Cleaning the shakuhachi
Cleaning the shakuhachi
Hi,
I am new to the Shakuhachi. I want to know how I can properly clean the interior of a shakuhachi? Can I use a cleaning rod from the western concert flute, or is it too rough for the surface of the bamboo? Do you recommend me to buy the cleaning cloth with a string attached and not used the western cleaning method (cleaning rod with a cloth attached)? I have been using that method for some time but I don't know if it will do harm to the shakuhachi interior.
I am new to the Shakuhachi. I want to know how I can properly clean the interior of a shakuhachi? Can I use a cleaning rod from the western concert flute, or is it too rough for the surface of the bamboo? Do you recommend me to buy the cleaning cloth with a string attached and not used the western cleaning method (cleaning rod with a cloth attached)? I have been using that method for some time but I don't know if it will do harm to the shakuhachi interior.
You can make your own cleaning cloth from a handkerchief, a piece of string and a weight of some sort. Do not use a rod as it may damage the bamboo and/or the lacquer inside the bore.
Noooooooo! I have used the cleaning rod method on my shakuhachi a few times already! Well, I won't be doing that anymore. Assuming that I have damaged the interior by scratching the lacquer inside, will this alter the sound a little in any way? I love my shakuhachi, and it hurts so much that I may have damaged it already with my stupid hands 
Dyims, I am sure you would have heard it if the rod was scratching against the inner walls of your shakuhachi... so I wouldn't worry so much.
When you do make the cleaning cloth as Brian advised, make sure to hold your thumb on the utaguchi when pulling the cloth through the flute. Then you will also follow Jam's advice on minding the utaguchi.
Good luck with the shakuhachi adventure!
When you do make the cleaning cloth as Brian advised, make sure to hold your thumb on the utaguchi when pulling the cloth through the flute. Then you will also follow Jam's advice on minding the utaguchi.
Good luck with the shakuhachi adventure!
Dyims, you probably didn't damage anything, so unless you see damage when you look in the bore don't worry about it. Only if you did it over a long period of time would you cause problems.
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