Yes … And yes the bible offers a solid introduction covering terms playing techniques and the notation for a good bunch of tunes so its all around a book good to have …
Yeah! So thankful there is a community like this
QUESTION!!! I’m a beginner, I’ve had my shamisen for about a month now. I’m currently learning to play Sakura Sakura and I noticed in the video of the full piece how Kyle switches between maebachi and ushirobachi in certain parts of the piece. In the video above I noticed the diference in sound when you strike closer to the koma or closer to the edge of the dou. I’m playing on a Nagauta shamisen so, I’m curious if this is the same for all shamisen or not. I’ve tried it both ways but it sounds the same to me. It may have something to do with the fact that I’m not confident enough to bring the bachi all the way to the skin when I strike (I’m terrified of tearing the skin on my newly acquired shamisen which isn’t “new”), but I’m not 100% sure. Thoughts? Comments? Anyone? Thanks!
Yeah im playing a cloth skinned nagauta with a guitar pick so far and there is only a very slightly different flavor of sound 
I believe though that at least when it comes to actually hitting a skin too when striking a clearly louder sound should be possible in the middle of the dou and therefore one would play notes supposed to be quieter at the edge of the dou and notes supposed to be louder at the center … also the difference in overall sound flavor seems to be bigger when the skin is hit too …
Josh, instead of playing the song, and trying the bachisuke only that way, experiment with striking the string at different points without playing a song ie: at maebachi position, ushirobachi, and all points in between. Experiment with different volumes, and lifting your hand to different distances.
Jamie Low has a great warm-up video that I use. I don’t know that you want to do full force Rokudan on a nagauta, but watch it, and see what works for you, and how you can adapt.
I would definitely be gentler on the nagauta (more for the wooden bachi than the skin, I think - those things break woefully quickly), but experiment and try different strikes on it to see what works for you.
Thanks!