(ok i just found this tab in some site)(i didnt write all of this crap)
This is a retabbing of a tab file done by Edwin Tan. Kudos to
Edwin for doing the ground work on this lovely and classic
piece. However, I have retabbed it to take into account the
timing (Classical Japanese music for the koto is in 2/4 time).
Also I have made several corrections:
1) The "tremolo" with the index finger piece was tabbed incorrectly.
This has been tabbed in the correct time and number of strokes.
2) A minor correction at the end of the main theme (first part)
has been done.
3) The 1st variation, I feel was incorrect. The theme notes sound
as sustained notes, not hammer-offs as was originally tabbed.
The new tabbing allows for the notes to be sustained. However,
the hammering version is "easier" to play so I include the
first 4 measures of it at the end as an alternate version.
I have also corrected for several missing notes or incorrect
note choices.
4) The last two measures of the 2nd variation (harmonic octaves) were
incorrect and have been corrected.
5) The 3rd variation (tremolo study) also had several errors which
have been corrected.
The point is to get the "koto" sound out of the guitar which can be
done by playing very close to the bridge of the guitar for that
sharp sound, and close to the neck or even over it for the real
soft sound. It helps to hear the version played by John Williams,
but I am hoping with the timing here, those who do not have access
to the recording can enjoy this piece.
Original file "sakura.crd" tabbed by Edwin Tan (edwin@your-house.com).
Notes at bottom.
Paul R. Estrada
estrada@cosmic.arc.nasa.gov
Sakura, theme and varitions
Arranged by Yuquijiro Yocoh.
Performed by John Williams.
Time: 2/4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opening
Play slow and deliberate, with plucking hand closer to the bridge
except for first two measures over the hole (guitar opening).
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 e & a 2 & 1 e & a 2 &
E|-5---5---7-------|-5---5---7-------|-0-------0-------|-1-------0-------|
B|-5---5--10-------|-5---5--10-------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|
G|-7---7---9-------|-7---7---9-------|-2-------2-------|-2-------2-------|
D|-7---7---7-------|-7---7---7-------|-----------------|-------0-2-------|
A|---------7-------|---------7-------|---------0---2---|---0-2-----------|
E|-------------0---|-------------0---|---0-1-0---------|-------------0---|
1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 & 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & 2 &
E|-1-----0-1---5---|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-0---7--10-------|
B|-0-----0-0---3---|-0-----1-0-------|-------------0-3-|--10-------------|
G|-2-----2-2---4---|-2-----2-2-------|-----------2-----|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-------3-----2---|-------0-2-------|-----------------|
A|---0-0-----0---0-|-----------------|---0-2-----------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|---0-0-----------|-0---------------|-----------------|
muted...........................
1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e &
E|1212121212121212-|1212121212121212-|1212121212121212-|13131313--13-----|
B|1010101012121212-|1313131312121212-|1010101012121010-|10101010--10-----|
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
quick strum with index finger......................................
strum over the bottom part of neck (literally over the frets).
1 e & a 2 & a 1 e & a 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|12-8-7-5-----5-7-|-0---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
B|---------6-------|---1-0-----------|-0---------------|-----------------|
G|-----------------|-------2---------|-7---------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|---------3-------|-7---------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-7---------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
pluck notes near bridge........
Theme
Play slow and soft, but deliberate closer to neck (e.g. center of hole).
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & a 2 & a
E|-5---5---7-------|-5---5---7-------|-5---7---8---7---|-5---7-5---------|
B|-----6-----------|-----------------|-----------------|---------6-------|
G|---------7---9---|-5-------9-------|-----------------|-------------4-7-|
D|-7---------------|-----7-----------|-3-------7-------|-3-------7-------|
A|-----------------|-------------7---|-----7-----------|-----7-----------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & 2 & 1 & a 2 & a 1 & 2 & 1 & a 2 & a
E|-0-------0-------|-0---0-----------|-5---7---8---7---|-----------------|
B|-------------6---|---------0-------|-----------------|10--1210/6-------|
G|-7---5---4-------|-------5---------|-----------------|-------------4-7-|
D|-----7-------7---|-----------------|-3-------7-------|---------7-------|
A|-----------------|-8-------7---8-7-|-----7-----------|-8---------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----12-----------|
1 & 2 & 1 & a 2 & a 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|-0-------0-------|-0---0-----------|-5---5---7-------|-5---5---7-------|
B|-------------6---|---------0-------|-----6-----------|-----------------|
G|-7---5---4-------|-------5---------|---------7---9---|-5-------9-------|
D|-----7-------7---|-----------------|-7---------------|-----7-----------|
A|-----------------|-8-------7---8-7-|-----------------|-------------7---|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & 2 & a 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|-----0-----------|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
B|---------6-/12-10|-6-------0-------|-0---------------|-----------------|
G|-7---------------|-------------7---|-2---------------|-----------------|
D|---------0-------|-7---7-----------|-2---------------|-----------------|
A|-8---7-----------|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
E|------------12---|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
Variation #1
Play flowingly with plucking hand almost over the bottom part of neck.
1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a
E|---0---0---------|---0---0---------|---0---0---------|---0---0---------|
B|10---------0---0-|12---------0---0-|10---------0---0-|12---------0---0-|
G|----10---7-------|----10---7-------|----10---7-------|----10---7-------|
D|-------------7---|-------------7---|-------------7---|-------------7---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a
E|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0--0--|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0-|
B|10------12-------|13------12-------|10------12--10---|-6-------0-------|
G|----10-----------|----10-----------|----10-----------|-----7-------2---|
D|------------12---|------------12---|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a
E|---------------0-|-------1-------0-|-------0---------|-------0---0---0-|
B|-----0-1-----1---|-----0-------0---|-----0-----1---0-|-----0-------6---|
G|---2-------2-----|---2-------2-----|---2-------------|---2-----7-------|
D|-2-------2-------|-2-------2-------|-2-------2---2---|-2---------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a
E|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0--0--|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0-|
B|10------12-------|13------12-------|10------12--10---|-6-------0-------|
G|----10-----------|----10-----------|----10-----------|-----7-------2---|
D|------------12---|------------12---|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a
E|---------------0-|-------1-------0-|-------0---------|-------0---0---0-|
B|-----0-1-----1---|-----0-------0---|-----0-----1---0-|-----0-------6---|
G|---2-------2-----|---2-------2-----|---2-------------|---2-----7-------|
D|-2-------2-------|-2-------2-------|-2-------2---2---|-2---------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a
E|---0---0---------|---0---0---------|---0---0---------|---0---0---------|
B|10---------0---0-|12---------0---0-|10---------0---0-|12---------0---0-|
G|----10-----------|----10-----------|----10-----------|----10-----------|
D|-------<12>------|-------<12>------|-------<12>------|-------<12>------|
A|-----------<12>--|-----------<12>--|-----------<12>--|-----------<12>--|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a
E|---0-------------|---0---0-7^5---0-|-----------------|---------------0-|
B|-----------------|-----6-------6---|---0-------------|---0---0---0-----|
G|----10-----------|-7---------------|-7---------------|-----7-------7---|
D|<12>-----0-----7-|-----------------|-----7-----0-----|-7-------7-------|
A|-------0---7-8---|-----------------|-------8^7---7^8-|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/y/yuquijiro_yocoh/sakura_tab.html ]
1 e & a 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|---0---0-----7---|-----------------|-7---------------|-----------------|
B|-6-------6--10---|-----------------|10---------------|-----------------|
G|-----7-------7---|-------------7---|-9---------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----7---9-------|-7---------------|-----------------|
A|-------------7---|-8---------------|-----7-----------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|
Variation #2
Harmonic octaves. Its easier than it looks, with practice.
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|-----------------|<12>-------------|-----------------|<12>-------------|
B|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|<14>----<14>-----|-----------------|<14>----<14>-----|-----------------|
D|----<14>----<14>-|----<14>----<14>-|----<14>----<14>-|----<14>----<14>-|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|--------<12>-----|-----------------|--------<12>-----|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|--------<12>-----|<13>----<12>-----|--------<12>-----|--------<12><15>-|
G|<14>-------------|-----------------|<14>--------<14>-|----<14>---------|
D|----<14>----<14>-|----<14>----<14>-|----<14>---------|<15>-------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|<12>-------------|<12>----<13>-----|<12>----<12>-----|-----------------|
B|--------<13>-----|-----------------|------------<13>-|<12>-------------|
G|------------<14>-|------------<14>-|-----------------|----<14>---------|
D|----<14>---------|----<14>---------|----<14>---------|--------<15><14>-|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|--------<12>-----|<13>----<12>-----|--------<12>-----|--------<12><15>-|
G|<14>-------------|-----------------|<14>--------<14>-|----<14>---------|
D|----<14>----<14>-|----<14>----<14>-|----<14>---------|<15>-------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|<12>-------------|<12>----<13>-----|<12>----<12>-----|-----------------|
B|--------<13>-----|-----------------|------------<13>-|<12>-------------|
G|------------<14>-|------------<14>-|-----------------|----<14>---------|
D|----<14>---------|----<14>---------|----<14>---------|--------<15><14>-|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|-----------------|<12>-------------|-----------------|<12>-------------|
B|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|<14>----<14>-----|-----------------|<14>----<14>-----|-----------------|
D|----<14>----<14>-|----<14>----<14>-|----<14>----<14>-|----<14>----<14>-|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|--------<12>-----|-----------------|--------<12>-----|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|-----------------|<12><13><19><17>-|<13><12>---------|-----------------|
B|--------<12><15>-|-----------------|--------<15><12>-|-----------------|
G|----<14>---------|-----------------|-----------------|<14>-------------|
D|<15>-------------|-----------------|-----------------|----<15><14><12>-|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|-----------------|<12>----<17>-----|<19>----<22>-----|<24>-------------|
B|--------<12><15>-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|----<14>---------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|<14>-------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Variation #3
Tremolo study. Again play closer to the neck or over hole or guitar
opening, like as in variation #1.
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|--555-555-555-555|--777-777-777-777|--555-555-555-555|--777-777-777-777|
B|---------5-------|--------10-------|---------5-------|--------10-------|
G|-----7-------7---|-----9-------9---|-----7-------7---|-----9-------9---|
D|-7---------------|-----------------|-7---------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-7---------------|-----------------|-7---------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|--555-555-777-777|--888-888-777-777|--555-555-777-555|--111-111-111-111|
B|---------5-------|---------5-------|---------5-------|---------0-------|
G|-----7-------7---|-----7-------7---|-----7-------7---|-----2-------2---|
D|-7---------------|-7---------------|-7---------------|-0---------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|--000-000--------|--000-000-111-111|--000-000-000----|-----------------|
B|----------111-111|---------0-------|---------0----111|--000-000-000-000|
G|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----------------|
D|-2-------2-------|-2---------------|-2---------------|-----2---3---2---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|--555-555-777-777|--888-888-777-777|--555-555-777-555|--111-111-111-111|
B|---------5-------|---------5-------|---------5-------|---------0-------|
G|-----7-------7---|-----7-------7---|-----7-------7---|-----2-------2---|
D|-7---------------|-7---------------|-7---------------|-0---------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|--000-000--------|--000-000-111-111|--000-000-000----|-----------------|
B|----------111-111|---------0-------|---------0----111|--000-000-000-000|
G|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----------------|
D|-2-------2-------|-2---------------|-2---------------|-----2---3---2---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|--555-555-555-555|--777-777-777-777|--555-555-555-555|--777-777-777-777|
B|---------5-------|--------10-------|---------5-------|--------10-------|
G|-----7-------7---|-----9-------9---|-----7-------7---|-----9-------9---|
D|-7---------------|-----------------|-7---------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-7---------------|-----------------|-7---------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|--111-111-111-111|--111-111-777-555|--111-111-111-111|--111-111-111-111|
B|-----------------|-----0-------0---|-----------------|-0-------0---3---|
G|-----------------|-2-------7-------|-------------2---|-----2-----------|
D|-----0---2---3---|-----------------|-0---2---3-------|-----------------|
A|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Ending.....
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 &
E|--000-000-000-000|---------0-------|-1-----0-1---5---|-0-------0-------|
B|-5---0-----------|---------0-------|-0-----0-0---3---|-0-----1-0-------|
G|---------2-------|---------2-------|-2-----2-2---4---|-2-----2-2-------|
D|-------------3---|---------2-------|-----------------|-------3-----2---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|---0-0-----0---0-|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-------------0---|-----------------|---0-0-----------|
close to bridge again....................
1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & 2 &
E|-----------------|-0---7--10-------|
B|-------------0-3-|--10-------------|
G|-----------2-----|-----------------|
D|-------0-2-------|-----------------|
A|---0-2-----------|-----------------|
E|-0---------------|-----------------|
muted..........................
1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e &
E|1212121212121212-|1212121212121212-|1212121212121212-|13131313--13-----|
B|1010101012121212-|1313131312121212-|1010101012121010-|10101010--10-----|
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
quick strum with index finger......................................
strum over the bottom part of neck (literally over the frets).
1 e & a 2 & a 1 e & a 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
E|12-8-7-5-----5-7-|-0---------------|-----------------|-0---------------|
B|---------6-------|-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-2---------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-2---------------|
A|-----------------|---3-2-0---------|-0-------2-------|-0---------------|
E|-----------------|---------1-------|-----------------|-0---------------|
pluck notes near bridge........
Some notes:
/ = slide
^ = pull-off or hammer-on (depending on which way)
<#> = harmonic on the #th fret.
Edwin Tan's tabbing of Variation #2 (with some correction). Replace
the first four measures with these (and similar ones thereafter).
1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a 1 e & a 2 e & a
E|-5^0---0---------|-7^0---0---------|-5^0---0---------|-7^0---0---------|
B|-----6-----0---0-|-----6-----0---0-|-----6-----0---0-|-----6-----0---0-|
G|---------7-------|---------7-------|---------7-------|---------7-------|
D|-------------7---|-------------7---|-------------7---|-------------7---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
