Is it possible to play a Shamisen with fingers as you would to a bass guitar as I don’t think I would be comfortable to play with a Bachi
Well, I think you could actually play it with fingers like fingerstyle guitar. But the shamisen’s, in particular tsugaru-style, characteristic sound lives from the snapping effect by hitting the kawa (preferrably with somewhat harder material, therefore the bachi).
Furthermore you won’t be able to unleash the full potential of loudness, and this is crucial to me, out of a shamisen only with your fingers. Nonetheless there are cool fingerstyle played examples on youtube.
Ah thanks I guess I should at least give it a try before I say that it’s not my style
Alessandro is right.
I think you will want to learn to use a bachi if you want to play Shamisen. If you try that out for a while and get past the initial adjustment period and still don’t like it, I guess the koto would suit better when it comes to using your fingers to play. Just a thought!
Kouta is played without bachi, but it is not at all tsugaru style…
I have looked at videos of over players and decided it’s certainly possible but I agree with Alessandro and Karl now but I will still try with both when my Shamisen arrives
As previously stated: give the bachi a shot and see how it works. There may be that awkward period of time where it feels uncomfortable/weird. But stick it out for a solid month or two and see how you feel.
Something to bare in mind is that all bachi are not made equal; some are rough and others are soft. It really depends on the material and what a given player’s hands are like. There are even ways to craft a bachi to better suit one’s hand, such are softly rounding the edges a little.
All that aside, if the bachi ends up not working out for you, rather than ditching shamisen, you could invest in an Okinawan sanshin plectrum as a substitute (picture included in link below).
http://shimaken.webs.com/content/bachihold.jpg
It isn’t the “pure” way to play shamisen, and your tone/style will be completely different. But this community is dedicated to the support and exploration of all possible venues. Hey, maybe you’ll even create a new hybrid-style of playing xP
The best to you on your own personal shamisen journey~!
When I first started messing around with the shamisen. I used a guitar pick. Didn’t sound the same, but it certainly lowered the barrier of entry for me… though I think I took some flak for it from my more traditional brother. 
Now that I think about it, there was a Japanese shamisen player (older I think) who lived in the eastern US and fronted a bluegrass band with shamisen. I can’t remember his name or any details, but I remember our friend Pete Hicks talking about him. (Kyle you probably remember.) He used a pick… worked for him.
On the other hand, you’re probably not going to be able to get a very rousing Jonkara Bushi out of a little guitar pick.
I think we can agree on that in this community you won’t be hated for doing your own thing at least 
So go for whatever feels right!
Well when i say i wasnt comfortable i havent actually held a bachi or shamisen yet but was just worried about the size but i am more than willing to try just have to save up again to buy a bachi as i brought a shamisen the other day (^o^)
Well, if size may be an issue, just keep in mind that there are any number of sizes and shapes for bachi.
Kouta style might suite them~ although having a bachi will be nice to have around too you just cant make the snappy crispy sound or the mistake of stabbing your shamisen with a bachi on accident~
Check ebay for bachi as they can be really cheap
Luke!!! I’m pretty sure you are talking about the One and Only Kunimoto Takeharu!
Yeah this guy is Nuts!
this guy~
Damn, Takeharu can play!!
Yup, that’s the one.