Last Update 2011 10/18

I would like to begin my discussion of the Tsugaru shamisen with a brief
description of its history. The first person attributed with being a
Tsugaruru shamisen musician was a blind performer named Nitaboh, who is
credited with inventing the revolutionary shamisen technique during the
Meiji Era. Nitaboh was a monk or “Bosama,” who in order to survive
practiced “Kadouke” or begging on street corners as well as playing the
shamisen door to door to collect donations. He was subject to some
discrimination because of his begging practices.

Located at the northern tip of Japanese mainland, Honshu, Tsugaru is the
former name of Aomori Prefecture. Famous for its bitterly cold winter
weather and rough seas, Tsugaru is the birthplace of the “Futozao” or
thick-neck shamisen which first originated as the accompaniment for “Minyo,”
or the traditional folk songs of the workers.

The Tsugaru-shamisen soon evolved into an instrument which was used to
perform with independent from the songs of “Minyo” and with time changed
into the style we call "kyokubiki" or freestyle acrobatic techniques.

Types of Shamisen

There are many kinds of shamisen being used in Japan. These range from the snake-skinned jamisen of Okinawa to the thin necked cat-skin naga-uta shamisen to the thick neck dog-skin Tsugaru shamisen.
The thicker the neck of the shamisen, the greater the volume the drum provides. Thus Tsugaru shamisen gives the loudest sound of all shamisen types.

1. Shamisen parts

The thickest string of the shamisen is called "Ichi-no-ito" or "First String"
The second or middle string of the shamisen is called "Ni-no-ito" or "Second String"
The third and thinnest string of the shamisen is called "San-no-ito" or "Third String"

2. Holding the Shamisen

To begin with, rest the drum's edge on top of your right upper thigh and rest thedrum at a 30 degree angle against your abdomen. Allow your right arm to rest comafortably on top of the drum.
You should be able to hold the shamisen using only your right hand, suppressing the instrument against your body and allowing your left hand to be completely free.
The angle of the shamisen's neck should be 45 degrees for the Tsugaru which is greater than other kinds of shamisen. This angle allows you to move your hand more easily and rapidly.

3. Holding the "Batchi" or "Plectrum"

Functioning like the pick of a guitar, the Batchi is a critical element when playing the shamisen. Correct Batchi handling creates a much more beautiful sound.

There are many types of shamisen in Japan,Tsugaru-shamisen uses a thicker neck than nagauta-shamisen in kabuki.
This is because the thicker the neck becomes, the bigger the body becomes,and it can make a louder sound.

First you hold the top of the plectrum vertically with your left hand,
then open your right hand with the ring finger folding.

The point is the dent of the little finger (pinky) knuckle.

The handle of the plectrum should rest between the pinky knuckle. Your pinky should remain folded and bent upwards as shown.

.
picture1: good example of a correct grip

While keeping a dent in the knuckle of pinky,
bend your right wrist 90 degrees, put the grip of the plectrum between middle finger and pinky and hold the grip with your ring, middle,
index finger and put your thumb on the side of plectrum with your thumb half outside the edge.
The tip of your thumb is 1 cm away from the tip of the plectrum. Next , bend your wrist at a 90 degree angle, waving it like fan.

picture2;bad example

with your thumb half outside the edge.

The tip of your thumb is 1 cm away from the tip of the plectrum.

Next , bend your wrist at a 90 degree angle, waving it like fan.



3. Tuning

When tuning the shamisen always begin with the the first string or "Ichi-no-ito". This string is tuned to C.
The second string is then tuned to G and the third string to C. This tuning is known as "Ni Agari".
To know if the strings are correctly tuned, press down at the 6th fret or Tsubo on the first string and pluck it. The pitch should be the same as the second open string. In the same way, press the 4th fret or Tsubo on the second string and pluck. This pitch should be the same as the 3rd open string.

4. Reading the Score

It is necessary to know how toread the score in order to practice shamisen alone.
The score, known as Bunkafu has 2 lines which correspond to the 3 strings of the instrument.

The uppermost lines corresponds to the 3rd string, San-no-ito. The middle line indicates the second string (Ni-no-ito,), and the lower line indicates the first string (Ichi-no-ito or thickest string).

The lines under the numbers indicate the length of the notes, no line under the number indicates a quarter note
one line under the numbers indicates an eighth note, a double line under the number indicates a 16th note.

Picture3:Notes

Therefore, by adding a line under the number the length of the note becomes half.

A black point means "rest", 0 means to play an open string, and all other numbers correspond to the number of the fret.

pluck each number while pressing down on the corresponding frets.

スmeans upstroke,ハ means pluck,3ハmeans pluck while pressing the 3rd fret.

スリmeans sliding. 4-6スリ　means after picking at the 4th fret ,slide your left finger to the 6th fret ,without playing 6.

The marks like parenthesis means Oshibachi,or to press the higher string first and then drop down to the

desired string without playing them simultaneously.


shamisen score site

5 Techniques
Kamkimawashi (kamashi, kamashi)
literally means "roll" The most charasteristic technique of tsugaru-shamisen.
First pick the open string, while press the 3rd fret with index finger, pluck with ring finger and then
pluck index finger which is pressing the 3rd fret.

Next upstroke open string, place 3 with the index finger, pluck with ring finger and then
pluck index finger which has placed 3 .

It is important not to pluck strongly.

5.How to change strings

6,The songs
Three major Minyo
Jongara-bushi
Yosare-bushi
Ohara-bushi

+
Aiya-bushi
Sansagari
We say Five major minyo.

Other songs.
Ringo-bushi(apple song)
Tosa-no-Sunayama(Sand dune in Tosa)

7. Advanced techniques
Mae bachi(front bachi ) and Ushirobachi(back bachi)
We hit 2part of body, front and back.

when we hit front, the pinky is on the bridge ,when we hit back, the pinky touches neo, music knots.
When we hit first string, we only hit back bachi. When we hit middle string and the thinnest string, we hit front of the body
and back of the body alternately.

It's the most distinctive feature of tsugaru-shamisen compared to other types of shamisen.
Other types of shamisen only hit front of the body.

It's because by strong beat in back bachi and weak beat in front bach, it makes clear rythm.
In Jongara fushi, it's 4 times beat of stroke, upstroke, stroke, stroke, first two notes(stroke, upstroke) is front bachi
and stroke ,stroke is back bachi.

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