Machiya plays a Sago guitar, it's a 33" scale baritone with 29 frets tuned BEADF#B, if you capo at the 5th fret it becomes a 25.5" scale guitar in standard E tuning

Beni plays a Tsugaru-style Futozao (Thick Neck Size) Shamisen.The sharp, flashy style of tsugaru was played in the streets by the bousama (blind musicians) who developed a more lively style.Blind musicians at the beginning of the 20th century, including Shirakawa Gunpachiro,Takahashi Chikuzan and sighted players like Kida Rinshoei developed a new style of play, based on traditional folk songs ("min'yo"), but with a lot Improvisation and eye-catching finger work. This style - known as Tsugaru-Jamisen, after the native region in northern Honshu - is relatively popular today in Japan. The virtuoso tsugaru jamisen style is sometimes compared to bluegrass banjo. The classic pick is called Bachi.The koto is a Japanese zither and the national instrument of Japan.The bamboo flute is called a shakuhachi and the second drum kit is a wadeiko The singer's very broad vibrato is typical of Shigin, a traditional poem concert style. Suzuhana Yuko, the singer of the Wagakki Band, began studying the piano at age three and shigin from age five. She graduated from the Tokyo College of Music’s Piano Program. Yuko is currently active as a shigin instructor, singer-songwriter, and pianist. The style of dance that Yuko performs is called Kenshibu ('Sword and Poetry Dance') This is a category of Japanese interpretive dances performed to traditional music with poetry. Kenbu refers to dances that are performed with the help of a sword and Shibu dance with one or more hand fans called Sensu / Ogi (folding fans).The origin is from samurai. In the early Meiji period, Raifu HIBINO (originator of the Shinto school) organized the conventional dancing styles into the current ones by introducing some styles of swordplay. Singing and dancing are performed basically by different persons. The number of performers varies; sometimes one singer and one dancer, but often one singer and two or more dancers. There are no specific costumes for singers, but dancers wear a hakama (divided skirt for men), shiro-tasuki (white sash for holding up tucked sleeves), and shiro-hachimaki (white headband) to express the emotion of the poem. In some dances a fan is used along with a sword.Dancing to shigin with a fan only is called Senbu (literally, "fan dance") or Shimai (literally, "poetry dance"). The mask that Machiya wears is based on the Noe Theater, popular in Japan. Masks are an essential part of the Japanese Noe theater whilst the actors of the Japanese kabuki theater perform without masks. ..

They are pretty much grandmaster level musicians all of them. :) Every single member is a real pro on their respective instrument. And their ability to blend all these weird unconventional instruments by modern standards, really show their skill as musicians.

I remember the 90's when I discovered "X Japan"... that completely blew my mind as a kid. Drummer was sick and the guitars just insane :-D what a band!!

Thank you brother for your response. I only meant for the first song, but the extra was a bonus! You'd done Band Maid last year, which I am a big fan of, and thought Waggaki would be a nice fit. Glad to see some love for it in the comments, and thank you again!

I love how different this is compared to a lot of the other stuff you react too. The Shamisen was super cool to see as well. Also Michael it's a crime that you haven't reacted to any Porcupine Tree yet. Blackest Eyes or Trains are a good place to start.

They are my current favorite band. "Wagakki" is a class of Japanese folk instruments. The accent is on the G. wah GAH ki Their songs can vary in style quite a bit. You should check out more of them. Also the lead guitar is a 7 string and the bass is a 5 string. My favorite is Beni. She plays the 3 string instrument called a shamisen.

I’m glad you checked out this band. That vocal grabbed me too. Amazing.

They’ve been playing on my iPhone nonstop for four months since I discovered them. All their stuff is just bad azz. They’re an incredible live band…..great show and great musicians. Yuko is such an AMAZING singer.

I recommend the video of the song "Lullaby of the Desert" by Wagakki Band. The guitarist, Mr. Machiya, uses both electric and acoustic guitars in one song, and the method he chose as "the best way" is very unique and interesting.

"This is Crazy" Is One of the few things on my mind when i first found wagakki band :'D their music absolutely on of the best thing that ever heard, just mindblowing... Glad u react to them... Thx

Welcome to Wagakki world! I totally enjoyed your professional analysis on the code progression and further more. I slightly felt like listening to your comment on three string guitar=Shamisen. In the middle of the first metal one, she (Beni) played solo by Northern Japanese fast playing style. The singer (Yuko) started with 'Shigin', a traditional poem narration style, and that was followed by folklore singing. They play and sing quite a wide band width of music ; pure traditional Japanese, metal-punk (their biggest hit is here...), swing jazz, pop rock and western-eastern fusion as if all of them are their norm of playing. There are so many recommendable songs...Chie no Kajitsu + Somosan seppa (melodious guitar metal + thrilling traditional Shamisen/Shakuhachi(flute)/Taiko(drums)), Synchronicity (swing jazz with 2 vocals), Senbonzakura(1,000 cherry blossoms, metal punk)...will stop here....

I love them, I'm a little surprised to see you covering them though. Thank you for the great video

WOW -- thank you for turning me on to this. This is classic folk music I used to listen to while living in Tokyo in the 70's and 80's taken to a modern level. Love integrating the shamisen and koto. The micro-tonal notes you tried to find are typical vocalizations in this genre of music. I have a new fav.. THANK YOU!!

Very glad you saw this, I fell in love with this song early June, and it was a treat to listen to someone else experience it.

Thank you so much for this video. Wagakki is an awesome band and seeing them disected by you is very insightful.

Asa always looks like he’s having a blast playing the bass! (^~^) 💕🦋

love your appraisal of Wagakki. The microtonality you describe is integral in Oriental and also middle Eastern music which are built on quarter tones rather than semi tones. I bet you'd enjoy Filles de Illighadad, by whom my favourite track is 'Tende.' I'm always amazed how you always seem to effortlessly understand and appreciate so many genres of complex music.

Great reaction! I love Wagakki band and thank you for the break down!

Japan is saving rock and metal, Wagakki is a special one fusing Traditional and Rock, you'll be amazed from the Bands like Lovebites, Galneryus, Unlucky Morpheus, Nemophila, Ningen Isu. Even Jazz from Hitomi or Senri, its for you to dive in the rabbit hole and discover.

As I understand it, the lead guitarist was one of the top session guitarists in Japan before joining this group

GLAD THAT YOU REACTED TO THEM, they're extremely talented and mastered their own musical ins. Also just found out your channel recently and love the content!!

They also do only rock instrument performance in there concert like only traditional instrument too hope u see more performance of them ❤️

すごいねマジで勉強してるよこの人！

That is a baritone guitar. It has 29 frets, thus the capo on fret 5.

Sometimes you can't find the note you're looking for because Shigin is a form of a microtonal poem singing

Japanese bands though...their melodies are always so unique

Yay. I think this song's really fun. Looking forward to seeing what you think of it.

This is so awesome!

Hum or sing the note, and you will find it on a string on some fret. It gets you unstuck (and helps your ear). Trust your ears less than your mind. And, this is a info-packed reaction video for beginner to advanced. This band has created a new fan after I picked my jaw off the floor.

“Sometimes it’s hard to find the note” - especially when it’s a quarter tone. 👍

Your singing around 8minutes... Inspirational.

I love Waggaki band, my guilty pleasure thrown in among Megadeth, Exodus, Testament etc.. lol

Great, Michael! Thanks.

So glad when I saw you react to it.

Wagakki Band stands for Traditional Japanese Instrument Band. That's why you see things like the Shamisen(the banjo looking instrument), Taiko drums that the other percussionist that isn't on the trap set using, and the shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) as well as the stringed instrument known as the Koto which is the one that is lain flat and is plucked. Also those drummers are RIPPED which is usually a turnoff for most Japanese women, as far as I know. I last checked this factoid in 2015. It could have changed. Edit: The Guitarist that seems like she is a burn victim probably spent some time in the US and got a floral tattoo but in Japan people connect tattoos to gangsters, and she has a wedding ring so she gotta be a good mom. She had her tattoos removed via laser.

Cheers from Brazil dude, amazing job

Fun fact: the part from 10:31 onwards serves as the encore chant for every single one of their concerts.. fans don’t chant “encore” but rather sing along that part :)) was there in one of their concerts in 2018, Osaka… was an amazing experience :)

FINALLYYYYYYYY, I WAS WAITING SOO LONG FOR THIS VIDEO HAHAH> jokes aside, thanks michael for the video and keep doing this amazing job that you do and those excellents analysis and reactions.

You need to check out Band-Maid! They’re an all-girl Japanese punk band with incredible guitar work! All of the ladies are extremely talented!

"There's so much going on"

I find it very helpful that you cover some basic orientation as to what is going on harmonically. I think a version of this medley was also my introduction to the band. The transition from standard Western heavy metal style to smoothly bringing in elements that to me are exotic is one of their best tricks. Along with the great visual show and the high quality of the playing and singing. And thanks for not intimidating me too much by picking up all the notes correctly right away!

6:40 is really funny, he really stop plying the guitar when Asa(Bassist) show the silent sign xD

Japan is the second largest music market in the world, but it is definitely in first place in terms of the average quality of musicians. The musician I want to draw your attention to is guitarist Kanami Tōno (Band Maid) who plays on beautiful PRS guitars just like you. Kanami is a great guitarist, but that’s not what makes her stand out. Her exceptional compositional work is what sets her apart in the guitar world. It is a simple freaking Japanese machine for solos, riffs and licks. Everything she has composed so far is exclusively for the purpose of improving the songs she writes, not for the purpose of self-promotion. Her solos are very short and effective and always leave the listener thirsty and eager for more. He always has at least a hundred melodies and songs in his archive and head, from which he can make a song at any time, which many bands are praying to find in their discography. The band he plays in is called Band Maid and has just been named the all-female Japanese band with the most fans in the world. This is not only her merit because it is a band with 5 extraordinary musicians who all contribute to writing songs and arrangements. The band has a discography of over 100 songs and in the last 5 years it has revived and revitalized the hard rock genre, which is why it has hardcore fans all over the world who call themselves "Maidiacs". They love reactions that analyze the band's music in a professional way and expect them to invade the channel if you decide to listen to one of their songs. They will then explain to you in the comments everything you need to know about the band. It is very difficult to recommend a song and it can be said that the random selection from their channel is quite OK because the band does not have a bad song, it all depends on the taste. However, here are some suggestions: DICE (MV), onset (live-instrumental), Blooming (MV), DOMINATION (live), Daydreaming (MV), etc.

MORE J-ROCK YES

I’ve never watched a reaction that’s half music lesson. 😂 I can tell you get excited about being able to eventually play complicated songs like this. It must feel like a power.

Hell yeah that was awesome.

You are right brother.... You are killing me! LOL! Hey, great review - glad you got to hear them. I was stationed there back in the '80s and picked up a taste for Japanese music.... its just gotten better and better. When they combine classical instruments with a modern, metal sound, you get.... this. Absolutely amazing.

that was awesome. Loving the mix of traditional and modern instruments and of eastern and western music styles.

My favorite PRS thank u~!

it's pretty much Japanese traditional music in a metal/rock setting. great stuff. Japan's putting out some of the most original shit these days. gotta love it. they're on to something.

Great in depth reaction mate. If you have a chance would love reaction to Masquerade by Japanese Neoclassical metal band Versailles. They are exceptionally talented with a unique style.

Japanese singing vibrato is wild, man.

As TheUnderdog mentioned, absolutely *The Warning!* Spector is producing a Signature Series bass in the name of the *16 year old* bassist. Not bad, huh? Choke is from their upcoming 3rd album, or try Dull Knives from The Warning Cave, or really anything from their YT channel.

oh this is right up my alley. but then again with how often i watch anime im kind of used to Jpop and Jrock from the opening and ending credits lol.

From what I have learned, the Guitarist wrote the music for both songs on this video.

Nice video. It's pronounced "waGakki not"WAgakki". I appreciated that you immediately noted the microtonal work on the vocals! That's Yuko Suzuhana, a national champion in Japanese traditional sung poetry.

I love the beginning when you do your finger slide growl xD I'm Kathryn btw please to meet you Michael

Holy shit that was awesome! 😂

God I love this!

I would LOVE to see Wagaki Band at Wacken. They would be a monster hit. Remember, these are the guys that will stand and sing The Bard's Song for a LONG time.

6:38 its funny when he try to isolate the bass and the bassist is like "ssssshhh..."

彼らの他の曲もお願いいたします、(⌒‐⌒)、🎵🎵🎵

shamisen usually is also tuned as CGC so that fits in the D key you picked up

Please react to some music by Casiopea and/or T-Square, awesome Japanese bands Great legends in jazz fusion Maybe 'Truth', 'Midnight Rendezous', 'Takarajima', 'Fightman', 'Domino Line', etc.

やっぱプロになると、すぐコードやスケールがわかるんだね。☺️

Akathuki no Ito🟰Japanese Heart❤🇯🇵❤😊😊😊

You should definitely react to Jet by Polkadot Stingray. Always loved the guitar in that one.

I love how you explain the theory for plebs like me lol coming up to playing 2 and half years and things are starting to make sense...not bad for a 45 year dude that should have carried on when he stopped playing at 15 after playing for 6 months.

Traditional Japanese music and performances of Japanese musical instruments are characterized by the omission of the F and B scales. Even modern Japanese people are not very familiar with this music, but I like it.

These songs are for executing the costume changes and giving Yuko a break BTW

Great reaction, man! Anyway, you should check out *Lovebites - Glory to the World* They had an amazing duo harmonizing guitar ever.. Maybe you can analyse it.. :) Tbh, most of their song are always have the harmonize parts.. Thank you..

I see your jazz flute and raise you Metal Recorder.

The shamisen though!

J-Rock is on another level. Their musicality is the best.

Royal Blood React????? - little monsters, Hole. or Out of the Black live There’s a lot to learn here from this band both musically as well as how to use your setup to chase a specific sound

not 1 word about that brilliant shamisen? :-(

Hello from Japan Thank you for listening to Japanese songs♪ I'm not very good at English, but I'd like to hear how you feel about the official 髭男beard man crybaby♪

🇯🇵 Tricot, AKFG, Cinema Staff, please !

ARIGATO for the nice reaction!! WAGAKKI BAND is the great band. Please watch the next song. "HANGEKI NO YAIBA"(2018.1.27 live) BY WAGAKKI BAND * "HANGEKI NO YAIBA" means " the edge of the KATANA(japanese sword) of count attack". Live performance is so emotional. And SAMURAI dancers are amazing. There are many talented musicians in japanese bands. Especially, japanese female bands. Please watch the next bands, "M.D.O."(live), "THE HAMMER OF WRATH"(live), "EDGE OF THE WORLD"(live), "SWAN SONG"(live) by LOVEBITES LOVEBITES is japanese female metal band. Twin lead guitars of MIDORI and MIYAKO are amazing. "PLAY"(live), "ONSET"( instrumental live), "THRILL"(MV) by BANDMAID BANDMAID is japanese female hard rock band. MISA(bass), KANAMI(guitar), AKANE(drums) are talented musicians.

If I could give you some advice on pronunciation, the thing that trips westerners up with Japanese is usually vowel sounds, because in English ‘a’ has like 4 different sounds associated, but there are only 5 vowel sounds in Japanese and they are always the same. When people who speak English learn Japanese they memorize this sentence “Ah (a), we(i) soon(u) get(e) old(o).” That’s all 5 of the vowel sounds right there. That’s also how we group syllables when we learn them. For example: ta ti tu te to Or if you want to flex on your friends that can’t pronounce English Ls and Rs la li lu le lo :P

You’ll love this too (wagakki band chie no kajitsu) please i want to see ur react

Love your content. Have you ever checked out the band Toe out Japan? They’re an amazing instrumental band that just groove together. Probably, have one of the smoothest drummers in Kashikura Takashi.

What guitar is that? I really like the design 😀

beutiful PRS you got there man...

I think you should check out davy knowles gotta leave live, pretty long song, but beautifully delivered.

Sounds like business phone on-hold music. For a different flavor, check out the band Otoboke Beaver.

Ohhhhhh we’re about to put you on to some Japanese bands !!!!! 😁😁

I get a bit of Eric Johnson feel in some of Machiya's work in these songs.

They look like anime band and I really wish I can go to their concert

Should check out Utada Hikaru's Devil Inside, Kremlis Dusk & You Make Me Want to Be a Man performances at her Utada United concert... those songs are originally pop/rock songs on the EXODUS album, but at the concert, she rearranged them to be more rock... he and her talented band killed it...

Great teaching. You nailed it! I love that banjo-looking instrument. It's called a shamisen. The shamisen is a three-string instrument played using a large plectrum called bachi. I am blown away at how good it sounds in a rock band. The picking and drumming are as good as it gets and the melody is happy, toe tapping, dance music. The vocal harmony was a little off and the wood flute was a little out of tune for my taste but this is a live concert and not a recording studio. When she cut loose on that shamisen my jaw dropped & my head was skinned naked.

Then Beni steps up on her tsugaru shamisen and all bets are off!

HOW MANY KEYS YOU WANT IN THIS SONG WAGAKKI: YES 🎌🎌

The Samurai's of Steve Vai...

他の和楽器バンドの曲もギターに注目しながらのリアクションしてほしいです

please you have to react to Galneryus-Emotions, such a great japanese band and very metal!

You should check out Tash Sultana - Jungle (LIVE BEDROOM RECORDING)

Wagaki Band are like BabyMetal in that, they are like nothing else. They are their own thing. And they are Awesome at that thing.

to western music.. the key changes in J-POP/ J-ROCK songs may be kinda wierd.. but thats unexpectedly good.. if you want some views.. try react alip ba ta and josephine alexandra.. your channel will grow