Rentaro Taki (1879-1903) wrote Kojo no Tsuki (荒城の月), Moon over Ruined Castle, in 1901. Oka Castle in Taketa, Oita Prefecture, was his inspiration for Kojo no Tsuki.
Kojo no Tsuki was originally published in a songbook for junior high students. Kojo no Tsuki quickly transcended its pedagogical purpose and achieved popularity in Japan and, eventually, the world. This humble children's song was featured in movie soundtracks and recorded by numerous Japanese and Western artists such as Thelonious Monk, Yngwie Malmsteen, and the Scorpions.
Taki contracted tuberculosis while studying at Leipzig Conservatory in Germany, and died tragically young at 23. Ironically, the folkloric style of Kojo no Tsuki led many to assume it was a folk song and neglected to credit Taki as the composer.
A translation of the first verse reads:
Cherry blossoms gracefully bloom over the fields that lie,
High up is the castle wall, where have warriors gone?
Where is the moonlight that brightly shone up high,
Shone upon the warriors who drained the glasses dry?
Study Tips
Melody
Kojo no Tsuki's melody is simple and straightforward. Like Aura Lee and Arirang, Kojo no Tsuki has four closely related phrases. Learn the first phrase (first line) and you'll find the second and fourth phrases to be nearly identical save for small differences at the cadence. Give special attention to the dotted quarter note and eighth note rhythm near the ends of phrases.
Right-Hand Fingering
Use the right-hand thumb to pluck the fourth and fifth strings. When the melody crosses over into the third and second strings, switch to alternating between the middle and index fingers (m-i). Aim for an andante tempo, about 100 BPM.
Listen to the Track
Before practicing, become familiar with the sound and feel of Kojo no Tsuki by listening to the melody.
Kojo no Tsuki | Melody only
Play the Melody Now!
Practice the melody of Kojo no Tsuki until smooth. After the melody flows nicely, play along with the audio track or video.
Once the melody of Kojo no Tsuki is under your fingers, begin working on the chords.
Kojo Chords
The harmonic rhythm of Kojo no Tsuki is predominantly one chord per measure. Thus, chord transitions should be easy, especially since you already know all the chords. If you prefer strumming, we suggest using the Down 2X Strum: a down strum on beat one and beat three.
P-i-m-a 2X Arpeggio
An arpeggio accompaniment also complements the slow and lyrical melody of Kojo no Tsuki well. The suggested accompaniment pattern is P-i-m-a 2X, a pattern we studied earlier in the course. If you need a review of P-i-m-a 2X, revisit the video demonstration for Andante Op. 31 No. 4.
P-i-m-a 2X Arpeggio Pattern | Practice on the open strings first.
This pattern is played twice in a measure of 4/4 meter, creating an eighth note flow. Let's take a peek at P-i-m-a 2X sounds within the context of our new piece:
P-i-m-a 2X Arpeggio| Chords with P-i-m-a 2X from Kojo no Tsuki's first line.
P-i-m-a 2X and the Down 2X Strum—two strums per measure—also work well mixed together.
Melody and Chords Together
As usual, I'm freestylin' the accompaniment so only bits and pieces of P-i-m-a 2X break through here and there.
Kojo no Tsuki (荒城の月) | Melody and chords | Frary Guitar Duo
Suffering with string buzzes or sore left-hand fingers? Watch this video for tips on improving finger placement accuracy and reducing soreness.
The Buzz Threshold | Finger pressure and placement on the guitar.
Daily Review
Leave time in your daily practice sessions to review prior materials. Most pieces take weeks to fully absorb and polish. Don't leave your music half learned.
•••
Lunar Musings
Study Tips
Melody
Right-Hand Fingering
Listen to the Track
Play the Melody Now!
Kojo Chords
P-i-m-a 2X Arpeggio
Sore Left-Hand Fingers?
Daily Review
