I guess I’ll start practicing both :]]
What’s next, holding the bachi with your foot?
Yup
Hi everyone. I’m literally eager to begin learning the Shamisen very soon.
However I am similar to Stev, just not as skilled of course.
I am right handed but when it comes to guitar and other instruments i have to play left handed (which threw the idea of learning the violin out the window), it just feels more comfortable playing this way and my brain can compute reading tablature to finger movements, but not playing the other way (right handed).
To say to people like myself “just learn to play right, its insulting not to” its not that easy, as my brain isn’t wired that way, its incredibly difficult.
I guess my question is, as a beginner, should i invest in a left handed shamisen before i start and any news as to where I can find one?
Can the Beginner’s shamisen be reversed if brand new? (Or if you filled in the sawari notch.) Would the kamigoma work at the other end? (Though, probably trivial to replace with a mirror one or work yourself.)
I’d think itomaki would be ok, they don’t directly determine string placement on a shamisen? You’d just have two itomaki on the unusual side.
Hi Sakura,
In my humble opinion, the natural way your hand/brain is wired is the ‘right’ (correct) way to do it! Music should be a natural experience, so absolutely you should play with your natural hand. Fortunately, a right-handed shamisen is super-easy to convert to left hand. I’m not sure why some people get insulted about this issue, but as always, it comes down to insecurity. 
Yatagarasu has a great point! The Beginner’s Shamisen can be easily converted to left-hand. I think they are now outfitted with kamigoma (the metal strip), which has a section removed for the thick string to rest on the bare wood. Though the strings are switched, unfortunately the kamigoma can’t be reversed. However, it’s very easy to make one of those. One of my students is left handed, so I made a new kamigoma out of a brass strip and glued it on.
Note: The kamigoma isn’t 100% necessary either. The right-handed kamigoma can just be pried off and not replaced.
Just wanted to share this picture of a guy I met in at the Hirosaki Tsugaru Shamisen Taikai (tournament). Dmitri from Greece. A left-handed shamisen player and well respected competitor at the taikai.
Hi Sakura,
In my humble opinion, the natural way your hand/brain is wired is the ‘right’ (correct) way to do it! Music should be a natural experience, so absolutely you should play with your natural hand. Fortunately, a right-handed shamisen is super-easy to convert to left hand. I’m not sure why some people get insulted about this issue, but as always, it comes down to insecurity.
Yatagarasu has a great point! The Beginner’s Shamisen can be easily converted to left-hand. I think they are now outfitted with kamigoma (the metal strip), which has a section removed for the thick string to rest on the bare wood. Though the strings are switched, unfortunately the kamigoma can’t be reversed. However, it’s very easy to make one of those. One of my students is left handed, so I made a new kamigoma out of a brass strip and glued it on.
http://i.imgur.com/wUcL4hJ.jpgNote: The kamigoma isn’t 100% necessary either. The right-handed kamigoma can just be pried off and not replaced.
Re: Kyle!
Thanks so much for the info.
I had my first lesson last Saturday with a right handed Shamisen and it was a failure to say the least, however it felt a 100x more comfortable to play it left handed (albeit upside down for a little while) So i think i will invest in the beginner Shamisen and convert it. That’s awesome news about the Kamigoma & yes Dmirtri is a great Shamisen player!
Thanks again!