The highest solid note shown is the 'usual' range. The crossed notehead shows the practical highest limit for each shakuhachi.

For the standard 5-hole shakuhachi, the high F (third octave) is not attainable without special shading of the base of the flute. Shakuhachi with 7 holes can play this note. For other lengths: 1.4/A, 1.6/G, 1.7/F#, 1.9/E, 2.0/E-flat, 2.1/D, 2.4/C, 2.55/B.

Modern shakuhachi are usually tuned to A440 at 20C. Depending on the player, the shakuhachi and the ambient temperature, tunings higher than this may result. For example, it is common to tune a ensemble for performance on stage with shakuhachi at A443.

The scales shown are for standard blowing. For the same fingering, players can change the pitch down (meri) at least 2 semitones and up (kari) at least one semitone. So, for example, the 'lowest note' achievable on the standard 1.8 shakuhachi could be at least as low as 'middle C'.

The major scales shown are sometimes referred to as Yo and are often used in Minyo (folk music), and the minor scales as In, a common scale used in traditional music.

Please note that the lowest note shown in all 'scales' is the fundamental note for the respective shakuhachi and NOT the tonic for the key signature scale.