Love your videos. Just discovering Shamisen through your and Mike Penny's posts. What is the rationale behind the large size of the bache (sp?) plecktrum - just for percussive effect? Is the action quite high on the Shamisen to facilitate the left hand pull-offs without causing the note above from ringing an accidental hammer-on (these are guitar terms that I'm using; not sure if there is a counterpart for this concern in Shamisen)?
@fiddlefella Thank you for all of your responses: So in the above are you saying, when depressing the string to make contact with the neck you use your fingernail, as opposed to your finger-tip? Or, is the fingernail only used when pulling off - for a sharper, in this case left-handed, picking technique?
Also, I notice that the left hand address on the Shamisen is very different from guitar. With guitar the wrist is parallel to the neck, allowing one finger per fret; with Shamisen the address is somewhere between 45 degrees and perpendicular, creating the so-called "spider finger" appearance. In some respects I think this is a more natural address for the wrist, but at the same time it looks like a considerable strain for the fingers. Does your thumb sit centre in the Sao or to one side?
More Questions: After you've pulled off to the open D-string with your index finger, are you resting your index finger to the side of the string on the neck (Sao?) or does it float freely. I noticed that when you're playing an open string your fingers float above the strings, but when you're pulling off to an open string with the index finger it seems to go to the side (but it's hard to tell from my perspective). For bass, I was taught to always rest on the string above the one being played.
Sorry to keep bugging you with questions, but I was reading about a muting technique with the bachi, where the left hand does the plucking and the plectrum mutes ("Kakebachi" I think is what I read). Can the bachi, being used this way, also be used for false harmonics? So, for instance, your left index finger holds the node for a D on the high A string, while your left ring finger plucks the string and the bachi catches the high D, 12 semi-tones above for a false harmonic?
Hello! Great videos! Thank you! I play the Okinawa Sanshin for almost 3 years now and because I always wanted to play the Shamisen in the first played I managed to get myself a Tsugaru Shamisen. It's very difficult for me to change the way of playing and its very hard to play this Crescendo. Could you help me out a bit how to use the left hand exactly? I can't figure it out properly.. Thanks!
It can be challenging with the smaller neck, but it is possible! :-) Feel free to post your question on the Bachido forum! Many shamisen players (both beginners and advanced) are there who love to help other players. :-)
Hello! Great videos! Thank you! I play the Okinawa Sanshin for almost 3 years now and because I always wanted to play the Shamisen in the first played I managed to get myself a Tsugaru Shamisen. It's very difficult for me to change the way of playing and its very hard to play this Crescendo. Could you help me out a bit how to use the left hand exactly? I can't figure it out properly.. Thanks!
awesome video dude!
Love your videos. Just discovering Shamisen through your and Mike Penny's posts. What is the rationale behind the large size of the bache (sp?) plecktrum - just for percussive effect? Is the action quite high on the Shamisen to facilitate the left hand pull-offs without causing the note above from ringing an accidental hammer-on (these are guitar terms that I'm using; not sure if there is a counterpart for this concern in Shamisen)?
Great videos very useful too is this similar to the motions for the beginning part of Akita Nikata Bushi?
@fiddlefella
Thank you for all of your responses:
So in the above are you saying, when depressing the string to make contact with the neck you use your fingernail, as opposed to your finger-tip? Or, is the fingernail only used when pulling off - for a sharper, in this case left-handed, picking technique?
I'm actually on there myself. ^^ I agree. It's a very nice community. I'm glad I started Shamisen. :D
Also, I notice that the left hand address on the Shamisen is very different from guitar. With guitar the wrist is parallel to the neck, allowing one finger per fret; with Shamisen the address is somewhere between 45 degrees and perpendicular, creating the so-called "spider finger" appearance. In some respects I think this is a more natural address for the wrist, but at the same time it looks like a considerable strain for the fingers. Does your thumb sit centre in the Sao or to one side?
More Questions: After you've pulled off to the open D-string with your index finger, are you resting your index finger to the side of the string on the neck (Sao?) or does it float freely. I noticed that when you're playing an open string your fingers float above the strings, but when you're pulling off to an open string with the index finger it seems to go to the side (but it's hard to tell from my perspective). For bass, I was taught to always rest on the string above the one being played.
Sorry to keep bugging you with questions, but I was reading about a muting technique with the bachi, where the left hand does the plucking and the plectrum mutes ("Kakebachi" I think is what I read). Can the bachi, being used this way, also be used for false harmonics? So, for instance, your left index finger holds the node for a D on the high A string, while your left ring finger plucks the string and the bachi catches the high D, 12 semi-tones above for a false harmonic?
Hello! Great videos! Thank you! I play the Okinawa Sanshin for almost 3 years now and because I always wanted to play the Shamisen in the first played I managed to get myself a Tsugaru Shamisen. It's very difficult for me to change the way of playing and its very hard to play this Crescendo. Could you help me out a bit how to use the left hand exactly? I can't figure it out properly.. Thanks!
so is it like tapping?? bcoz ur left hand touched the string and still produce sounds even ur right hand didnt touch the strings..
It can be challenging with the smaller neck, but it is possible! :-) Feel free to post your question on the Bachido forum! Many shamisen players (both beginners and advanced) are there who love to help other players. :-)
what intervals are the strings tuned in?
Oh snap! Awesome stuff!! :-D
This is so hard to do on a Nagauta, Having trouble here. XD
Where are you from?
Hello! Great videos! Thank you! I play the Okinawa Sanshin for almost 3 years now and because I always wanted to play the Shamisen in the first played I managed to get myself a Tsugaru Shamisen. It's very difficult for me to change the way of playing and its very hard to play this Crescendo. Could you help me out a bit how to use the left hand exactly? I can't figure it out properly.. Thanks!