Syamisen 101
As an instrument seen in Japan of three strings and a body, syamisen is played in traditional dances, and plays. Some traditional theaters it plays are Bunraku, and Kabuki. Styles of the songs can be Nagauta, or Kouta. Maiko and Geisha specifically train to perform Kouta.
The Shamisen is a plucked stringed instrument. The construction is similar to a guitar or a banjo. The neck of the and strings stretches across the resonating body of it. There is the body, sao, and the three strings. The do resembles a drum, with a hollow body that is covered with skin. The skin used depends on the genre of the music. It was traditionally made with skins of dog or cat, but fell out of favor starting 2000sdue to social stigma, and decline of workers skilled in preparing the particular skins.
The Sao, or the neck of the shamisen is made with three or four pieces that fits together. It is a singular rod that crosses the drum-like body of the instrument. It also acts as the anchor of the strings.
The three string of the shamisen are made of either silk (traditional) or nylon. They are stretched across the body, raised by a bridge which rests on the skin. The construction of the shamisen varies in shape and size, depending on the genre in which it is used. The pick is called Bachi to pick at the strings, and produce the sound.
The Japanese shamisen originated from the Chinese sanxian. The sanxian was introduced to the Ryukyu Kingdom in the 16th century from there spread to commoners. In Okinawa this sanxian developed into Okinawan sanshin in which the shamisen ultimately derives from. The ancestor of the shamisen was introduced in the 16 th century through the port city of Sakai, near Osaka.
The shamisen can be played solo or with other shamisen. It is also played in an ensemble with other Japanese instruments with singing such as Nagauta, or drama such as kabuki and bunraku. Both men and women traditionally plays the shamisen.
As an instrument seen in Japan of three strings and a body, syamisen is played in traditional dances, and plays. Some traditional theaters it plays are Bunraku, and Kabuki. Styles of the songs can be Nagauta, or Kouta. Maiko and Geisha specifically train to perform Kouta.
The Shamisen is a plucked stringed instrument. The construction is similar to a guitar or a banjo. The neck of the and strings stretches across the resonating body of it. There is the body, sao, and the three strings. The do resembles a drum, with a hollow body that is covered with skin. The skin used depends on the genre of the music. It was traditionally made with skins of dog or cat, but fell out of favor starting 2000sdue to social stigma, and decline of workers skilled in preparing the particular skins.
The Sao, or the neck of the shamisen is made with three or four pieces that fits together. It is a singular rod that crosses the drum-like body of the instrument. It also acts as the anchor of the strings.
The three string of the shamisen are made of either silk (traditional) or nylon. They are stretched across the body, raised by a bridge which rests on the skin. The construction of the shamisen varies in shape and size, depending on the genre in which it is used. The pick is called Bachi to pick at the strings, and produce the sound.
The Japanese shamisen originated from the Chinese sanxian. The sanxian was introduced to the Ryukyu Kingdom in the 16th century from there spread to commoners. In Okinawa this sanxian developed into Okinawan sanshin in which the shamisen ultimately derives from. The ancestor of the shamisen was introduced in the 16 th century through the port city of Sakai, near Osaka.
The shamisen can be played solo or with other shamisen. It is also played in an ensemble with other Japanese instruments with singing such as Nagauta, or drama such as kabuki and bunraku. Both men and women traditionally plays the shamisen.