Koto online: play the 13-string Japanese koto
The koto (箏) is Japan’s long zither: thirteen strings stretched over a wooden body, each raised by its own movable bridge, called ji (柱). Strings are numbered from the far side toward the player: 一 二 三 四 五 六 七 八 九 十, then 斗 (to), 為 (i) and 巾 (kin). This koto online player draws all thirteen side by side with their bridges, and every string shows its number and its note.
How to use it
- Choose a tuning under Scale: 平調子 Hirajōshi, 雲井調子 Kumoijōshi or 楽調子 Gakujōshi.
- Tap the strings; several fingers can play at once.
- On a computer, Z X C V B N M , . / play strings 一 to 十 and Q W E play 斗, 為 and 巾. Esc or Stop all silences everything.
- Press Record session, play, press it again to stop, then Replay. The session lasts until you close or reload the page.
- To practise, pick a string under Target, press Start practice and Hear target, then pluck the string you think it is. Next target picks another one.
Help and explanations
The sound is a recorded koto, downloaded the first time you pluck a string. Play with several fingers at once, the mouse or your computer keyboard; record a session and replay it, or pick a target string and let the page tell you whether you found it. Everything runs on your device and nothing is uploaded.
Hirajōshi, kumoijōshi and gakujōshi
With string 一 on D, hirajōshi, the basic koto tuning, runs D4 G3 A3 B♭3 D4 E♭4 G4 A4 B♭4 D5 E♭5 G5 A5. Two things surprise beginners: string 一 is not the lowest, it has the same pitch as 五, and the lowest string is 二.
Kumoijōshi lowers 三, 八 and 巾 by a semitone and raises 四 and 九 by a whole tone (D G A♭ C D E♭ G A♭ C D E♭ G A♭). Gakujōshi raises 四 and 九 by a whole tone and 六 and 斗 by a semitone, giving a brighter major pentatonic (D G A C D E G A C D E G A). They match the koto tuner, so you can hear a tuning before moving the bridges on a real koto.
Songs to practise
Sakura Sakura is the usual first piece, and it stays in hirajōshi. In koto notation it begins 七七八・七七八・七八九八七・八七六; on the keyboard that is M M , · M M , · M , . , M · , M N.
Rokudan no Shirabe, the classic piece in hirajōshi, is a good reference for the tuning: its opening is enough. Haru no Umi (The Sea in Spring) by Michio Miyagi, for koto and shakuhachi, is worth hearing for the sound. There is no sheet music or backing track here.
Tips
- Pluck 一 and then 五: they sound the same. It is the quickest way to feel the layout.
- Turn off Highlight target once you know where the strings are, so you find them by ear alone.
- Keep a steady pulse with the metronome in another tab.
- Under Settings you can switch the note names (C D E or Do Re Mi) and set the volume.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Tap the strings with one or several fingers; on a computer, use the mouse or the keyboard.
Why is string 一 not the lowest note?
In hirajōshi, 一 is tuned to the same pitch as 五, and 二 and 三 sit below it. The page follows the real koto.
Can I save or share my recording?
No. Record session keeps your notes only in this browser tab, and closing or reloading the page clears them. There is no audio download or share link.
Can I tune my koto with this page?
No, it only plays the target notes. To tune a real koto, use the koto tuner, which listens through your microphone.