The Shakuhachi is an end-blown flute tuned to a pentatonic (5-note) scale.

By various fingerings -- half- and quarter-holings -- and by controlling the angle of mouthpiece against the lip, all twelve tones of the western chromatic scale can be produced.

The mouthpiece consists of an oblique blowing edge whose design is unique in that it enables the player to control the pitch produced by changing the angle at which the flute is being blown.

This, in turn, produces a delicate change of intonation -- a swelling or bending of notes characteristic of the traditional music.