A three-stringed (Shamisen or samisen)
The shamisen is still a very popular musical instrument in Japan and now even outside the country. It’s a three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instrument. It is similar in length to a guitar, but its neck is much slimmer and without frets. It has a very long neck and is about 30 inches (one meter) long. It played with a plectrum called a bachi.
Its body is made out of wood and covered with cat or dog skin. The three strings are traditionally made of silk, but nowadays are generally nylon. The lowest string passes over a small hump at the top end, producing a buzzing sound which is characteristic of the instrument. Today it can be heard accompanying Kabuki, Bunraku and Joruri performances as well as traditional dances and folk songs.
Though many people believe that the Shamisen is originally Japanese, in fact the instrument came to Japan from China by way of the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) in the mid 16th century. The instrument gradually spread northward through the Japanese archipelago. Along the way it became important to the BiwaHoshi, a type of monk. The instrument evolved as it came into wider use, with various animal skins replacing the original materials used for the body of the instrument. Through the course of this evolution the instrument was adapted to traditional Japanese music, eventually becoming the instrument that we know today.
Tags: A three stringed, popular musical instrument, samisen, shamisem
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