noun
bunkafu; tablature notation for shamisen
A traditional Japanese tablature system specifically for shamisen music, using numbers and symbols to indicate finger positions and techniques.
文化譜は、三味線の楽譜として広く使われている。
Bunkafu is widely used as sheet music for the shamisen.
この曲は文化譜で書かれているので、三味線を弾く人には読みやすい。
This piece is written in bunkafu, so it's easy to read for shamisen players.
General term for tablature; bunkafu is a specific Japanese system for shamisen, whereas タブラチュア can refer to guitar tablature or other instruments.
文化 (Bunka, a historical era name) + 譜 (musical notation). The system was developed during the Bunka era (1804–1818), hence the name.