Koto

About the Sound and Character

The sound of the koto is crystal clear, with deep wooden resonance and noble, fading overtones. Each string sounds like a drop of water or a falling leaf, creating a unique atmosphere of tranquility and spatial silence.

Structure and Features

The instrument consists of a long hollow body made of paulownia wood, strung with 13 silk (or modern synthetic) strings. The pitch of each string is tuned using movable wooden bridges (ji) that the musician shifts before playing.

Genres

• Traditional Japanese chamber music (sokyoku)
• Ensembles with shakuhachi and shamisen (sankyoku)
• Modern Japanese ambient and experimental fusion