Hoa anh đào
Japanese Folk Song
Sakura Sakura [Cherry Blossoms], is a popular Japanese folk song of the Edo Period (1603-1868), depicting spring, the season of cherry blossoms. It is often sung in international settings as a song representative of Japan. The first lines of the original verse (sakura sakura yayoi no sora wa mi-watasu kagiri) serve as a prelude to Bon Jovi’s song “Tokyo Road” from their second album 7800° Fahrenheit (released in 1985).
Tablature in different styles here
Japanese Tuning: compared to Standard one
Level 1: Main Melody
(looped many times so you can play along)
(looped 4 times so you can play along)
(looped 4 times so you can play along)
(looped 4 times so you can play along)
Level 2: Main Melody and Á (glissando)
Level 3: Main Melody and song thanh chập
(harmonic intervals)
◆ Practice Video for Phrase 1+2
◆ Practice Video for Phrase 3
◆ Practice Video for Phrase 4
◆ Practice Video for Phrase 9
Level 4: Main Melody, song thanh chập
(harmonic intervals) and Á (glissandos)
◆ Practice Video for Phrase 1+2
◆ Practice Video for Phrase 3
◆ Practice Video for Phrase 4
◆ Practice Video for Phrase 9
Level 5: Main Melody, song thanh rời
(melodic intervals with stationary supporting notes)
Level 6: Left hand with three-note blocked chords
◆ Practice Video for Phrase 1+2
◆ Practice Video for Phrase 3
◆ Practice Video for Phrase 4
◆ Practice Video for Phrase 9
Level 7
Level 8
Level 9: Prep Step
Level 9: play with alternating hands
| ☐ Re-tune your đàn tranh to the Japanese scale for Sakura. ☐ Share the new tuning in the classroom’s padlet. ☐ Practice Sakura at your comfort level (alone or with the Practice Videos) Recommend trying Level 6 with 3 notes or reduce it to 1 or 2 notes, just to get the sense of the rhythm. Left-hand chords come in after the main melodic syllables sung. ☐ Share your Sakura in the classroom’s padlet. |
Manhattan Academy of Music & Language 