Today, I'll show you the step-by-step process of fully assembling a shamisen from start to finish, including attaching all of the essential shamisen accessories! Helpful links and time stamps below!
In this video, we're putting together the shamisen from the Shamisen Starter Set at Bachido (bachido.com/store/the-shamise.... Whether you have this shamisen or any other shamisen, the assembly process is pretty much exactly the same, so feel free to watch and learn!
Lastly, please know that different shamisen styles can have slightly different accessories. (Most notably, the 'Bachigawa' skin protector for formal styles like 'Nagauta' and 'Jiuta' is a half-moon shaped sheet stuck to the very top of the skin, whereas the bachigawa for 'Tsugaru' style is a larger rectangular sheet which covers more of the skin.) This only matters if you are actively pursuing a formal style and want to make sensei happy. If you're more interested in shamisen as an instrument than part of a classical style, then you don't have to worry about these differences. Just use the accessories you have. :-)
*In-depth resources for this video:*
DaFAQ: Tuning Issues - Part 1
• DaFAQ: Tuning Issues -...
DaFAQ: Tuning Issues - Part 2
• DaFAQ: Tuning Issues -...
DaFAQ: "Do I Need to Remove My Koma Every Time?"
• DaFAQ: "Do I Need to R...
DaFAQ: All About Fujaku
• DaFAQ: All About Fujak...
DaFAQ: Caring For Your Shamisen
• DaFAQ: Caring For Your...
DaFAQ: How Much Power Do You Need?
• DaFAQ: How Much Power ...
DaFAQ: "Should I Loosen my Strings?"
• DaFAQ: "Should I Loose...
*Time Stamps:*
00:00 Introduction
02:11 Knowing which side of Dou (body) is the topside:
03:27 Assembling Sao (neck)
05:32 Itomaki (tuning pegs)
06:04 Kamigoma (nut)
07:07 Doukake (body cover)
08:31 Neo (tailpiece)
09:10 Ni-no-ito (middle string)
11:13 Ichi-no-ito (thick string)
12:59 San-no-ito (thin string)
14:52 Bachigawa (skin protector)
18:11 Dou Gomu (rubber pad)
20:25 Fujaku (position mark strip)
20:50 Koma (bridge)
22:23 Pitch pipe/Tuning
27:05 Yubikake (fingerpants)
27:41 Bachi (plectrum)
28:04 Sawari (buzzing effect)
31:02 Demonstration