A Duo of Classical and Contemporary Koto Included

Complete playing style capability

All conventional Koto playing methods typically used in traditional Japanese music are covered. It is easy to switch between all 16 available styles with the simple and intuitive articulation panel and key switch.

For example, when using the “Real” style, note on begins the picking sound, and note off provides the sound of the string as you release the key. For “Normal” “Staccato”etc, note on creates a slight delay for the string sound after picking, to replicate a real koto. The delay time can be controlled using the pick knob, zero to 100ms.

The pitch bending (Up and down) aspect of Koto playing is achieved through the timing of releasing your keyboard, therefore you can control the timing of your bends to match the tempo of your song.

214 audio phrase patterns are also included, such as glissando etc. 

36 traditional Japanese scales

As well as the standard chromatic scale, traditional Japanese scales can be assigned to the white keys of your keyboard. It is also possible to save up to 20 of your own original scales. You can perform glissando with white keys just like a real koto.

When using a preset, the top note of the 13 strings, A4, will automatically have tremolo assigned to the next black key, A#4. From this it is possible to reproduce SARARIN typical of traditional koto playing style, the combination of tremolo and glissando, without using any key switch. (F#4, G#4 also have the same automatic tremolo.)

The classic scales are usually played with the 13 string koto. However when using Expand Mode, the assigned scales intelligently and automatically extend to meet the higher/extra notes covered in Expand Mode.

All factory presets and user presets can be transposed to fit your song.

One of the reasons for the beautiful cosmic sound created by a Koto is that, similar to the way the pedals on a piano work, you are not only hearing the string that is being plucked, but also the vibrations and resonance that pass through all of the other strings and fill the surrounding air in all directions.

When recording the 13 string Koto, we captured all keys with authentic Koto scales. That’s why KAGUYA is imbued with super natural and beautiful vibration, typical of Kotos.

* The 17 String bass Koto is a contemporary instrument which was not used in the past. Therefore the 17 string koto only has the chromatic scale.