Wow! This thing is HUGE!!

General
#1

I got the bachi that I ordered off of Ebay yesterday and … Wait, what did you THINK I was talking about? o.O

Anyway, as it turns out, it’s a jiuta set. The seller even sent me EXTRA stuff, like the koma, and it’s HUGE too!

Questions: If the jiuta shamisen is smaller than a tsugaru, why are the bachi and koma so huge?

Can I use this koma on my tsugaru if I lose or break my other koma?

Is there music that is different for jiuta than for tsugaru? (As in, a different repertoire?)

Thanks! XOXO

#2

Questions: If the jiuta shamisen is smaller than a tsugaru, why are the bachi and koma so huge?

They did that specifically because they know you would come along one day and ask that…! :smiley:

Can I use this koma on my tsugaru if I lose or break my other koma?

The koma on the left is the jiuta one. You can certainly use it if necessary (as I think I mentioned elsewhere, I started my Tsugaru “trip” with a standard chuuzao/jiuta shamisen set). However, I think you’ll find the jiuta koma is somewhat higher/taller than your Tsugaru one, and that little difference will affect things like speed (because of the extra “distance” you have to go to get to the strings). Also, the jiuta koma sits almost flat on the skin, and they are also weighted (you should see two lead or silver “bullets” on the underside at each end). So the sound is quite different, too - more “muted” compared to your Tsugaru koma.

Is there music that is different for jiuta than for tsugaru? (As in, a different repertoire?)

Yes, the music and the tablature for jiuta are completely different from Tsugaru. Most people think jiuta is only all classical “stuff” (they may perhaps use a somewhat more descriptive word than “stuff” {lol}), slow and boring. But I assure you that the contemporary jiuta shamisen music can be just as exciting (and fast) as Tsugaru!

#3

Lorraine, here’s a quick peak at a simple (and annoted) jiuta tablature, using a piece posted on fellow Bachido-er Gary Ward’s shamisen diary at jiuta.blogspot.com. (He posted about his blog here in the forum a little while ago…)

FYI, all positions in jiuta are off by one as compared to Tsugaru/bunkafu notation. So Tsugaru open string is 0, whereas jiuta open string is 1, etc. Depending on which way you’re going (i.e. to/from which genre) you add 1 or subtract 1 from what you see to switch your brain between the two.

For those who don’t read Japanese, all you’re looking at is basically the numbers between 1 and 10. Western numbers represent string 3 positions, Japanese numbers represent string 2 positions, and Japanese numbers with the extra “squashed T” to their left represent string 1 positions. Jiuta is read right to left, top to bottom.

Oh, and while I think of it, once you get far enough along to be able to play them, jiuta pieces tend to be significantly longer than Tsugaru pieces - just in view of Karl’s asking about piece length the other day.

#4

Thank you, Linda, I was hoping that you would answer! :slight_smile: XOXO

#5

Ahh, I remember this - I have read Gary’s blog before, but since I don’t read Japanese, I kind of glossed over the tablature. I’ll take a closer look now. TY again :slight_smile:

#6

If you need more specifics, feel free to PM me or email me directly (or even a quick Skype…). Happy weekend.

#7

Thank you! Ooo, Skype, I never thought of Skype! I have to re-setup my account, I think - I haven’t used it in years! :stuck_out_tongue:

#8

I’m a little curious why BH, Karl, Kevin or even yourself Lorraine didn’t mention this after the title, but if nobody else will, I guess it’s my duty to say…

That’s what she said!!

(Sorry, Linda. Even I have to admit that it was necessary :-P)

#9

Weeell, you know when you hear it all the time you get used to it, if you know what I mean.

#10

HAHAHA, my only question is why you guys made me wait 24 hours before you made the jokes??? :wink:

#11

Hahahaha! Oh wow! I haven’t checked the Bachido forum in a while ! Now I don’t feel as awkward about my explicit lyrical content in the last bachido Blogcast!

#12

Lol - that’s why Bachido is fun, everyone has a good sense of humor! :wink:

(Except I’m STILL wondering why jiuta bachi and koma are so big!). :wink:

#13

HAHAHA, my only question is why you guys made me wait 24 hours before you made the jokes??? :wink:

It’s called comedic timing! :stuck_out_tongue:

(Except I’m STILL wondering why jiuta bachi and koma are so big!). :wink:

Oh behave~! :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Seriously though, the other person who might know is Gerry. GERRY!!

© 2020 Kyle Abbott