Everything you need to know about the Shamisen!
How to Install Your New Elite Itomaki
Fun Fact: Itomaki are NOT Plug & Play Itomaki are held in place with friction, and the key to a tight fit is achieving a correct taper so the peg contacts the zagane (metal fitting) just enough. Too much contact, the itomaki is impossible to turn. Too little contact, [...]
Caring for your Shamisen
Tips and tricks to keep your shamisen at it’s best.
How to Tune the Shamisen
Being a folk instrument, the shamisen is very easy for people to pick up and learn how to play (assuming they allow time to get accustomed to the large plectrum and the whole fretless thing). However, in the beginning, one major difficulty is understanding how the shamisen is tuned. [...]
Make Your Own Kamigoma!
The standard kamigoma (metal nut) is a thin piece of brass (or such material) set under the two thinner strings to make them resonate clearly. If you have acquired an old shamisen through Ebay or family, there’s a chance it’s missing the kamigoma. This often occurs because the old [...]
Perks of Posture
What do you need to level up your tone and abilities? Perhaps a new flexible bachi, or a freshly reskinned dou? How about something free and immediately implementable? Posture! If you’re like me, you probably haven’t put much importance into proper posture. After all, wielding that giant putty knife [...]
Concept of Flavors
Back in 2015, my friend Adrian and I led regular group lessons in San Jose California. Our group played some Minyo (Japanese folk songs), and we added solo parts in-between verses to let students build their improvisational skills. Our group lesson practicing Mike Penny’s Chop Builder! Recently, [...]