How to string a shamisen
A shamisen has three strings, and none of them ends in a ball or a loop you hook on. Each one is tied to the neo, the silk cord at the tail of the body, runs over the koma (the bridge standing on the skin) and winds on an itomaki, a friction peg in the head. The 1st string, the thickest, also has a job of its own: it is set to touch the sawari at the top of the neck, which gives the shamisen its buzz.
Shamisen honchōshi at 4-hon, string by string
From the 1st string (the thickest) to the 3rd, at A 440 Hz. The pitch of the 1st string is set to the singer.
| String | Note | Hz |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | C3 | 130.81 |
| 2 | F3 | 174.61 |
| 1 | C4 | 261.63 |
How to use it
- Take the koma off the skin before you start and set it aside: a falling string can drive it into the skin.
- Do a step and tick its box; progress stays saved on this device.
- Pick the tuning in the tuner below. The pitch of the 1st string depends on the singer, so set it first and tune the others to it.
Help and explanations
This guide takes you through one string at a time and ends with a tuner for honchōshi (C3 F3 C4 at 4-hon), niagari and sansagari.
String order and materials
The strings are numbered from the thickest: ichi no ito (1st), ni no ito (2nd) and san no ito (3rd), the thinnest. In honchōshi the 2nd is a fourth above the 1st and the 3rd an octave above it: C3, F3 and C4 at 4-hon, 130.81, 174.61 and 261.63 Hz. Niagari raises the 2nd string a whole tone to G3 (196 Hz); sansagari lowers the 3rd a whole tone to B♭3 (233.08 Hz).
Professional strings are silk, which sounds warmest and breaks most easily. Nylon and tetron (polyester) strings last longer and suit practice; on the tsugaru shamisen the 3rd string is often nylon. Strings are sold by number for each style, nagauta, jiuta or tsugaru, so buy the gauges made for your neck size.
The sawari and the koma
On most shamisen the 1st string does not sit in the upper nut like the other two. It runs lower, just touching the neck at the sawari, and that contact makes the long buzzing tail of the note. When you string it, keep it off the nut and check that it buzzes before you tune the rest; some instruments use an adjustable azuma-sawari screw instead.
The koma stands loose on the skin. Put it back only when the strings are on and slack, slide it under them to its usual place, and then bring them up to pitch. A koma left under fully tuned strings when the instrument is put away is a common cause of torn skins.
Tips
- Keep a spare san no ito: the thinnest string, especially in silk, breaks the most.
- If an itomaki slips, push it in firmly as you turn; a peg that still won't hold needs fitting by a shamisen maker.
- After new strings, check the pitch of each one against the 1st with the shamisen tuner.
Frequently asked questions
How many strings does a shamisen have?
Three: ichi no ito (the thickest), ni no ito and san no ito. In honchōshi at 4-hon they are C3, F3 and C4.
What is the string order on a shamisen?
Counted from the thickest: the 1st is the lowest and touches the sawari, the 2nd is a fourth higher and the 3rd an octave above the 1st in honchōshi.
What are shamisen strings made of?
Silk for professional playing, nylon or tetron (polyester) for practice. On the tsugaru shamisen the 3rd string is often nylon.
What are the notes of the shamisen strings?
Relative to the 1st string. At 4-hon: honchōshi C F C (130.81, 174.61, 261.63 Hz), niagari C G C and sansagari C F B♭.
Should I take the koma off after playing?
Yes, it's the usual practice: the koma presses on the skin, and leaving it under tension when the shamisen is stored can tear it.