Koto Sound Dictionary

Sara

Sara is an ornamental technique. The 13th string is stroked quickly along its length from right to left. Then fingers 2 and 3 of the right hand lightly stroke in reverse direction on the 13th to 12th or 11th strings until it is time to play the last two notes of the sara technique. The time playing the 13th to 11th strings may be very short for a short duration sara, or can be very long for a long duration sara. The sara is left by playing with the back of the 3rd finger plectrum until the thumb reaches the grace note of the ending sequence of the sara. The following note after the sara technique indicator should be a grace note followed by the final note of the sara technique which is one string below the grace note string.