Hi there,
I live in Vancouver and started Sanshin (Okinawa style Shamisen).
I am wondering if bachido has program to teach how to play Sansin.
That would be very helpful.
Thank you,
Mari
Not yet, Mari, but keep asking and I’m sure Kyle will add it, or at least point you to someone who can teach it. 
Welcome to Bachido!
I played around with sanshin a bit before discovering Bachido and shamisen. Learning to play was really fun and easy. The hard part for me was learning which of the japanese characters corresponded to which notes. Not too sure about actual lessons, but there are some free tutorials available on the Internet.
I think sanshin lessons would be a great addition to Bachido, considering the instruments are so similar.
The basics of Sanshin playing are not that difficult to learn, even I was able to manage it, just learning by doing. But on the other hand, some program about Sanshin play would make it a little bit more popular, so it would be a nice addition, I think too… ^^
Welcome to Bachido, Mari!
Yeah, I think a sanshin course would be awesome to have. I just need to learn how to play one or at the very least touch a sanshin for the first time. 
Either that or find a player in California who’d be willing to make a course in the studio.
Hi Mari! Good to see you on Bachido!
For those of you who want to learn how to play the sanshin, I suggest joining a Okinawan minyo group (if you can find one). I did that about seven years ago and learned quite a bit during that time. My sensei first taught me one-on-one on how to play the sanshin and read the kokoshi (sheet music). She then had me join the group when she thought I was ready. Our group performs several times a year, so that keeps me quite busy learning new songs. I must say that the most difficult part of this experience was learning to play the sanshin and sing at the same time - like walking and chewing gum at the same time, if you know what I mean.
Hope this helps,
Cal
1 Like
Hi Mari,
I Stumbled across your post, and thought I had something to add. I’m not trying to take away people from learning the Japanese Shamisen or from bachido; but if you want to learn the Sanshin (aka Okinawa Shamisen or Jabisen) I can put you into contact with someone who teaches it (she speaks English, and offers lessons via Skype); however she lives in NY. Also, there is a Kenjinkai in Vancouver, BC ; I could ask if there is any Sanshin group there. Please let me know if you are interested.
Cheers,
M
You can actually learn Sanshin from Shamisen. It would just be different. The notes would be closer together, and also you’d have to familiarise yourself with Tsugaru Style notation and the Sanshin does have it’s limits. Do not think of a Sanshin as a mini-Tsugaru Shamisen though. If it’s a regular Okinawan version, think of it as a mini-Jiuta, and if it’s an Amami Sanshin, think of it as a mini Nagauta. Another thing, if you feel like using a Shamisen bachi, you might want to hold it with the side facing toward the Dou, and pluck, similar to how you would do a Nagauta. I do not recommend striking the strings like a Tsugaru unless if your Sanshin’s dou is completely made of wood, which they do make and they have a surprisingly good sound quality.