I am really shy so I takes a long time to do this jeje. Anyway, I make a lot of mistakes, and I am not sure my right arm its positioned correctly…
anyway, this summer I am retaking the shamisen before my fourth grade violin exam, so I see that I have a lack of practice.
I hope you like it 
First part:
aaah I falied just in the last notes!! arrgh!
Second part:
need to practice more jeje, this second part doesnt sound good…yet
Yay!!! (That second part looks hard, so I thought you did a great job! )
Hola thanks for sharing those clips are you using the bachido course too?
yay well done! i’ve not done much practicing at all, you motivate me!
About time Paco! I know how it feels to be into another instrument and feeling ashamed that you are not putting enough effort into one of them. Don’t worry, the important part is that you are making music, whichever instrument it might be
By uploading this clip and analyzing it you will definately improve more rapidly. Great work!
Awesome Paco! What we can all hear very clearly is that you really seem to enjoy this process of music. I think that’s the most important thing.
At last, you’ve shown us your shamisen playing!
I think you’ve done very well! It sounds quite smooth and looks like you are enjoying it! Much kudos for making a video for us. I know how playing in front of the camera can make the fingers freeze up a bit too. 
Well done, Paco!!
Just out of curiosity, what is that white strip on your bachi? Bone or ivory?
@Lorraine: Thanks! Really this part its more difficult than first part, specially the part doubling notes. but… I think its most my lack of practise than the difficulty of the music sheet
@Hola B H! Yes I do. I really think this song its the best to start playing shamisen by your own. Its “easy” and so nice
@Amanda: Great! that makes me happy!
@Karl: Hi Karl! So sorry reciently I don´t wrote too much here…
Yes this is right. Also, you become amazed how quick you are with your principal instrument and how slow you are with the second! It like when I started with violin, you need to do thinks slowy and in the good manner. As all we know its better to do this, but I hear my videos and think: “wow, a long path yet…” Anyway, its the good path so…
@Kevin: thanks! I really enjoy it It is awesome how shamisen sounds like! I will try to be constant with it!
@Kyle: Yep playing in front of a camera is horrible! :@
Thanks a lot for your courses Kyle. Especially this one. I really love sakura (anything about sakura jeje) and when I see this song this really makes me retake shamisen with more illusion
Thanks to all for your words! Really means a lot for me. whatashi wa ganbarimashou!!
Gran trabajo, Paco! Sigue así! =D
Gran trabajo, Paco! Sigue así! =D
Hola Fabian!! Muchas gracias!!!
Kyle: sorry I forgot! The bachi end its ivory. I found a very good offer in ebay, I see a full ivory one in kyoto, but I was afraid that it would stop at customs. I really regret this because it was an awesome bachi… 
Nice nice! Your sound is nice and clear! Keep training hard! I’d love to hear more
I feel inspired to make a video now, just not sure what haha
Nice nice! Your sound is nice and clear! Keep training hard! I’d love to hear more
I feel inspired to make a video now, just not sure what haha
Thanks! Yes, I need to keep training! ganbarimashou!!
Please make that video! I am sure we all wants to see it! ganbatte kudasai!
I feel inspired to make a video now, just not sure what haha
Josh! Do I remember you telling me in Japan that you were working on Ohara Bushi or Yosare Bushi? That would make a fun video.
emmm no I didn´t hehe. I was trying Kuroishi Yosare Bushi, but I try to play fast and sometimes I miss so… I don´t know why, but Kuroishi Yosare Bushi its being a hard thing to me…
So, I really think I will try with sakura sakura and ringo bushi, to understand possitions and then, try to play Kuroishi Yosare Bushi again.
yesterday happened a weird thing to me. I send my video to a japanese friend here in Spain, and She said that it sounds to her too strong… I compare my video to this one:
at 6:24 starts sakura
I was lisening and… sure thing! this one sounds more smooth!
What I’m doing wrong?? I uses CGC tunning, it is that right? I am in the office know so I didn´t have my two copies of kyle´s book so…
Nice video - Sho is always a pleasure to watch! I wish there were more videos of his work online.
And yeaaaaah, I did say “something” about Tsugaru Yosare Bushi…Kyoko has seen the bit that I’ve practiced but I’ve not yet memorized the basic structure of the full piece. I might just do something with it soon on video to get my butt in gear and set a regular practice schedule again…
I have to admit, after the taikai I stopped practicing but it was definitely a nice reminder that I can still produce some results within a focused amount of time.
I’ll see what I can do!
And for Paco - just keep practicing the structure of the song. You’re on a good path to internalized the song, or to keep it in your mind. I feel that after enough drills and practice you can really start to “own” a song and then the real nature of Tsugaru shamisen comes out. What I mean is that the song starts evolving as you start to put your own phrases or little ornaments into the piece and can change things like dynamics and other points. And eventually we will see a Sakura - Paco version Keep it up !!!
Speaking of Asano Sho, he usually plays in a lower tuning than C. I think for the traditional pieces he plays it sounds better with a low tuned instrument. In the link you sent Paco he is playing in B while I think you play in C. It is important to remember that C is not REALLY a standard in shamisen playing. It depends on the song and potential singer’s vocal range.
I almost never tune up to C because I feel the sound is best in B. If you want to play very quiet subtle parts I think a higher tuning might have an advantage, but this song doesn’t need that.
I’ve heard Sho play in F#! And it sounds good:
Try it out Paco!
nice one Paco!
@Josh: We all want to see you playing!!
un! I hope I can internalice as you said
@Karl: Just yesterday I was trying different tunnings. I tryied With CFBb and CGBb and doesn´t like it. I will try today CFB or CGB, and I will told you how it sounds. I will try to do video so you all can judge.
I also try to play just a bit lower, starting in third possition insted of 4º, and I like it. It sounds strange when I need to play in 1º, but this is because I am not respecting the tonal distance, so I need to improve this.
I am liking this, its good to try and to experiment a bit
@Liam: thanks!!