Shakuhachi musical notation

However, the master-disciple relationship is given emphasis within the tradition, and written sources are considered of little value 'without experience of the living tradition of actual training within the school'.

[1] In contrast to Western staff notation, shakuhachi playing instructions commonly indicate multiple fingerings resulting in various timbres for a given pitch, and microtonal slides between semitones.

Solo Kinko school honkyoku ("original pieces") generally do not feature an explicit beat.

In some notation systems, nominal rhythmic values are given; musical importance ascribed to rhythmic markings varies depending on the lineage and/or teacher.

Some current publishers of traditional shakuhachi honkyoku notation include the Chikuyūsha, Chikumeisha, Chikuhoryū, and the Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshūkan.