As one who plays another Asian instrument, the zhongruan (a year and three months, just ordered another), it is VERY inspiring seeing another Westerner embrace an ancient instrument from the East. I love the ruan and compose my own pieces. I no longer play Western guitar. The zhongruan is just that fulfilling!
As long as you are patient with yourself, allow yourself to make mistakes, learn at your own pace and don't compare yourself to Agatsuma right away, Shamisen is quite easy to play!
The new book Shamisen of Japan teaches you how to play shamisen! :-) Take a look if you're interested. shamisenofjapan . c o m /
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umm thought i'd just bring it up a shamisen as well as a sanshin is a three string banjo originating in eastern asia claimed by the Japanese so there's really nothing wrong with calling it a banjo, similar to calling a bass with 5 strings and a bass with 4 strings under the same name, bass, or calling the many different types of house cat the same thing, cat, so there's no need to get mad at people for generalizing when it's something that most people do on a regular basis
calm down, geez. Does it really offend you that much that someone thinks a Shamisen is similar to a banjo? Man, how do you get around in the world with such a low threshold of tolerance?
where did you get the music sheets for the songs you play? I really need music sheets, the only thing I found on the net was gion kouta.. and well im not that great at it lol..
Oh, but JeffTheDude777, kudos for the grammar correction! :-) I mean sure, it can be *readable* even without an "are, is, the, of, etc," but it's just very frustrating to see that one little missing word!
It's like looking at somebody with food on their lip. You can still see the person, but you just can't help but just flick it off.
Hmm, the analogy sounded better in my head. ;-) Oh well.
wow this is great...what a beautiful instrument. I've wanted to play shamisen for some time. Do you know where to purchase one in West LA or anywhere in LA? thank you!
Ah, the clack clack is because of two reasons. One being when the bachi (pick) strikes the string, it also hits the skin which makes a percussive sound. (only instrument I know that's both melodic and percussive at the same time)
Second reason is that my camcorder is pretty old and at that close range with the loud instrument, the sound quality gets a little parched
The original sanshin model, which was made in china in 1200's, right after the Mongolian conquest in china, had strings but no plectrum, sounds like a gutted biwa lacking in tonal quality. Bachi makes a huge difference with the percussion hitting on the strings.
When it went over to Japan, that's when it goes from boring to ultra cool, when bachi is developed.
i may not be lucky enough to have all the same shamisen activity in my state as you, but i did get to see them live in nyc the yoshida brothers that is. i know they went to cali did u see them anywhere?
I'm sure they've been to CA but I've never seen 'em live. I bet they went to SF or Las Angeles but that's farther than I'm willing to go to a concert.
LOL depending on whether you live in san jose or santa cruz, going to Los Angeles, 8 hours? 9 hours? Not to mention breaks in between. Oh man! Esp in you drive in the summer! LOL
As one who plays another Asian instrument, the zhongruan (a year and three months, just ordered another), it is VERY inspiring seeing another Westerner embrace an ancient instrument from the East. I love the ruan and compose my own pieces. I no longer play Western guitar. The zhongruan is just that fulfilling!
I love your playing.
valdae 1 year ago
Wow this is amazing! Is learning the Shamisen hard? I really want to learn. Seriously.
Adoreimi 2 years ago
As long as you are patient with yourself, allow yourself to make mistakes, learn at your own pace and don't compare yourself to Agatsuma right away, Shamisen is quite easy to play!
The new book Shamisen of Japan teaches you how to play shamisen! :-) Take a look if you're interested. shamisenofjapan . c o m /
fiddlefella 2 years ago
sounds more oriental(turkish) than japanese
TTLnorbu 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
umm thought i'd just bring it up a shamisen as well as a sanshin is a three string banjo originating in eastern asia claimed by the Japanese so there's really nothing wrong with calling it a banjo, similar to calling a bass with 5 strings and a bass with 4 strings under the same name, bass, or calling the many different types of house cat the same thing, cat, so there's no need to get mad at people for generalizing when it's something that most people do on a regular basis
penguinchris796 2 years ago
Simply awesome, my congrats. Keep on rocking, man!
brunopalma 3 years ago 7
respect!!!!!
i'm japanese and i respect you for being able to play the shamisen!
ichirootaniguchi 3 years ago 6
calm down, geez. Does it really offend you that much that someone thinks a Shamisen is similar to a banjo? Man, how do you get around in the world with such a low threshold of tolerance?
shamisendemon 3 years ago 2
you fucking retards this is not a banjo ...
please a bit More respect!!
this instrument is called "shamisen"
god damn you!
jenaro21 3 years ago 7
Word!
ichirootaniguchi 3 years ago
Hyakka Ryouran!
:3
pinksalamanders 3 years ago 5
Nice.
deadoralivemaster 4 years ago
It sounds very good, like a mix between banjo and sitar.
univhearse 4 years ago
Can Kevin do all of Yoshida Brothers' songs?
LJKNY40 4 years ago
Not quite all. I was wanting to do Kodo with him but he didn't know it.
But he sure knows a lot of other songs!
fiddlefella 4 years ago
kodo's my favorite piece!
monkshood 3 years ago 3
I don`t think there is much in the way of music sheets. most of the people I know who play Agatsuma or Yoshida bro tunes learned them by ear.
shamikami 4 years ago
where did you get the music sheets for the songs you play? I really need music sheets, the only thing I found on the net was gion kouta.. and well im not that great at it lol..
Shiiransama 4 years ago
That is awesome. It is crazy how so much sound can come from only 3 strings. I need to get one of thoes japanese banjo's.
JeffTheDude777 4 years ago
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you fucking ignorant!
jenaro21 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
???.. I think you meant to say "You are fucking ignorant".
Dumb-shit.
JeffTheDude777 3 years ago
Let's settle down kids.
Oh, but JeffTheDude777, kudos for the grammar correction! :-) I mean sure, it can be *readable* even without an "are, is, the, of, etc," but it's just very frustrating to see that one little missing word!
It's like looking at somebody with food on their lip. You can still see the person, but you just can't help but just flick it off.
Hmm, the analogy sounded better in my head. ;-) Oh well.
fiddlefella 3 years ago
@fiddlefella haha i love you fiddlefella. You should come to the UK and rule these lands :)
annyonghaseyo90 1 year ago
I believe Katoh has machines that cut out the wooden parts for a shamisen that would be nice to have wouldn't it ;)
GrandTeutonica 4 years ago
If this is at your place,then in the backround is that the newer Shamisen you built from I think rosewood because I'd really like to hear it :)
GrandTeutonica 4 years ago
Ah, that is the rosewood shamisen (though in the video, it didn't have a kawa or tenjin!)
Pretty soon, after I make a new Dou (long story) I'll put a video of it out.
fiddlefella 4 years ago
i cant find the yoshida bros playing it
samuraiaku24 4 years ago
As far as I know, they only play it on one of their first albums simply titled - Yoshida Brothers.
fiddlefella 4 years ago
This rocks!
cosmicarainia 4 years ago
that was so AWESOME!
omg
ive wanted to learn shamisen for like two years!
mangakareikiartist 4 years ago
Must of takin' some time to learn! Pretty sweet!
cbarton137 4 years ago
good job man
LykopisGilneas 4 years ago
Nice pickin' !
kotokutie 4 years ago
wow this is great...what a beautiful instrument. I've wanted to play shamisen for some time. Do you know where to purchase one in West LA or anywhere in LA? thank you!
metaldrumming 4 years ago
Comment removed
KuNsHiKeN 4 years ago
Yeah.
fiddlefella 4 years ago
I mean, yeah, as in he's playing it by ear.
fiddlefella 4 years ago
BTW the name of the song is called "Blooming" in Japanese is "Hyakka Ryoran"
Chichiri520 4 years ago
Thanks!
fiddlefella 4 years ago
Thanks man, but what album of the Yoshida Kyoudai is this?
Kagura785 4 years ago
Really cool! But why does the shamisen make the "clack-clack" noise?
Chichiri520 4 years ago
Ah, the clack clack is because of two reasons. One being when the bachi (pick) strikes the string, it also hits the skin which makes a percussive sound. (only instrument I know that's both melodic and percussive at the same time)
Second reason is that my camcorder is pretty old and at that close range with the loud instrument, the sound quality gets a little parched
fiddlefella 4 years ago
The original sanshin model, which was made in china in 1200's, right after the Mongolian conquest in china, had strings but no plectrum, sounds like a gutted biwa lacking in tonal quality. Bachi makes a huge difference with the percussion hitting on the strings.
When it went over to Japan, that's when it goes from boring to ultra cool, when bachi is developed.
Kagura785 4 years ago
i may not be lucky enough to have all the same shamisen activity in my state as you, but i did get to see them live in nyc the yoshida brothers that is. i know they went to cali did u see them anywhere?
adderbrain5 4 years ago
I'm sure they've been to CA but I've never seen 'em live. I bet they went to SF or Las Angeles but that's farther than I'm willing to go to a concert.
fiddlefella 4 years ago
LOL depending on whether you live in san jose or santa cruz, going to Los Angeles, 8 hours? 9 hours? Not to mention breaks in between. Oh man! Esp in you drive in the summer! LOL
Kagura785 4 years ago
ah, its blooming. i almost didn't recognize it cause it sounded like it was in a different key. awesome job!
lolliedoll 4 years ago