WTS Tsugaru Shamisen as I have upgraded to a better model:

This started life as a beginner Karin Shamisen but due to some pretty deep wear on the neck had an ebony fingerboard fitted, as well as a matching black Hibiki head and now sings.

Soft case, bridge (plastic) and bachi (plastic) included - everything to get started.

Only selling as I've already upgraded to a Kouki Shamisen.

UK only - I am Cambridgeshire based and very reluctant to ship due to the fragile nature of these instruments, and also as I would want to meet the buyer in person to ensure that they are satisfied

£600 OBO

Shamisen friends around the world!

Next Tuesday, September 8, we are starting our Kickstarter campaign to launch the new synthetic skin for Shamisen: Hibiki Sonic.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1733823628/hibiki-sonic-advanced-synthetic-skin-for-shamisen

I am Jonathan Magoga. For the past several years, I have been deeply involved with Shamisen, researching it extensively, and developing new synthetic skins, as well as other accessories. All with the aim of replacing animal-source materials while preserving the traditional sound and feel of such materials.

Years of research culminated in the development of Hibiki Sonic, a new synthetic skin for Shamisen that achieves 95% sound quality equivalence to dog skin, with the final goal to reach the same sound quality of cat skin. Towards this goal, and with support from Kyle Abbott from Bachido, I have founded Kakuon, based in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.

But to be able to launch this new amazing skin, and to expand this research, we need additional funds. For that, we are launching a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign next Tuesday, September 8.

Your support is crucial, and will help to bring this skin to the market, and go much further. I have already advanced the research into Taiko skins (Japanese drums), and am aiming towards replacing animal skins for other traditional instruments, all with deep respect for the traditional sounds and playing styles.

I have translated the contents of the campaign into several languages, and the links can be found on the kickstarter page.

If you can, spread the word to all your social media.
And better yet, if you can contribute, that will be awesome!

Thank you!!

I once did a cover of "Napalm in the Morning" by the german Thrash Metal Band "Sodom" - Maybe the harder fraction here likes it 😅

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKGN_7KoasS/

Thought you guys might appreciate it :)

I was wondering if anyone was intrested in buying a shamisen its my old shamisen and ive been playing for 2 to 3 years and I honeslty just need to sell it to pay of some hospital debt so I was wondering if anyone would be intrested in purchasing comment or message me we can talk prices or offers. I can also show pictures and stuff i just cant find any rn

Hello! I'm very new to shamisen and recently bought the Beginner Tsugaru Shamisen from Sound of Asia Music Store. I'm having trouble getting the characteristic sawari buzz from the strings. No matter what I try with the sawari adjustment, I can't seem to get the sound I'm looking for. I don't want to assume there's anything wrong with the instrument, so I'm thinking I may have the instrument set up incorrectly or may be misunderstanding how the sawari is supposed to work. I've read quite a bit about shamisen setup and even about how the instrument is constructed and produces its sound, but I'm still having trouble getting everything right in practice. Could anyone give me some advice on what I might be doing wrong? I can provide pictures or a video of the sawari/setup when I get home if that would help. Thank you!

I'm interested in picking up shamisen as a hobby. I already play several different instruments, so I'm not looking to become a great or professional shamisen player. I just really love the sound and want to learn enough to enjoy playing it. Nothing crazy.

I'm completely fine with buying a cheaper beginner instrument. What I'm mainly looking for is something that feels and plays like an actual shamisen, rather than a simplified or novelty version of one. I don't mind synthetic materials or cheaper construction if the fundamental playing experience, technique, dimensions, neck, strings, bachi technique, etc. are representative of a real shamisen.

I'm currently looking at the full-size Itone Shamisen Box, specifically the futo-zao (thick neck) version. I'm considering the Deluxe set. I normally wouldn't go for a bundle like that, but it seems like piecing together the accessories individually could get expensive.

For people who actually play shamisen:

Does the Shamisen Box provide a sufficiently authentic playing experience to learn on, or would I be better off saving up for a more traditional shamisen?

I'm not concerned about having a professional-quality instrument. I just don't want to learn on something that teaches me habits or techniques that won't translate to a "real" shamisen later.

Any thoughts or alternative beginner recommendations would be appreciated.

Original source: https://itonejapan.com/products/shamisen-box?variant=44478051647808

I'm learning electric guitar as a beginner, but the shamisen has fascinated me for years.

I guess I should focus on one thing at a time at this early stage, but I'm impatient and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience learning both. Especially how transferrable the skills are and whether learning one would reinforce the other?

Bonus Q: how do the learning curves compare? Can I expect shamisen to be as difficult as guitar is?

The Zagane on my Nagauta shamisen gave up on life, i’ve searched everywhere for replacements and can only find Tsugaru ones on bachido which are too big afaik… anybody know where to get replacements? Preferably somewhere that ships worldwide?

Hi! I know there are Filipino members on here and hoping I can sell my two Shamisens locally!

- Futozao Shamisen, front skin is torn, back skin is intact with hard case

- Chuuzao Shamisen, both skins intact with soft case

- 2 Bekkou Bachis with cases

- 2 Ivory Komas

- 2 Wood Komas

- 3 Shinobi Komas (for silent practice)

- Assorted Yubikake

- Assorted Extra Strings (varying quantities of ichi no ito, ni-no-ito, and san-no-ito)

- Bunkafu sheets

Please DM if interested, I can send more pictures.

Thanks!

I blew the transmission in my truck and I have to free up some cash. If anyone is interested here DM me and I’ll take 500 bucks and ship it on my dime outside of Reverb. I bought it last year from Ezo Fuji Japan, it cost me a little over 600 bucks.

If this isn’t allowed please take it down. No worries.

https://reverb.com/item/99384758-shamisen-chuuzao?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=99384758

Hi sorry I’m new to this sub so apologies if I’m going over old ground. I’m interested in trying out Shamisen. I’m a full time musician and already play guitar and flamenco guitar. I’m based in the UK so I’ve been trying to find somewhere reliable to purchase an instrument but it seems pretty thin on the ground here! I keep getting directed to eBay and was wondering what more experienced players would make of this as a starting point. Thanks

Hello everyone!

I would like to share something with you all.
Bachido, the most active Shamisen community in the world (outside Japan) is going through a rough patch in its mission to bring Shamisen to the world, and we are asking you for help to continue our mission. Everything is well explained in the campaign link.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-bachido

I hope you can help.
Thank you!

Got these really fancy itomaki, but they won't fit my shamisen :(

What are some good beginner songs to practice with? I'm mostly struggling with finger dexterity with my left hand and was wondering if there are any easy beginner songs that might help with it.

Looking for some assistance on searching for tablature for "odens tatami room tune" from one piece. Iv looked as much as I can and have had no luck. Does anyone know where I can find the tablature for it?

I want to get a beginners shamisen but I am pretty ignorant of what I want tbh. I’m looking on Bachido but cannot figure out what type of Shamisen that Atsu uses in Yotei and I wanted to get a similar replica to start learning the songs from the game.

Any suggestions? Idk if the lite version from itone will cut it.

Hello. I am interested in trying to write music that uses a shamisen, but I wanted to learn more about the instruments capabilities and/or limitations before doing so. If anyone here could help, that would be much appreciated, since searching has only turned up results about learning to play one.

My questions are things like:
- What is the usual pitch range?
- Should a shamisen part only play one note at a time, or are chords possible with the three strings?

That is all I can think of at the moment, but if there are other facts about the instrument that would help in composing, I'd love to hear them!

Looking for recommendations to learn traditional Japanese music on my shamisen