The chart 'Raga to Honkyoku' represents a set of options for taking the written notation of a Sargam (or Raga Song) and rewriting it for Shakuhachi in standard Honkyoku notation. In this sense it serves as a sort of quick reference look up chart.

    The chart 'Raga to Honkyoku' also represents a great learning tool for practicing Shakuhachi, as well as learning the modes.

    The two flutes are very different in the notes which the open holes play:
    The Shakuhachi being a five note minor pentatonic and the bansuri being a six hole major scale flute.
    Both flute traditions employ all twelve notes through playing techniques.
    Both musics are relational and are played with different root notes on different length flutes.

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    The Bansuri Indian flute places the root note "Sa' in the middle of the flute and this allows notes below the root, but less notes above. Translation from a Raga to a Shakuhachi involves some personal choice decisions.

   There is indications that before written notation Re was considered the root of the Shakuhachi. The first chart shows the ten Thaats.

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Raga to Shakuhachi (Large for printing)

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   The second chart allows for putting the root Sa at any of the five Shakuhachi notes which do not involve meri/dai meri (head lowering) or hole shading.

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