BiwaVocab for Satsuma-Biwa

Sound Information System by Junko Ueda

Pitch Variations

Pitch variations are created with the left hand fingers by pressing the strings in between the frets (Chû).

Pitch bending

Pitch bending
The left fingers are controlling the pitch bending as indicated by the line behind each note.
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Pitch bending with vibrato
The left fingers are controlling the pitch bending as well as vibrato.
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Pitch bending followed by a vibrato
After the pitch bending a vibrato is performed.
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Pitch bending variations
Always the line indicates the pitch bending.
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Ornamentations by the left hand fingers

Left hand finger plucking the string (Hajiki)
Immediately after plucking a string with the 'Bachi' the very same string is quickly plucked with the left hand ring finger. This is usually described by 'Rin'.
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Left hand finger pitch rise (Tataki)
Immediately after plucking a string with the 'Bachi', the left hand fingers hit (and stay) to the next 'Chû' position (or another Chû if indicated). It is written by the bow and point after the note. This techniques is usually described by 'N...'.
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