Play the Koto in GarageBand for iPad
The koto is a traditional Japanese zither-like instrument with 13 strings mounted over bridges on a long, hollow, resonant body. The strings are tuned to a minor pentatonic scale called Hira Choshi. The koto is played by picking or plucking the strings with the right hand, and pushing or pulling the strings with the left hand to change the pitch and create vibrato.
Open the Koto
Tap the Browser button
, swipe to World, then tap the Koto button.
Use the chord strips
Tap the Chords/Notes switch near the top right to switch to Chords view.
To play glissando, swipe a chord strip up and down. You can also tap to play individual notes.
You can add your own custom chords to play.
Play a pattern
Slide the Autoplay switch to one of the numbered positions.
Tap a chord strip. Tapping a different chord strip plays the same pattern with the notes of that chord.
Tap the chord strip again to stop the pattern playing.
Play individual notes
Tap the Chords/Notes switch on the right to switch to Notes view.
Do any of the following:
Play with a picking sound: Tap the right side of a string.
Bend notes: While tapping a string, drag left or right to lower or raise the pitch. Drag you finger back and forth to create vibrato.
Strum: Swipe strings up or down.
Mute strings: Play notes by tapping or swiping the strings, then tap the Koto to the left of the strings.
Play harmonics: Touch and hold the Koto to the left of the strings, then play notes by tapping or swiping the strings.
Play notes of a particular scale: Tap the Scale button
, then tap the scale you want to play.
Play more precisely
You can use the zoom boxes to show a larger set of strings and to change between a picking or plucking sound.
Tap the Zoom buttons
at the upper left and right, and do either of the following:Play with a picking sound: Tap the strings in the right zoom box.
Play with a plucking sound: Tap the strings in the left zoom box.
In each zoom box, the left strip shows the lower-pitched strings, the right strip shows the higher-pitched strings.
Add tremolo
Touch and hold the tremolo slider as you play. You can control the speed of the tremolo by moving your finger left or right.