Changes

Like the actors, kabuki musicians make changes and shifts in the musical scheme for each production. Though traditional associations (e.g. the use of a given song for a given scene) are of great importance, there is a degree of flexibility, as there is in the acting, and so precisely which pieces must be played for precisely each part of the play is not set in stone. A notebook known as a ''tsukechô'' is employed by the musicians to record a rough sketch of which pieces will be played on which cues, for that day's, or that month's, version of the production.

Like the actors, kabuki musicians make changes and shifts in the musical scheme for each production. Though traditional associations (e.g. the use of a given song for a given scene) are of great importance, there is a degree of flexibility, as there is in the acting, and so precisely which pieces must be played for precisely each part of the play is not set in stone. A notebook known as a ''tsukechô'' is employed by the musicians to record a rough sketch of which pieces will be played on which cues, for that day's, or that month's, version of the production.

In addition to the shamisen, the ensemble also includes a variety of drums, including ''[[o-tsuzumi|ô-tsuzumi]]'', ''[[ko-tsuzumi]]'', ''[[shime-daiko]]'', and ''[[taiko|ô-daiko]]'', which not only play alongside the shamisen, but are also used for announcements, and for sound effects. Prior to a show beginning, traditionally, a large ''taiko'' (drum) placed in a drum tower above the theater would be played, in a pattern known as ''ichiban-daiko'', to announce that a show was going to be taking place. Once the lead actor had entered the theater and begun his preparations (i.e. putting on makeup, getting dressed), the drum pattern would shift to ''niban daiko'', indicating to passersby and to the audience that the show would be starting soon. During the show, drums could be used in a variety of ways to create sound effects to help set the scene, such as waves (for a seaside or shipboard scene), wind, rain, or snow. To take one example, even though snow in reality falls silently, heavy drumbeats, hit at a very slow tempo, set the mood of the cold and dark night, and of the weight of the snow as it rests on tree branches and rooftops.

In addition to the shamisen, the ensemble also includes a variety of drums, including ''[[o-tsuzumi|ô-tsuzumi]]'', ''[[ko-tsuzumi]]'', ''[[shime-daiko]]'', and ''[[taiko|ô-daiko]]'', which not only play alongside the shamisen, but are also used for announcements, and for sound effects. Prior to a show beginning, traditionally, a large ''taiko'' (drum) placed in a drum tower (''yagura'') above the theater would be played, in a pattern known as ''ichiban-daiko'', to announce that a show was going to be taking place. Once the lead actor had entered the theater and begun his preparations (i.e. putting on makeup, getting dressed), the drum pattern would shift to ''niban daiko'', indicating to passersby and to the audience that the show would be starting soon. During the show, drums could be used in a variety of ways to create sound effects to help set the scene, such as waves (for a seaside or shipboard scene), wind, rain, or snow. To take one example, even though snow in reality falls silently, heavy drumbeats, hit at a very slow tempo, set the mood of the cold and dark night, and of the weight of the snow as it rests on tree branches and rooftops.

The ''hayashi'' is rounded out by flutes, bells, gongs, and other struck or rung instruments known as ''narimono''<ref>鳴り物, lit. "things that ring", often used interchangeably with the word ''hayashi'', to refer to the entire ensemble outside of the shamisen players.</ref>. These, too, accompany the shamisen and drums in performing songs during a play, but can also be used for sound effects. A variety of objects designed specifically for sound effects are employed in kabuki, including a set of clappers used specifically for the clip-clop of a horse, and a tiny reed instrument which, when blown in one manner produces surprisingly realistic bird tweets or chirps, and when used in a different manner, produces the sound of crickets or the buzz of summer cicadas. Stories call for a wide variety of sound effects, depending on the settings and events, and the ''hayashi'' is prepared to produce more or less any sound necessary, some more literal (such as a Buddhist temple bell, or summer cicadas), and some more stylized and distinctive to kabuki (such as the example of the sound of snow).

The ''hayashi'' is rounded out by flutes, bells, gongs, and other struck or rung instruments known as ''narimono''<ref>鳴り物, lit. "things that ring", often used interchangeably with the word ''hayashi'', to refer to the entire ensemble outside of the shamisen players.</ref>. These, too, accompany the shamisen and drums in performing songs during a play, but can also be used for sound effects. A variety of objects designed specifically for sound effects are employed in kabuki, including a set of clappers used specifically for the clip-clop of a horse, and a tiny reed instrument which, when blown in one manner produces surprisingly realistic bird tweets or chirps, and when used in a different manner, produces the sound of crickets or the buzz of summer cicadas. Stories call for a wide variety of sound effects, depending on the settings and events, and the ''hayashi'' is prepared to produce more or less any sound necessary, some more literal (such as a Buddhist temple bell, or summer cicadas), and some more stylized and distinctive to kabuki (such as the example of the sound of snow).