Any ideas on saving up for a shamisen - which one is best for me?

General
#1

Im a college student with a love for hougaku and traditional Japanese music. I still have trouble whether I should learn Nagauta or Tsugaru style.

I will take a leap of faith and go for a natural membrane dog skin shamisen. Im looking at the Level 4 Tsugaru shamisen. Im sorry, but I dont want to settle for the plastic one anymore. I want that warm Shamisen tone. Kouki and/or Shitan wood is just out of the question right now.

Do you guys have any ideas for saving up? Will I have to get various part time jobs in the process for this?

I am stuck between Nagauta and Tsugaru:

Nagauta: I LOVE Kabuki theater music and want to be able to play Edo period music anytime, anywhere. CONS: No teacher. The only teacher that teaches Nagauta lives two states away and immediately refused me due to distance.

Tsugaru: Because I am energetic and it suits me and because of all of you, I am beginning to get hooked on the Tsugaru style pieces. It’s so…soulful, you know? I cant say there are any cons for this because all the learning resource I have is RIGHT HERE (you guys, this forum, Shamisen of Japan book.)

Honestly, Im just looking at the Tsugaru right now.

What do you guys think?

#2

Hey Gabby,
I, too, purchased the level 4 shamisen from this site, and have been nothing but pleased with it. I don’t ever regret my decision to buy it. I figured I’d get all the trappings later, and wanted as much shamisen as my money could buy at the time. In my opinion, you shouldn’t worry so much about the skin. It’s there to be beat upon (if you want to go the tsugaru route, that is)! It’s probably gonna break EVENTUALLY (and as Mr. Goldrick stated, with the proper care this can be staved off for a LONG time). The way I look at it, look at Kevin Kmetz and Masahiro Nitta and Kyle Abbot SHREDDING those things. They don’t look too worried about it! If you’re worried about those things while you’re playing you will never realize your full potential. AS for your nagauta vs. tsugaru (futazao) question, I have a jiuta as well and it seems if I would like to play an older piece on my tsugaru, I can, but if I want to slap on my jiuta, well… not so much. That said, do whatever feels right to you! Everyone sees everything differently! Hope this helps!

#3

FIrst I want to say that I have almost no experience with Chuzao, hosozao (Jiuta, nagauta, kabuki style )Shamisens as I have always only played futozao (being trained in Tsugaru style). I have messed around on them before but thats about it. But somehow I completely agree 100% with Jonathan Tarajcak. I have found that the futozao can be used for a variety of styles. As Johnathan points out you can play older, softer or more subtle peices on the Futozao AND Rock out with energy when turning to modern Tsugaru style. But with the other smaller models it seems obviously limited in its own sonic spectrum.

So if you were to ask me I would say that since you describe yourself as energetic and that the style suits you, go for Tsugaru!!!

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