Not shamisen, I know, but her right hand is amazing. SanXian has a wealth of interesting terms to describe the various plucks and strums, including “rubbing the children.” Very liberating to see some crazy possibilities for getting a little loose and wild with the three strings.
Cool video, Tomo. The Sanxian has a lot of cool techniques. Many of them similar to Tsugaru Shamisen techniques such as the Vibrato (Suri) and Crescendo. The only thing different is the playing style because a Sanxian is played with picks attached to the fingers like a Pipa or Zheng. Though, Shamisen Bachi have been used with Sanxian. I’ve even seen some being sold with Shamisen Bachi, and being played with Shamisen Bachi. In Vietnam, there is a similar instrument called the Dan Tam. The Dan Tam sounds closer to a Sanshin though, which leads me to thinking, did the Sanshin originate from China or my homeland? Many of Okinawa’s and Vietnamese instruments are similar such as their flutes, because there is an Okinawan Flute that looks the same as the Sao Truc from Vietnam.
Indeed, I have a set of the finger picks I inherited with the SanXian - stout tortoise shell, too small a curve to fit my fat fingers.
You hit on the nub of my point - many instruments, similar origins, many styles of playing. Just because “correct technique” has fossilized does not mean we cannot experiment. One of my guitar heros, Nels Cline, has been known to use a kitchen whisk on an electric guitar with weirdly cool results. Bachi, yes. And a two fingered flutter pick - why not?
This is awesome thanks for sharing!