Does anyone out there already play the Shamisen? Why not share some tips with a lowly beginner?
@SimonJ574 жыл бұрын
One of the best places for westerners to learn I recon is Bachido, which is based out of California which also sells and repairs Shamisen. It's a shame there's no good source in the UK. Scouring EBay for broken units if you have the tools to repair one can net you an absolute bargain. The owner, Kyle Abbot has written a book, "Shamisen of Japan". Has some Minyo (folk songs) in the back to learn. Also, HonChoShi is C-F-C? The Sanshin is incredibly similar but has a kind of horn worn on the finger to play. Could have mentioned SanXian (the Chinese version). But it's notation is incredibly limited, especially how a Shamisen is played like a guitar as if it has frets. Good video over all!
@jamiep24514 жыл бұрын
I started playing about 2 years ago, so probably no help Also, I play the tsugaru
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
Hey Simon, sorry must have missed your comment when you posted it. Thanks for the tips! Yea I'm already signed up on the Bachido forum and Facebook group, seems like a really great community. As far as I understand it, Honchoushi can be in any key really. C > perfect 4th > F > perfect 5th C is the same as D > perfect 4th > G > perfect 5th > D. It's just that most of the music that my teach gives me at the moment is in 'D Honchoushi' but I've seen a lot of sheet music for pieces tuned to 'C Honchoushi' although I don't think there were on a Jiuta shamisen. Thanks for watching!
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
Aha well I appreciate your honesty at least, cheers for watching :)
@Joeyblondewolf24 жыл бұрын
I just bought a shamisen. I'm so excited to learn
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
That's awesome, I hope you go far with it!
@Poliphian3 жыл бұрын
Update?
@Mrdeadneck3 жыл бұрын
Hey man I doubt you’ll see this but after a year how is it to play one would you recommend me get one
@ibr75152 жыл бұрын
We need an update 😔
@PillowheadCreations2 жыл бұрын
Where u buy it I want one
@tzukishiro4 жыл бұрын
I love how shamisen sound, can't wait to see how far you go haha
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
Yea the sound is so unique. Thanks, we'll see when I post an update in a years time aha.
@AndyJapandy4 жыл бұрын
Dang, I didn't know a lot about the shamisen! Lots of info here! Can't wait to hear how you get better at it over time!
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
Thanks alot dude! Depends how much time I can dedicate to it over the next year but I'll guess we'll find out in the next update video!
@pianoshann3 жыл бұрын
Wow! 15hours and you’re able to play like this? That’s amazing! I remember my first 15 hours of learning shamisen... I was maybe able to play 5% of what you just played 😂👏
@KantanJapan3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! But actually, 17 years of playing guitar gave me a pretty solid foundation. Now I've gone through all the basics of shamisen I'm back to struggling, trying to master the more advanced stuff haha!
@DrunkManSquakin6664 жыл бұрын
This was very informative. Made a Naruto OC who plays the shamisen, but I didn't really know much about the instrument other than it sounded pretty, so it goes without saying that this video helped a lot.
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
Glad to be of help. Thanks for watching!
@RedHotUzumaki Жыл бұрын
I had my tsugaru shamisen for about 3 years now, the different types of tuning makes it fun learning all kinds of music :3
@Meinster_Apollo9 ай бұрын
How to tune?
@oppaiuu3 жыл бұрын
I wish I could safe enough money for some begineer shamisen. Absolutely amazing instrument
@KantanJapan3 жыл бұрын
Yea even the beginner ones are quite pricey! Mine was 2nd hand but after getting it reskinned it cost around $700!
@Durplepurple945723 жыл бұрын
Get a cardboard one then you can replace the cardboard part with a wooden one.
@maxbello7044 жыл бұрын
Jolly good playing congrats
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
Cheers old chap!
@28Cazo4 жыл бұрын
God, you are AMAZING!!! Let's get you that Shamisen!!! x x
@letshuman89854 жыл бұрын
Loving the Oedo town theme in the background! A lot of the music in this game seems to be closer to the nagauta style.
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
This guy knows! Ah interesting, thanks for the observation. It's hard to tell with that twangy MIDI sound bank and my still limited knowledge on the subject aha.
@letshuman89854 жыл бұрын
@@KantanJapan After listening to this music for a while, you will start to notice. :) What made you decide on the jiuta style? I’m so amazed at the midi sounds of the game’s music. I thought they were using a real shamisen.
@almusrosice8763 жыл бұрын
I decided to start saving for a Sugaru. I want to learn to play. I've been in love with the Shamisen for 25 years. My issue is do I want to go hard similar to Koki or a soft wood. Regardless, I will be using synthetic, not animal skin for the Koma. I live on the East coast of the US, and the shipping costs to replace a torn natural Koma would be astronomical. I found your video informative and inspiring. Thank you.
@veloopity4 жыл бұрын
great video for a beginner like me, very helpful!!
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
I'm still a beginner myself but you're very welcome. Thanks for watching!
@ahmadmoussa37714 жыл бұрын
I've been wanting to learn a shamisen for years as well (been playing guitar for roughly 10 years now). One thing I'm curious about (sorry I don't know much about your channel), do you live in japan? How do you manage not being too loud while practicing , so that you don't annoy your neighbours?
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
I think you'll be surprised how different the technique is compared to guitar. Yes I do live in Japan but the walls in my apartment actually aren't too bad so I just try to practice at a reasonable time (earlier than 8pm) and so far I've had no complaints from the neighbors aha. A lot of people practice instruments outside here too, as to avoid annoying their neighbours. I live close to a big park and there's always a few people there playing something.
@IsaacBenjaminGrey3 жыл бұрын
Super insightful, thanks very much
@nahte-4 жыл бұрын
the whole time I was waiting for him to tell us where to buy one, but he never did
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
Ah I'm sorry to have missed that out but this video was really more to document the beginning of the journey for me and also talk a little bit about the basics of the instrument. Also, outside of Japan, shamisen are quite difficult to find. Obviously you coudl just search 'Shamisen' on Google but you might have more luck looking for a Wagakki (Japanese Instrument) dealer near to where you live. Hope that helps!
@yv36522 жыл бұрын
You havent posted for a year so Im curious about your progress.
@KantanJapan2 жыл бұрын
Hi Matthew, thanks for the comment. Yea I've been kind busy with work and other things but will actually be playing a short piece at my Sensei's student concert in January, so would like to try and film that and hopefully give you all an update!
@BaronVonBullsheist3 жыл бұрын
I also love the Goemon games 💕💕 ビラジマ😂😂
@MilanoFuGorilla3 жыл бұрын
素晴らしい動画をありがとう
@KantanJapan3 жыл бұрын
見てくれてありがとうございます!
@evanlee932 жыл бұрын
I just bought a shamisen and thought this video might be interesting to watch, and then I heard music from Ganbare Goemon! Instantly subbed.
@KantanJapan2 жыл бұрын
Haha thanks you! I've actually been transcribing some Mystical Ninja songs and I've been meaning to make an update video on the Shamisen for a while. Hopefully soon!
@evanlee932 жыл бұрын
@@KantanJapan Yesss! I'm looking forward to it.
@PillowheadCreations2 жыл бұрын
Where u get it?
@brucelee77823 жыл бұрын
Great video! Would love to learn the shamisen if only it wasn't so expensive
@KantanJapan3 жыл бұрын
Thanks, yea that can be a bit pricey. I bought a second hand one which was around $700 after being re-skinned.
@brucelee77823 жыл бұрын
@@KantanJapan do you know where should one go to learn shamisen? Preferably free and in english?
@voiceoflight84013 жыл бұрын
I'm interested to play Shamisen. Can I buy and learn Shamisen by myself in my home country or I should go to Japan and learn there?
@KantanJapan3 жыл бұрын
Might be expensive coming to Japan just to learn shamisen! I don't know what country you're from but Google is your friend. See if there are any Japanese communities near you.
@Cloakdagger6394 жыл бұрын
Hey can you measure the scale length of the shamiesin from nut to bridge . I want to build one because I can't afford to buy it... but can't find the information anywhere. Thanks for the help
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
Nice, wish I could build my own! My shamisen is a Jiuta, so bare in mind that the scale changes for the different types. Also the bridge is not fixed so maybe it's not the most accurate measurement but mine is roughly 800mm(-/+ 2mm) from nut to bridge.
@benhenderson94373 жыл бұрын
Hi, I’d love a shamisen but they are hard to get in the U.K. are you able to help?!
@KantanJapan2 жыл бұрын
Hey, sorry I just saw your comment. Yea they can be hard to find outside of Japan, but actually I just had a quick search on eBay and found something like this: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265098256701?epid=19034790776&hash=item3db916613d:g:U48AAOSwLYBf43vq The price is about inline with what you'd expect to pay for an entry level shamisen. I'm not sure if you want to play Jiuta (same as me), Nagauta or Tsugaru though? There's plenty of ways to acquire them though online. You could also try these guys based in the US: bachido.com/store Hope that helps!
@mando89134 жыл бұрын
Where did you buy your instrument?
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
I'm not sure actually, it was sourced through my shamisen teacher. I trusted her to find me a good quality 2nd hand one and then I had it polished up and re-skinned. In total it cost me around ¥70,000.
@mando89134 жыл бұрын
Do you have any suggestions as to where I could obtain one for an affordable price
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
Do you live in Japan? You can find a bunch online by searching 中古三味線, chuu-ko sha-mi-sen. That's basically 2nd hand ones, there's quite a lot on different sites but you have to be careful with the quality of the skin.
@mando89134 жыл бұрын
Thank you but I live in the states
@KantanJapan4 жыл бұрын
@@mando8913 These guys are bases in the US, it's worth a check. bachido.com/store
@elcidgaming3 жыл бұрын
Jusr subbed cause if this! I love guitar and am really interested in shanisen. btw might wanna check out one 15 yr old channel I found 3030south they uploaded sone badass shamusen plays there!
@BrigadeAkaba3 жыл бұрын
I think that it sounds out of tune. Or maybe it's just me... o.o
@KantanJapan3 жыл бұрын
I'm pretty sure it was. I was using my teachers rental shamisen at the time at it was strapped up with some really old nylon practice strings. Thing was almost impossible to keep in tune aha.
@huseyinekiz6722 Жыл бұрын
hi, the bachi you are using is not suitable for your hand size 😊