Sho

Sho free-reed *mouth organ of Japan, very similar to the sheng of China. Generally it has 17 bamboo pipes set in a cup-shaped wind chamber of lacquered wood in symmetrical order, forming a circle. Pipe Numbers 2 and 9 are dummies that complete the symmetry. All are so arranged that those opposite one another are of the same height. The speaking length of each pipe is determined by a slot in the back. The reeds are of metal and, as with the sheng, remain silent until a side hole in the pipe is…