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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. -
Sale!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqW8lIoATN4 At Bachido, we know that shamisen are very expensive…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqW8lIoATN4 At Bachido, we know that shamisen are very expensive instruments to learn. Though some people know shamisen is for them upon hearing the first strike of the string, it's difficult for most of us to spend $1000 on an instrument without trying it first. Fortunately, Nitta san managed to find shamisen built for school use, and he ordered a whole fleet of them in bulk for a discount rate in order to pass those savings onto you! We're so happy to finally have this shamisen set available so people can start their three-stringed journey with greater ease! The Shamisen Starter Set includes everything you need to start playing shamisen. As you can watch in "Unboxing the Shamisen Starter Set", the shamisen and the entire set of accessories are shipped together in one box. Many other shamisen stores in Japan will ship their shamisen fully assembled, which for overseas deliveries very often results in broken necks and shattered dreams. (Truly, I've had to fix many broken shamisen which customers received from other stores) At Bachido, we ensure safe delivery by shipping shamisen fully disassembled with every part carefully wrapped. Since 2014, we've shipped over 700 shamisen with a nearly perfect delivery rate. So when you get your shamisen at Bachido, you can rest assured knowing your shamisen will arrive safely! Now, the safest method of delivery does mean the shamisen will need to be assembled and accessories attached after arrival. A daunting task it seems, but fear not, In my "Step-by-Step Guide to Shamisen Assembly", I will carefully walk you through the entire assembly process. From putting the neck together to tuning the shamisen, we will confidently set up your new three-stringed friend! Afterwards, you can learn how to play using the video lessons included with your purchase!Specifications
- Hosozao (thin-neck) Shamisen
- Sao: Mitsuori (Three-piece neck)
- Itomaki: Ebony
- Skin: Fibersen
- Wood of Sao and Dou: Karin (Note) Darkness/color of wood may vary.
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Included Accessories
- Bachi (plectrum)
- Bachigawa (skin protector)
- Bamboo Koma (bridge)
- Doukake (body cover)
- Fujaku (position mark strip)
- Ito (strings)
- Kamigoma (shamisen nut: requires glue for installation)
- Keychain Accessory (fun stuff!)
- Neo (tailpiece)
- Pitch Pipe
- Soft Case
- Yubikake (fingerpants)
Helpful Videos
Step-by-Step Guide to Shamisen Assembly (using the Shamisen Starter Set) Unboxing the Shamisen Starter Set DaFAQ: Shamisen Masterclass Series (it's free!)Kyle’s Opinion
Having tested it out myself, I am very happy with the quality of this shamisen. The clear and resonant tone almost surprised me, it’s so nice! The tone gave me great satisfaction, which is something I wasn’t expecting from a shamisen of this price. Unlike other beginner level shamisen, this one sounds like… like a real instrument! Also, the itomaki are made from real wood and the shamisen sparkles with a luscious lacquer, making this a beautiful instrument to admire as you play it. This is a shamisen that sounds great and looks beautiful. If you are ready to start learning, this is the instrument for you. You may pick this shamisen up as a beginner, but you will cherish it for many years to come. You may have heard terms such as "Nagauta Shamisen", "Jiuta Shamisen", "Tsugaru Shamisen", and more. These basically refer to shamisen which are set up for those particular formal styles (Nagauta, Jiuta, and Tsugaru* style respectively). Such styles use very particular sizes of bachi (plectrum), koma (bridge), skin tension, and some visual aesthetics like width of overhanging skin on the dou (body). Such factors only matter for those who are pursuing a particular formal style. The Shamisen Starter Set's instrument is prepared in the folk style, which uses shamisen as a rather informal instrument. The instrument's frame is used for Nagauta Shamisen, but the skin is prepared with a folk/tsugaru aesthetic (I.e, the overhanging skin is wider than the short-cut overhang of classical styles), and the set includes the easy-to-use tsugaru koma (bridge). It's a shamisen made for folks who just want to learn and enjoy shamisen as an instrument, without getting bogged down about formal paradigms. There's nothing wrong with formal training, but from personal experience, I develop a greater connection with the instrument when being able to enjoy musical instruments as what they are - instruments of personal expression. :-) *Although Tsugaru style is often considered the modern "wild" style of shamisen, there is also a formal classical branch of the style which is very strict about the aesthetic.Special Bonus!
To help you get started with your new Shamisen Starter Set, I am including several learning materials for free!- Bachido Shamisen Crash Course
- Premium Shamisen Course: Sakura
- Premium Shamisen Course: Ringo Bushi
- Premium Shamisen Course: Yasaburo Bushi
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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. -
Keep your skin protected with the adhesive bachigawa! (Note: Ideal…Keep your skin protected with the adhesive bachigawa! (Note: Ideal for natural skin. Doesn't adhere to Hibiki synthetic skin very well) -
San no Ito (Fujiito) string. The thinnest string. Material –… -
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). -
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. -
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 -
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! -
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! -
Shamisen of Japan teaches you how to professionally play and…Shamisen of Japan teaches you how to professionally play and make the Tsugaru Shamisen, simply and enjoyably! Shamisen of Japan is a valuable resource for both the beginner and the shamisen enthusiast! Ships from California.- Pages: 165
- Size: 8½″×11″×½″
- Binding: Paperback
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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 -
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! -
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) -
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. -
Sale!
To learn more about the Beginner's Shamisen or the accompanying…To learn more about the Beginner's Shamisen or the accompanying accessory set, please click on their respective links below!Special Bonus!
To help you get started with your new Beginner’s Shamisen, I am including several learning materials for free!- Bachido Shamisen Crash Course
- Premium Shamisen Course: Sakura
- Premium Shamisen Course: Ringo Bushi
- Premium Shamisen Course: Yasaburo
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The first string on the shamisen (which is the thickest…The first string on the shamisen (which is the thickest of the three). Fujiito brand, material is silk, and it's available in sizes for both Tsugaru and Nagauta styles. -
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. -
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! -
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. -
One of the best cases for shamisen, in my opinion.…One of the best cases for shamisen, in my opinion. Lightweight with a Semihard foam-lined shell, and backpack straps for easy schlepping! (Note: Shamisen shown in pictures is not included :) ) -
Buttons are still stylish! Stick this Bachido Button on your…Buttons are still stylish! Stick this Bachido Button on your backpack, jacket, and/or grocery tote bag, and show the world just how cool you are! -
A rubber webbing for your bachi handle. An essential accessory…A rubber webbing for your bachi handle. An essential accessory if you have difficulty with the bachi slipping while you play. -
The Saofuki is a microfiber cloth used for wiping the…The Saofuki is a microfiber cloth used for wiping the sao and bachi after playing sessions. It pulls away any dust or dirt buildup and keeps the sao sparkling! Available in a variety of colors.
