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.
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The adhesive position mark strip which shows the position locations…The adhesive position mark strip which shows the position locations for playing melodies from notation. Simply match the number shown in your notation with the number on the fujaku, press the string on that number, and enjoy! An truly invaluable accessory for beginners. -
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. -
Flex Options: Hard: This is very rigid, almost like Plastic…Flex Options: Hard: This is very rigid, almost like Plastic Bachi, or cheaper bekko bachi. Only choose this if you are accustomed to hard bachi and especially prefer it. Medium: This is a similar level to the Faux Bekko Bachi, as well as most bekko bachi available. Soft: This is ideal for beginners. (Flex level has no connection to skill level – many professional players use soft bachi) Soft bachi are comparable to high end bekko bachi, as very flexible shell are reserved for expensive bachi. (Hard/Medium bachi can be high end as well, but it’s much harder to find natural soft flex in the lower price ranges) The extra flex makes it very comfortable to get a satisfying percussive snap against the skin, and unlike stiffer bachi, it doesn’t get caught in the strings as much. Masahiro Nitta’s personal bachi has a similar flexibility as this, and it’s my favorite as well. Size options: (Length x Width) Large 167mm×93mm Medium 164mm×88mm Small 161mm×83mm -
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 -
This adhesive rubber pad is very useful. Attach it to…This adhesive rubber pad is very useful. Attach it to the lower corner of your dou in order to prevent the dou from sliding off your thigh! -
San no Ito (Fujiito) string. The thinnest string. Material –… -
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. -
This is a required item for shamisen, it is the…This is a required item for shamisen, it is the tailpiece which the strings are tied to. The Neo is fitted on the end of the shamisen, and it is made from Rayon. -
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) -
The second string on the shamisen (which is the middle…The second string on the shamisen (which is the middle string). Fujiito brand - Tetron (synthetic). -
One set of strings for Nagauta style. Contains one silk…One set of strings for Nagauta style. Contains one silk Ichi no ito, one silk ni no ito, and one nylon san no ito. -
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.