#Shamisen skin#

Following are some of the widely used and recommended models of Shamisen. Keeping your expertise in the mind, you can get the most suitable Shamisen for yourself. There are many known brands that present multiple varieties of Shamisen for different levels of musicians. 5 Best Shamisen Reviews and the Best Shamisen Brands Different materials used include plastic, wood, ivory, and tortoiseshell. The plectrum required to play the Shamisen also come in a variety of shapes, materials, and sizes and that also depends on the nature of use i.e., the genre in which you want to play. It is usually made of a large size and gives stronger and more powerful sound. This is more suitable for more mellow and broader sound.Īs the name itself refers, this is a fat-neck instrument. As indicated by the name the Shamisen under this category has a slightly thicker neck. The word is used for ‘middle neck’ in Japanese. It features a square shaped small body with a thin neck. As the names suggest, it is the smallest type of Shamisen. The Japanese word Hosozao literally means ”thin neck”. As mentioned above these variations depend on their usage. The traditional Shamisens had ivory-made pegs but now other materials like plastic or wood are used as the manufacturing material of the pegs.ĭifferent types of Shamisen based on constructionīefore starting to look for a good model for yourself, you should be aware of the fact that the Shamisen comes in different forms. Long, hexagonal and thin pegs are used to wind the strings. But many models these days come with the nylon strings which are more durable. The singular rod neck crosses the body of Shamisen and protrudes partially on the other side to hold the strings as an anchor. Most of the models are designed and made in a way that makes their assembly and disassembly easy and trouble-free. The neck of Shamisen comprises 3,4 parts that combine to fit together.

#Shamisen skin#

Initially, the skins were made from the dog’s or cat’s skin but now synthetic materials like plastic and some other are used. The skin material depends on the music genre and the skill level of the musicians using it. The body is hollow inside, similar to the drum and the skin covers its front and back side. The design is somehow similar but the Shamisen’s neck is slimmer than that of a guitar. This Plucked string instrument usually follows the constructional design of the guitars including a neck and a body across which the strings are stretched. Similarly, for the kabuki, the Shamisen used has a thin neck that suits the delicate style of the genre and assists in its requirements. For instance, the ones used for the folk songs and puppet plays feature a thicker and longer neck to match the strong music. This beautiful instrument comes in various different shapes and the construction also varies depending on the genre in which it is going to be used.