tonality! Great lesson Dave!!!
I hope this a sign for a possible Ningen Isu video (I'd be happy just to know if David is familiar with them or at least check 'em out) Awesome as always David!
Very intentional Rust in Peace picture! My favorite Japanese scale is actually none of these. It's the Insen scale (aka Kokin-Joshi), which is 1 b2 4 5 b7. Totally underused!
I think I requested this. If not, I was gonna. Adore the sounds of Japanese strings. Watching this I just realized I've been using the Hirajoshi scale already without knowing it in some of my leads. Btw you cannot get the sounds right unless you wear a kimono while playing. ;)
The brilliant New York singer/songwriter uses the the koto on her 1976 album, Smile, particularly on the title track where the second half is koto with bass and flute provided by jazz legends Richard Davis (Out to Lunch, Astral Weeks) and Joe Farrell. Even more exotic is Nyro's sublime Upstairs by a Chinese Lamp (1970) with oud and cimbalin with Davis Farrell and Alice Coltrane on harp, with the song beginning in Phrygian Dominant. Laura Nyro " probably influenced more successful songwriters than anyone " Elton John 2007.
You didn't mention the IWATO scale. If you like Japanese scales and music... I have two recommendations: 1. Symphony X "Lady Of The Snow" 2. WAGAKKI BAND ( this supergroup will blow your mind )
Dave's favorite guitar player is Jeff Beck he is probably in shock like the rest of us he will put something very special together to honor him give him some time
Cool change of pace, very interesting.
I have been binge watching this gentleman’s channel for the last 3 days!!!!
Dave... you are the coolest guy, and one amazing player. Thanks, for sharing your knowledge.
Gotta give this scales / modes of the koto a try !! Definitely gonna expand my thought process on leads !!
Thanks for this David. I have enjoyed playing Mode #4 and jumping between that and a Mixo "Indian" pentatonic scale. 1 , 3 , 4 , b7, and occasionally to the minor pentatonic. This has given me some new toys to play with. Tim
that was the most bad ass thing I've ever heard on your channel!!
So cool. Such a Japanese flavour comes out just playing some of those modes. And the 'in front of the bridge, koto trick' is awesome!
Cool man! Thanks for sharing👺✌🦝🍜
This is so cool. Thanks David 👍👏
Hopefully this is a new ongoing series
Fun stuff! Thanks 👍👍
been hoping for something like this Dave!
Man it so awesome you did one on this stuff because it made me remember that I have been wanting to put more time into koto music for years....
I love this lp of traditional Japanese music centered around the koto (link below). Its one thing to get those scales and sounds from them, but you really have to listen to what they were on about. They used a bunch of weird ornamentation and clustered chords. They loved ringing minor second dyads as a sort of falling grace note all over the place. And yo, they loved pick scrapping too lol .They do quite a bit of a kind of either call and response or mimicry/copying back and forth between instruments....Some of it almost sounds like they were improvising but I am pretty sure they were not.A few of these pieces pick up speed and get pretty wild for what it is.
Something else I noticed that may help getting that sound more is slight slapback delay at times .They seemed to occasionally like their phrasing with another koto or other instrument so that one comes in after the other in a split second.I guess that is what you had to do before fx pedals lol.
IDK, it just kinda shows you how to get a lot more impact from those scales (and that they didn't strictly follow them either) than you would with just our western sensibilities thrown at them.
ua-cam.com/video/b9oWnNTj79I/v-deo.html
I’m listening to the opening passage. That opening jam has an aeolian vibe. Coolness!
I remember reading an interview of Eric Johnson back in 1986, where he mentions achieving a sound like that on his "Tones" album. He would basically pluck it really hard where his fretting finger was, on the opposite side of the string. Nice stuff! 🤘
beautiful and inspiring scales - thanks!
Eric Johnson had a "Koto" technique where he plucked extremely close to the fretting hand, and I've seen Andy Wood do it with tapping - lots of ways of bringing out the expressiveness of the instruments. An interesting book on the subject is by William Malm called "Japanese Music and Musical Instruments" available on kindle. It's quite old (first published 1959) but does have a lot of information you could apply. "Scenes" by Marty Friendman has even more overt uses of that harmonic vocabulary than the Cacophony stuff.....very chill.
Great lesson, and literally just the tip of the iceberg.
(Factoid: "Hira" and "Kumoi" aren't scales per se, they're tunings as you say. Contrast that with "Yona Nuki Minor" 1 2 b3 5 b6. Ethnomusicologists seems to love to learn this stuff, so there are many websites you could check out if you wanted further inspiration)
Thank you! Will look into Andy Wood's version. Cheers!
Sounds very cool, bro!
Awesome Dave Thank you for your great lessons
Great lesson by the way
Very good, David san. This lesson is inspiring me to buy ninja shoes.
tabbi boot worthy for sure
@@fxdbmgtow 😂👍
This was mind-blowing. The different flavours that each mode has is so interesting. There seems to be a real lack of backing tracks for these modes on youtube, one for the first mode, and two for the fourth mode. Maybe you could record and upload some backing tracks for this lesson. This was a real eye opener for the power of modes, and for the power of 5 notes scales. Great stuff man.
Part of the coolest thing about the guitar is it’s versatility and the fact that you can mimic nearly any other instrument. I love exotic sounding scales . Doesn’t the Koto use drone strings similar to a sitar. Rob Scalion has a cool video demonstrating both instructions and every other wild instrument you can think of.
No, but they do have movable bridges for each string .
Great lesson!
Good lesson,thanks.
Thank you for this lesson. My approach to the Koto Technique comes from Eric Johnson. And an out of phase Tone gives an interesting flavor that complements the technique. Thanks!
When I hear this type of thing I always think of Gandalf from the old Rankin Bass Hobbit Movie, when Gandalf would appear dramatically I think that they used this kind of tonality!
Great lesson Dave!!!
Very cool! Thanks
Discovering this a year later, does anyone know what video/channel was referenced at the start?
I hope this a sign for a possible Ningen Isu video (I'd be happy just to know if David is familiar with them or at least check 'em out)
Awesome as always David!
Very cool! I enjoyed my time when I was stationed in Japan. What amp are you using?
Very intentional Rust in Peace picture!
My favorite Japanese scale is actually none of these. It's the Insen scale (aka Kokin-Joshi), which is 1 b2 4 5 b7. Totally underused!
I think I requested this. If not, I was gonna. Adore the sounds of Japanese strings. Watching this I just realized I've been using the Hirajoshi scale already without knowing it in some of my leads. Btw you cannot get the sounds right unless you wear a kimono while playing. ;)
The brilliant New York singer/songwriter uses the the koto on her 1976 album, Smile, particularly on the title track where the second half is koto with bass and flute provided by jazz legends Richard Davis (Out to Lunch, Astral Weeks) and Joe Farrell. Even more exotic is Nyro's sublime Upstairs by a Chinese Lamp (1970) with oud and cimbalin with Davis Farrell and Alice Coltrane on harp, with the song beginning in Phrygian Dominant. Laura Nyro " probably influenced more successful songwriters than anyone " Elton John 2007.
Laura Nyro.
Eric Johnson does a koto technique as well however it sounds different than what you and Jason Becker are playing.
Cool stuff man, I’m a if it sounds good it works guy/ no theory. The fact that different cultures use different scales backs my belief up.🤷♂️
Far-out man 👍
makes me think of Marty Friedman...for some reason.
You didn't mention the IWATO scale.
If you like Japanese scales and music... I have two recommendations:
1. Symphony X "Lady Of The Snow"
2. WAGAKKI BAND ( this supergroup will blow your mind )
Could you do a lesson on Don Felders -All of you
????
eric johnson makes his strat sound like a koto with tapping, also marty friedman is master of japanese scales
It's like japan meets sinister footwear
JEFF BECK!!!!!!!
Weeb. 😉
Uhhh. Hey. What about JEFF BECK? Nothing?
silence
I'm sure he will it's been a day now sshhhh
He's been talking about him on Facebook
Give em time, these don't produce themselves
Dave's favorite guitar player is Jeff Beck he is probably in shock like the rest of us he will put something very special together to honor him give him some time
this is cool thank you