World Traditions
Koto
The koto is a long, rectangular wooden instrument played lying horizontally, either on the floor or on stands. Movable bridges set the pitch of each string, which allows a player to retune the instrument for different pieces, often toward pentatonic scale patterns, and the strings are plucked with picks worn on the thumb and first two fingers.
Plucked
Japan
| Family | World Traditions |
|---|---|
| Region / context | Japan |
| Playing method | Plucked with picks (tsume) worn on the thumb and first two fingers; movable bridges set each string's pitch |
| Number of strings | 13 strings (modern variants include 17- and 20-string bass koto) |
| Common tuning | Movable bridges allow retuning per piece, commonly toward pentatonic scale patterns |
| String material | Silk historically; modern strings are often synthetic |
| Construction | Long rectangular wooden body, traditionally built from paulownia wood, played horizontally |
| Size range | Around 180 cm long |
| Portability | Low — Its length and rigid wooden body make it one of the less portable instruments in this library. |
| Acoustic volume | Moderate — Bright and resonant, well projected in traditional chamber settings. |
| Musical contexts | Central to traditional Japanese classical and chamber music (sokyoku), with a continuing role in contemporary composition. |
| Beginner learning curve | Moderate-Demanding — Learning to use the movable bridges and plucking technique takes focused practice, though pentatonic tunings can make early melodies more approachable than they first appear. |
| Maintenance | Periodic restringing, bridge adjustment, and humidity care for the wooden body. |
| Amplification | Acoustic by design; microphones are used for amplified performance. |
| Practice environments | Needs a dedicated floor space to play comfortably; its moderate volume suits most indoor settings. |
Origin and Background
The koto was introduced to Japan from China, related to the guzheng lineage, around the 7th or 8th century, and developed into a distinctly Japanese solo and ensemble tradition especially from the 17th century onward.
Sources
- Grove Music Online
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Department of Musical Instruments
Content last checked against our reference sources on October 14, 2026. See our sources and methodology page for how we research instrument profiles.