Bachizuke

Playing/Techniques
#1

I am confused about the bachizuke. I have the Shamisen of Japan book, but it only explains how to do it, not how to recognize when to do it, and I’m rather confused.

Some pieces give themselves to being played, like Tsugaru Jinku, which is almost entirely this nice 4-beat pattern. However, what does one do when you get to a spot that isn’t notated for bachizuke? Is bachizuke optional, or do you just play the notes as though they were written 6-6-6-6(sukui), even if it’s just 6-6-6-6?

I know that notes played inside boxes are played maebachi.
So, is bachizuke optional? I’m confused and I want to know how to do this correctly.

Many thanks!

#2

Hi Nick,

Aaah right. Excellent point. Basically, you can tell when to do bachizuke if you see #-#-#-#(sukui). If there’s no sukui on the fourth number, then it’s most likely hitting the same note in ushirobachi.

You could say it’s optional. After all, Chikuzan Takahashi played everything in maebachi (even #-#-#-#sukui parts). Bachizuke changes the tone and is part of the tsugaru aesthetic. That said, incorporating it is completely up to you.

I’m gonna work on adding it into the book now.
Thanks for bringing it up! :slight_smile:

#3

huh good point… gotta learn all the songs again

#4

Hi Kyle san, talking about bachizuke, would there be any chance you could add these mae bachi -ushiro bachi positions on each note on your further to-be-published books?

One way to learn mae-ushiro bachi positions will be just watching pro’s vids thousand of times - maybe this way works for some people, but i would say it will be really hard for those who took up shamisen as their very first instrument.

Last year I bought a shamisen book from Japan, there are godai tsugaru tabs with bachizuke positions. I haven’t learnt them yet, but I’m sure this will help to get a feel of where should be mae bachi -ushiro bachi a lot easier.

Just a thought…

Sayuri

#5

Sure. I could add them on the godai tsugaru pieces. As for the minyou pieces, I think bachizuke can be optional sometimes. I.e, not necessarily a standard #-#-#(sukui) rhythm.

I’ll start thinking about it now. Thanks for the suggestion! :slight_smile:

#6

“One way to learn mae-ushiro bachi positions will be just watching pro’s vids thousand of times - maybe this way works for some people, but i would say it will be really hard for those who took up shamisen as their very first instrument.”

Yea like me :smiley:

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