Is the Shamisen right for me?

General
#1

I am very interested in this instrument. I have been since I first heard the distinctive sound. It’s so different and I love it. Certainly I don’t expect to be a master, but the truth is I’ve never played an instrument before. I was in school choral groups for many years when I was younger, so I do have an ear for it, but I wonder if it’s going to be impossible for me to learn. The last thing I want is to have an expensive instrument I can’t play.

I guess I want to hear what kind of problems beginners face so that I can put this in perspective and be confident that I can show the instrument the respect it deserves. I mean, is passion and desire enough? What kind of issues have you guys faced and how long has it taken for you to reach your current playing ability?

#2

You say you don’t expect to be a master, but have you thought about what level you would like to achieve to make you feel that it was all worth it? Is your goal to look at notation and being able to play it, or is your goal to just lean back and enjoy the sound of the instrument? If you are more of the second type I don’t think you will be disappointed at all and you will feel that you can play the instrument.

Since you haven’t played any string instruments before it will probably take a little longer, but we’ve seen some really fast learners here on the forums. At least you’ll be learning to play the shamisen from start without being affected by other instrument techniques.

It took me 1 month and lots of discussion with Kyle before I decided on getting a shamisen. I admit that in the first months at times I felt that I was not playing it enough to make it worth the investment. But once I started playing more that feeling vanished and has not appeared again.

Nothing is impossible to learn :slight_smile: It’s an eye-opener when you get better through regular practice.

#3

I intend on being relatively decent at it. Say maybe a medium level after a couple of years. I’d like to be able to play some songs and really enjoy it. I heard somewhere that if your going to play an instrument, it has to be something you want to play for hours and hours.

I would play the shamisen for hours and hours if I had one. Weirdly enough I’ve been going through the tutorials and playing with a non-existent instrument, an air shamisen if you will. I am a total dork.

Thing is I’m also in a humid climate at the moment and worry about the damage it might inflict on natural skin. Considering my budget, and the humidity here, I think I’ll be keeping my eye out for used shamisen on the market.

#4

Hi Rachel,

Welcome to the Bachido forum! :slight_smile:

Well shoot, if you’re using the crash course with an air shamisen, I think you’re definitely ready for a real one! :slight_smile:

No matter the skill level you plan to achieve, if you manage to keep it fun for yourself (keeping expectations low, playing songs you like or jamming with friends), the whole experience will be very enjoyable from beginning to the endless end. I would say it’s certainly easier than guitar or such instruments (though the giant plectrum takes a little getting used to)

The shamisen is a unique instrument, as it’s both melodic and percussive at the same time. Being that there’s nothing else quite like it, if you manage to keep it fun and meaningful for yourself, I think you’ll be a lifelong player/enthusiast for the shamisen. :slight_smile:

Note that you can get your shamisen fitted with Fibersen, if you suspect the climate will be a big issue.

Ah yes, Karl makes excellent points! :slight_smile:

#5

Thank you guys for the advice. I really like this community so far. It really feels like a small world of other nerdy folks and music enthusiasts. (Which I love)

I watched the video on Fibersen previously and I was considering that myself. It’s a humid sub-tropic climate here in South Carolina, but I will probably be moving much farther north sometime in the next two years.

#6

Building on what these two pros have to say…

Rachel, it is my belief that given the right motives a person will relish in any situation you place them in. The real question is, do you have a passion for the sound a shamisen is capable of making?

Do you want to feel the instrument within your hands and listen to the endless music you can produce from it? Sure, novelty songs that you already like are fine and nice to learn when you first get started, but will they be enough alone to keep you interested in the instrument? At the end of the day, whether you are naturally gifted or not you must enjoy it.

I have wanted a shamisen for over a year and a half now. I have stalked these forums and this site many days before posting. I loved the Naruto tracks and one day it donged on me to find out what that awesome thwack was that would build momentum up before something cool happened, and again in an awesome tantrum during fight scenes.

But, after a while it wasn’t about the music tracks or being able to play bits and pieces, it simply became an obsession for me. In my opinion, it is like any other trend, you must test yourself and find out if it’s worth investing in. I knew because it would always loom in my mind, and the moment I forgot about wanting one something would jerk me back to the thought. If you ever find yourself fantasizing about it, then you might just need to invest in a shamisen.

Oh yes, and welcome! I recently received my first shamisen just yesterday, and I will tell ya what I need to go back to playing it before the night grows old, so sayonara!

#7

I love the sound. It took me awhile to understand what instrument made it, but once I did, I found it fascinating. It kept appearing in music I come across. Then a couple of days ago I came across Mike Penny’s videos on youtube, and one telling you how to obtain your own shamisen. Never did it occur to me that a normal person like me (well normal enough) could get one. So after doing some searching I found this place.

I’ve had the sounds moving about my brain in my sleep. Even with this new found obsession, I will likely lurk about here for a few months to make certain that the desire and passion is solid, before moving further.

#8

Well, I can respect that Rachel. I was actually forced to because something financially would always come up that prevented me from investing. I once went nearly a month only listening to the Yoshida brothers in fact. You might want to check some of their music out and let it give peace to your drive.

#9

If you love the sound, please try it! playing an instrument it´s difficut but, when a thing its dificcult, always your effort to do it makes later good results. this allways worth the effort!

#10

Well, I can respect that Rachel. I was actually forced to because something financially would always come up that prevented me from investing. I once went nearly a month only listening to the Yoshida brothers in fact. You might want to check some of their music out and let it give peace to your drive.

I’ve actually been listening to Yoshida brothers a lot lately and I have dreams about the shamisen. I had one just last night and it was a nice change from the streak of nightmares I had over the weekend. Weirdly enough it was me playing to the disembodied voice of Kyle Abbot keeping time from the videos.

If you love the sound, please try it! playing an instrument it´s difficut but, when a thing its dificcult, always your effort to do it makes later good results. this allways worth the effort!

I always love a good challenge. That’s what got me through design school. I got through on skill, stubbornness, and obsession. Besides doing something with my hands relaxes me a great deal.

#11

I did neither dream about shamisen nor Kyle so far BUT you sort of playing air shamisen reminded me of that after it was settled that I would get a keyboard when I was about 8 years old I would play air keyboard to songs in my mind during classes in school on the open drawer or lower level of the school desk . . . and once I had the keyboard I would get up earlier in the morning for weeks to also play for half an hour before going to school and THAT was unusual I mean I would usually get out of bed as late as possible . . . :slight_smile:

who knows once I have a shamisen I might do that again to play for half an hour also before work I am sure any neighbor would love the gentle sound of shamisen at 5am . . .

anyway sounds very much like you would enjoy making a shamisen sound and welcome to the forum . . .

#12

You’re question is one that can only be answered by yourself, and I think you know that you want a shamisen. :wink: If you are serious about learning it, I recommend browsing eBay for a cheap starter jiuta or nagauta shamisen so you can start to learn the basic techniques and begin to get your muscle memory down. The shamisen is an endless well of inspiration and joy to me and I know it will be the same for you!

#13

the streak of nightmares I had over the weekend. Weirdly enough it was me playing to the disembodied voice of Kyle Abbot keeping time from the videos.

Oh my… That is definitely not something I expected for the resumee. Appeared in someone’s nightmare. Check! :stuck_out_tongue:

#14

the streak of nightmares I had over the weekend. Weirdly enough it was me playing to the disembodied voice of Kyle Abbot keeping time from the videos.

Oh my… That is definitely not something I expected for the resumee. Appeared in someone’s nightmare. Check! :stuck_out_tongue:

Lmfao. Could have been more odd. Like another sort of dream. Oh maynnn I went there. hahahahaa cracking up

#15

But think about it. How many could actually say that they were in someone’s nightmare?? :stuck_out_tongue: I’ll take it for novelty’s sake!

#16

That dream reminds me of the movie “From Dusk till Dawn”. Kyle watch out, you might be played on as a flesh shamisen very soon.

That moment when that happens is probably still the biggest “WTF?!” moment I’ve ever been experienced in a movie. A lot of stuff in “Dreamcatcher” are contending though. I think Grant would agree.

#17

But think about it. How many could actually say that they were in someone’s nightmare?? :stuck_out_tongue: I’ll take it for novelty’s sake!

No this was a good dream. My nightmares are about other things. The shamisen dreams have been good. Though I will say I have some pretty odd things on my resume. Usually they are things I end up omitting. Things like kitten wrangler and dispenser of useless knowledge.

#18

Hm. Kyle in dreams = good. This cannot be a coincidence. Quick Kyle, you must market recordings of yourself that will teach people to play the shamisen while they sleep. Don’t forget to pay Rachel royalties. :stuck_out_tongue:

#19

Hm. Kyle in dreams = good. This cannot be a coincidence. Quick Kyle, you must market recordings of yourself that will teach people to play the shamisen while they sleep. Don’t forget to pay Rachel royalties. :stuck_out_tongue:

He has the voice of a tech support guy. Your computer could be on fire and they’d be calm. It’s good that he doesn’t give out his number to people on here, or I would hope he doesn’t. Imagine the calls he’d get at three in the morning.

“Hello? Uh yeah, Kyle. There’s a pack of timber wolves in my home. What song would be best to play them in hopes of lulling them into a state of submission?”

#20

Oh my! I had a dream about Kyle, too, LOL! I dreamed that I went to Japan with you guys, and we were on the stage, but I couldn’t remember what piece we were playing, and I didn’t have a shamisen, and you were looking at me, and wondering why I wasn’t playing and I couldn’t sit in that seiza position (well, that part is TRUE, ouch :stuck_out_tongue: )

…oh, anyhow, back to the topic - Rachel, did you get your shamisen yet? I bought mine on Ebay for a very good price (a nagauta was all I could afford). There are several sets being sold right now (although one person seems to be buying up all the cheap ones, grrr). Just DO it, anyway you can :slight_smile: I put it on my credit card, and have opted instead to just stay home more and play shamisen until I pay it down. It’s just as fun as going out! Well, it is at my age, anyway.

Can’t wait to hear about your playing experiences!

© 2020 Kyle Abbott