Holding the Shamisen

Playing/Techniques
#1

Okay, after reading some of the recent talk by Karl, Kevin and Kyle (wow, we have a lot of K names on here, don’t we), I’m finally admitting to myself that I really need to work on how I hold the shamisen. sigh Can a man get a video tutorial or something?

I am somewhat able to balance the instrument and not hold it up with my left hand, but that’s only as long as I’m stationary. The second I try to actually play everything falls apart. In other words, group bachi-zuke tuning is pointless with this guy. I feel like holding it is a problem of finding the right spot on the leg to put it as well as how much force and in what direction the right arm needs to use in order to hold it in place. Or do I have that wrong? Gah.

助けてぇ〜

#2

yeps having the same problems though yesterday i managed to get it on the right place but i guess i should get the Rubber pad for the dou and then i guess it would become more stationary

#3

I think it’s hard too, but I am certain it will get better with practice. The rubber pad helps but it is in no way a sticky rubber pad. Your pants also matter. If you have baggy cozy indoors pants then the rubber pad will only make the shamisen pull the pants to the side, so I would recommend tight jeans for example.

I also noticed that you receive a better balance when holding the bachi hand almost 90 degrees compared to like 70.

So I think it is hard to get a video tutorial that tells you how to hold it but maybe it is possible.

#4

I agree with Karl it’s propably hard to make a video of it… You just have to feel it :smiley:
but i realized my mistakes when i looked at a photo of me playing and then watched Masahiro Nitta play in “Kizuna” and… Let’s say the mistakes popped out pretty well

#5

Simple rules to follow

-Keep the shamisen close to your body
-Lean into it a bit (in the case of tsugaru at least)
-Make sure the tuning pegs are roughly around eye-level
-The shamisen should sit on the side/top of your leg, not directly on top

I was taught to basically hold the shamisen between my leg and my lower ribs.
Not forcefully, but just enough to keep it stable.

Not sure if any of this is of use, but hopefully it helps a bit.

#6

Whoops! This looks like something for BachiTV!! :stuck_out_tongue:
New episode this Sunday! (I hope) I’ll be sure to cover this.

This’ll be good. Currently, all I’ve been filming this week is shamisen making and espresso adventures. So good to have something relevant. :wink:

#7

espresso is always relevant also . . . cool so shall episodes always or usually be released on sundays then?

#8

Sounds good with a video but it’s hard. I can get it stationary but then my right hand comes in an awkward position and I can’t play properly. And just to clarify what Norm says, its the outer side that you want the shamisen on, not the inner.

#9

Yeah, I think it’ll be once a week.

#10

Thanks for the tips, Norm. I think I remember my teacher saying something about rib sandwich thing too (mmm, McRib…), so I try to concentrate on that a little more.

@Karl: Yeah, currently the spot I’ve found where I can both hold it up and kind of play is like pretty much off my right leg, but I’m kind of suspicious. It seems like it’s a little too far out, but maybe it’s right, I dunno. Either way, I can’t really play too long without using my left hand again or else the sao starts to drop and swing away from me. Practice practice practice, I guess.

Hooray for videos!

#11

I just had this splendid idea about a nipple piercing and holding it up with your breast muscles…

#12

Great idea Karl! (lol)

#13

Haha wow that Is a good idea, Karl

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