Concert kotamo

Concert kotamo is a double-sided stringed instrument with a full, spatial sound and broad, highly creative musical possibilities. It combines three instruments in one: on one side a 15-string koto with tunable strings and movable bridges, complemented by a 6-string tanpura. On the other side is a 20-string monochord in the root note and lower octave.

Thanks to this combination, you can create melodies, a meditative tonal foundation, and flowing monochord resonances on a single instrument. Concert kotamo is suitable for concert performance, sound meditations, music therapy, vocal accompaniment, and creative improvisation. You can even play both sides simultaneously: playing the koto from above and accompanying it with the monochord from below.

In the samples on this page, you can listen to the sound of this instrument from Ivo Sedláček's albums Garden of Silence and Mystical Violin 2.

Key Features

• Double-sided stringed instrument - koto, tanpura, and monochord in one
• 15-string koto with movable bridges
• Option to tune the koto to various scales
• 6-string tanpura for a steady meditative tonal foundation
• 20-string monochord in the root note and lower octave
• Total number of strings: 41
• Instrument length: 140 cm
• Fine-tuning system for all strings
• In-house production with years of experience

How to play the concert kotamo

The kotamo stands on its own legs, can be turned to either of its two sides, and is played with fingers. The koto side allows for melodic playing - 13 strings with movable bridges can be tuned to various scales, allowing you to play melodies, accompaniments, and free improvisation.

You can gently bend the section of the string to the left of the bridge with your finger on the koto, similar to a traditional Japanese koto. This creates a subtle pitch pitch-bend, vibrato, or expressive note bending, giving the play a more lively and personal character.

The tanpura creates a steady meditative tonal foundation, and it is up to you how often you sound it. Turning the instrument gives you direct access to the 20-string monochord and its full, flowing resonant sound. You can use individual parts separately, sequentially, or by interconnecting both top and bottom sides.

Specifications

• Instrument type: concert kotamo, double-sided stringed instrument
• Length: 140 cm
• Total number of strings: 41
• Side 1: 15-string koto with movable bridges + 6-string tanpura
• Side 2: 20-string monochord in root note and lower octave
• Koto: 15 strings
• Tanpura: 6 strings
• Monochord: 20 strings
• Koto tuning options: to various scales according to musical intention
• Precise tuning: according to current design / by agreement
• Tuning method: fine-tuning system for all strings
• Package contents: instrument, tuning key
• Accessories available separately: case for large concert kotamo

How to choose a kotamo

The concert kotamo is suitable for those who want broader musical possibilities than a standalone monochord can offer. It combines a melodic koto, tanpura, and monochord, enabling you to play melodies, create a meditative tonal foundation, creatively improvise, and work with flowing resonances.

If you are looking for an even larger instrument with deeper tuning, a larger body, and significantly broader tuning options, you can choose the large concert kotamo. If you need a standalone monochord for meditation or bodywork instead, take a look at the meditation monochord LENA or the resonance body monochord LENA.

Why choose the concert kotamo

The concert kotamo offers three sound worlds in one instrument. The koto brings broader melodic possibilities, the tanpura provides a steady meditative tonal foundation, and the monochord offers a deep resonant sound.

Thanks to the fine-tuning system, all parts of the instrument can be tuned easily and accurately. The kotamo is suitable for concert playing, music therapy, sound meditations, creative music work, and integration with other musical instruments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a koto and how does it differ from a monochord?

A koto is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument with tunable strings and movable bridges. Each string can be tuned to a specific note, allowing the koto to perform melodic playing in various scales. You can also gently press the string to the left of the bridge with your finger, creating subtle tonal vibrato or expressive pitch bending.

A monochord, on the other hand, has most of its strings tuned to a single pitch or to a root note and its octave. It creates a flowing, resonant sound suitable for meditation, relaxation, and sound work.

Can the kotamo be tuned to different scales?

Yes. The koto side features movable bridges and tunable strings, allowing it to be set to various scales as needed. The tanpura and monochord create a pleasant resonant musical foundation.

How does the standard kotamo differ from the large concert kotamo?

The standard concert kotamo has 41 strings and a length of 140 cm. The large concert kotamo features a larger body, deeper tuning, and a total of 76 strings: 11 tanpura strings, 27 koto strings, and 38 monochord strings. The large kotamo also has more detailed tuning options, including minor, oriental, and Indian raga tunings.

Who is the concert kotamo suitable for?

It is suitable for musicians, music therapists, and anyone seeking a beautiful, complex stringed instrument with very broad possibilities. Thanks to its combination of koto, tanpura, and monochord, it offers a significantly larger creative musical space than a monochord alone.

Can I try the concert kotamo in person?

Yes. In our showroom in Jablonec nad Nisou, you can listen to and try out the kotamo. The instrument is often made to order, so we recommend contacting us in advance to arrange a visit.