Reading Jiuta Notation

HOW TO READ POSITIONS ON WRITTEN SCORES You will know which string and position to play on a jiuta score based on how the numeral is written. San-no-ito positions are always written in Arabic numerals. Ni-no-ito and ichi-no-ito are written in kanji. Ichi-no-ito positions are preceded by the katakana character イ ( i ).

Position	Ichi-no-ito	Ni-no-ito	San-no-ito
1	イ一	一	1
2	イ二	二	2
3	イ三	三	3
4	イ四	四	4
5	イ五	五	5
6	イ六	六	6
7	イ七	七	7
8	イ八	八	8
9	イ九	九	9
10	イ十	十	X
11†	イ一•	一•	1•

†All string positions after 10 are written as a numeral and a dot (•). For example, 11th position is イ一•, 一•, and 1•,  the 12th position is イ二•, 二•, and 2•, and so forth up through 19. 21 is written as イ一••, 一••, and 1••.
OTHER SYMBOLS IN NOTATION While this is not an all-inclusive list at this time, these are the most common symbols that you may see in a jiuta score. As I have noted in other parts of this blog, I strongly recommend an instructor work with you on the correct technique for each of these, as these are mostly definitions only.

Name	Symbol	Meaning
Hajiki		With string pressed down (except for position 1), pull finger off (usually ring finger) horizontally to sao. (If you have played guitar, this would be similar to a pull-off.)
Sukui bachi (sukui)		Upward stroke of bachi
Suri		Slide finger along string. The first symbol denotes sliding toward a higher note, the second toward a lower note, and the third is a quick slide first going lower and then back to the original higher note.
Uchi		Press finger onto note forcefully to create a dampened sound, without playing string with bachi. (If you have played guitar, this would be similar to a hammer-on.)

EXAMPLES OF SYMBOLS IN COMBINATION

The symbols above are often in combination with a note and with other symbols. These are some examples and their meaning.

Symbol combination	Meaning
	Hajiki on open san-no-ito
	Play position 5 on san-no-ito with an upward bachi stroke (sukui)
	Play position 4 on san-no-ito and then slide up (suri) (how far to slide and how quickly is best taught by an instructor, but it is usually the next note that resolves the tone, and it is often quite rapid.)
	Uchi on position 2 of ni-no-ito
	Suri with a stop position. You would start at whatever note was preceding and slide (up in this instance) until you reach the position listed (9 and 15, respectively, on san-no-ito).
	Play position 4 using sukui on san-no-ito and then slide up (suri)

HOW TO READ A SCORE

Coming soon

Updated 8/30/2018