Essentials

While there are lots of great accessories to enhance your shamisen experience, the items in Essentials are the most important for making your shamisen playable. If you’re getting a new shamisen and it doesn’t include accessories, you will definitely want to check out Essentials and get one Koma, one Bachi, one Neo, an Ito Set Pack, and a Yubikake. Also, a Doukake, Dou Gomu, and Fujaku are highly recommended. (links to all) It’s also worth checking out categories like “Cases and Fukuro” and “Scorebooks and Media” to enhance your experience, but it’s not required.
  • Made by Bachido member Josh Curry! This bachi is made…
    Made by Bachido member Josh Curry! This bachi is made with a Zebrawood (unfinished) handle secured to a flexible Blue Acrylic bachi blade. Specifications: Weight: 69g Length: 192mm Thickness at base of wood handle: 27mm Thickness at thin end of wood handle: 12mm
  • The Yubikake is a tightly knit sleeve (made by machine)…
    The Yubikake is a tightly knit sleeve (made by machine) which is fitted over the index finger and thumb. When playing shamisen, the friction of your skin rubs against the neck, making it hard to play. The Yubikake adds a layer between your hand and the neck, reducing friction and making playing much easier.
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  • Yubikake (Hand Knit)

    $15.00$18.00
    Small: 3.2cm wide x 7.8cm long Medium: 3.3cm wide x…
    Small: 3.2cm wide x 7.8cm long Medium: 3.3cm wide x 8.0cm long Large: 3.7cm wide x 9.0cm long
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  • Want to represent Bachido on your wooden bachi? Now you…
    Want to represent Bachido on your wooden bachi? Now you can! This is a standard Wooden Bachi (Oak) with the Bachido logo laser-cut into the handle. Sexy time!
  • Size Options 9cm x 16.5cm (Regular) – Normal size for…
    Size Options 9cm x 16.5cm (Regular) – Normal size for Tsugaru style. 7cm x 15cm (Trimmed) – Ideal if you have average size hands but tend to find tsugaru bachi unwieldy. 6cm x 13cm (Small) – Best for kids or small hands.
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  • Made by Bachido member Josh Curry! This bachi is made…
    Made by Bachido member Josh Curry! This bachi is made with a Wenge handle (with an internal weight added) secured to a flexible Black Acrylic bachi blade. Specifications: Weight: 158g Length: 192mm Thickness at base of wood handle: 27mm Thickness at thin end of wood handle: 12mm
  • Made by Bachido member Josh Curry! This bachi is made…
    Made by Bachido member Josh Curry! This bachi is made with a figured Walnut handle secured to a flexible Blue Acrylic bachi blade. Specifications: Weight: 63g Length: 192mm Thickness at base of wood handle: 22mm Thickness at thin end of wood handle: 10mm
  • This set includes all of the basic essential items required…
    This set includes all of the basic essential items required to set up a Tsugaru Shamisen. It is comprised of the most affordable accessories we have, just as an option for people who aren't sure what they need, don't care about item colors, and just want to start playing right away. If you're able to, I highly recommend curating your own set, as you will certainly have a better playing experience by investing in a higher quality bachi (plectrum) or koma (bridge). Please note, there's a difference between "Tsugaru" as a playing style and "Tsugaru Shamisen" as an instrument. While you can play tsugaru style on any shamisen, Only Tsugaru Shamisen can fit Tsugaru Shamisen accessories (Tsugaru Doukake - the arm cover - won't fit on Nagauta Shamisen, for example) If you aren't sure if your shamisen is a Tsugaru Shamisen, please feel free to send a picture of your shamisen to store (at) bachido (dot) com and I'll happily verify it for you. :) Contents include:
  • The Gokujo ito are the considered to be the highest…
    The Gokujo ito are the considered to be the highest quality string for shamisen, and ideal for stage use. Note: The ichi no ito will not fit in a nagauta/jiuta shamisen, as the diameter of the string holes in the itomaki are smaller. It can be done if you widen the string hole first, but I've tried using such a thick string on a nagauta shamisen as an experiment, and feel that the tone of the thinner string balances much better with the smaller size of the nagauta shamisen.
  • This is the Fujiito brand of ito. They are the…
    This is the Fujiito brand of ito. They are the most common brand of string for shamisen. It’s considered to be average quality for ‘practice use’, but I use them for performance and nobody notices the difference!
  • This is the Tsugaru Ito Set (Fujiito). They are the…
    This is the Tsugaru Ito Set (Fujiito). They are the most common string used for shamisen. It’s considered to be average quality for ‘practice use’, but I use them for performance and nobody notices the difference!
  • This is a very special set of ito made by…
    This is a very special set of ito made by Marusan Hishimoto Co. (the most trusted maker of shamisen strings, and the only brand of string I sell in the Bachido Store) All strings are dyed red and look very striking against a white shamisen skin.
  • This is a very special set of ito made by…
    This is a very special set of ito made by Marusan Hishimoto Co. (the most trusted maker of shamisen strings, and the only brand of string I sell in the Bachido Store) In the Tsugaru Ito Set - Black all strings are dyed black and look very striking against a white shamisen skin. Just be careful when playing shamisen in the dark!
  • This Accessory Set includes everything you need to get the…
    This Accessory Set includes everything you need to get the most from your Beginner’s Shamisen. (Nagauta/Hosozao Size)
  • Length: 170mm Blade Width: 86mm Handle Width (Base): 25.5mm Handle…
    Length: 170mm Blade Width: 86mm Handle Width (Base): 25.5mm Handle Width (Blade*): 32mm Handle Height (Base): 25.5mm Handle Height (Blade*): 9mm *The feathered edge where blade and handle first connect, (towards middle of handle, not the edge of handle)
  • Susudake Bamboo base with Kouki Tip. Height is 8.13mm
    Susudake Bamboo base with Kouki Tip. Height is 8.13mm
  • Susudake Bamboo base with Faux Bekko Tip. Height is 7.41mm
    Susudake Bamboo base with Faux Bekko Tip. Height is 7.41mm
  • I must admit, this is my absolute favorite koma. It’s…
    I must admit, this is my absolute favorite koma. It’s both great sounding and a gorgeous work of art. This koma is made from susudake (soot bamboo) and half bone top is expertly carved with three waves (or some might see fangs) curving downward. All of the bamboo/wood koma on Bachido sound great, but I particularly like this one for both it’s style and sound! Scroll below for sound test video!
  • Snakewood base with half bekko saddle. Height is 6.35mm Please be…
    Snakewood base with half bekko saddle. Height is 6.35mm Please be careful with handling, as snakewood can be brittle!
  • Get closer to your shamisen idols! The Signature Bachi are…
    Get closer to your shamisen idols! The Signature Bachi are made in collaboration with the hottest shamisen stars of today. Every star player involved has given us their preferred weight, balance and shape of their favorite bachi, and the maker creates them with synthetic bekko called Neoko. Check out the exact weight and measurements of each bachi below!  
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  • This Shinobi Koma - Kobashiki is the best Shinobi Koma…
    This Shinobi Koma - Kobashiki is the best Shinobi Koma available.
  • Prepare for extra-awesome! Compared to the regular Shinobi Koma, the…
    Prepare for extra-awesome! Compared to the regular Shinobi Koma, the Shinobi Koma - Deluxe is loaded with extra features!
  • Neighbors keeping your sound levels down? Desperately wanting to play…
    Neighbors keeping your sound levels down? Desperately wanting to play shamisen now but still recovering from that hangover? The shinobi koma (Stealth Bridge) is made for you! Replacing your normal koma with the Shinobi Koma will lower the sound level tremendously.  
  • According to Nitta san, Shari bamboo (舎利竹) is aged and…
    According to Nitta san, Shari bamboo (舎利竹) is aged and extra dry. Height: 6.73mm
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