😎3 Easy Shinobue Songs That Make You Sound Like a Pro! (even if you are not)

Hard to believe that there are shinobue songs that are simple yet sound impressive? Believe it! 😃

I have been playing the shinobue for less than five years, so if you're a beginner, I was in your shoes just a few years ago.

The reason I was able to start a shinobue channel on YouTube in my second year of learning to play the shinobue and attract thousands of views on some of my videos is that I know how to present my shinobue music effectively while maximizing my skills.

In this article, I’ll share my secret tips with you so you can sound your very best too!

Even if you can only play a simple melody on the shinobue, choosing beautiful songs with the karaoke tracks I'm sharing with you can transform your performance. Voila! You’ll be a shinobue superstar!

At the end of this article, I will also show you how to extract and download the audio from YouTube videos for your karaoke tracks.

If you are a beginner - "Umi"(The Ocean)

Bring out your trusted 8 hon choshi!

You can download the free shinobue sheet music for "Umi" here. (No, you don't need to sign up for anything - all the sheet music links on this article are direct links to my google drive. 😃)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_QMUDvP52o2qFh5HZbanEnbf42OI-sJn/view?usp=sharing​

Use the karaoke below. It's not a London Symphony level recording, but it's in the right key when you use your 8 hon choshi. Play ONLY the LAST 2 lines, starting at measure 9 of the free sheet music link I gave you.

The most challenging part of this song would be playing ryo on 7 to kan on 2. Practice these two notes only and make sure you can transition smoothly.

Here is how the song sounds when it's sung.

Here is my fingering tutorial (learn the second half).

If you are a beginner with a good breath control, or intermediate to advanced - "Takeda no komoriuta"

Download this free shinobue sheet music. Use an 8 hon choshi and play the first 2 lines only.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14BgmL52efOCvlTfDuRV5DBw5TEhIyhRy/view?usp=sharing​

Join in with this person who has a beautiful, angelic singing voice! She changes the rhythm a bit, so follow her lead.

I’m confident you will create a magical musical moment!

If you are a beginner to intermediate - "Anomachi konomachi"

Get the free shinobue sheet music for this song here.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OCUgRFSX0U5q4rYovG8YgB85RvpJn2b3/view?usp=drive_link​

I absolutely love this beautiful and simple song. Shinpei Nakayama is probably my favorite Japanese composer.

I especially enjoy this video; it features images that are not overly elaborate and seem to come from anyone's hometown. Unlike many Japanese videos that showcase picturesque tourist attractions, this video reflects the real Japan that I remember.

And the person who is singing has amazing breath control.

The only thing is, to play with this video, you need to use a 3 hon choshi, which you may not have (at least if you used the sheet music I provided).

I highly encourage you to play this beautiful melody using any hon choshi, even without the karaoke track.

As you play the three songs above, let your imagination take over. Consider these questions to enhance your experience:

1. What is the mood of this song? Is it sad, happy, or relaxed? Try to feel the emotion as you play.

2. What do you want to express through this music? Does it remind you of someone or some place?

3. Do you enjoy this song? If so, why? What aspects of the song appeal to you? Aim to convey that to your audience.

We practice hard, but ultimately, we love music because it serves as a form of expression and a way to connect with others.

When you share an emotion, even sadness, and experience it with others, you realize you are not alone in this world.

You can sense that the audience feel the same way you feel by their reactions to your music.

Words come from the mind, but music comes from the heart. It is a universal language that resonates deeply within our being.

You don’t need to be highly skilled to convey your emotions through music. While having skills is beneficial, you can still share so much with what you have.

You are ready. Let’s share it!

How to extract audio from a YouTube video

1. Click "Share" bottom under the YouTube video you want to get the audio of.

2. Click "Copy".

3. Google YTMP3 and click the first link that comes up.

4. Paste the copied link of the YouTube video to the site.

5. Click "Convert".

6. Click "Download".

I've been using this method for years and never had problems. But if you feel odd about downloading something from unknown site, you should not do it.

Always remember to protect your personal information—never share it, and it’s best to avoid downloading any software from unfamiliar sources. Stay safe! 😃