Everything You Know About Japanese Music Is Wrong 

It was a huge honor to be involved! Thank you so much for coming all the way to Santa Cruz to bring shamisen to the public eye! :-) So there's a few things I need to clarify for the dear viewers! As our conversation was neither pre-planned or scripted (or if it was, I missed the email!), I was rather flying by the seat of my pants, and I realized a few things I said were incorrect. Although they're rather trivial points, taking care to keep shamisen information factual and credible is so important (especially because there is so little information publicly available). And so, corrections are below! 00:39 "More in the folk line - called tsugaru shamisen". This might've be more of a misunderstanding caused by abridging. Technically speaking, the folk style is called "Minyo" (and shamisen used for Minyo is called "minyo-jamisen"), which is fundamentally where the Tsugaru style (tsugaru-jamisen) originated from. (specifically from the roots minyo, not the modern formalized Minyo) So although I do explain it's evolution into a coined style, I just want to be super clear that tsugaru-jamisen is really on the balancing edge of folk and modern fusion. It's both still used for folk of the tsugaru region (tsugaru no minyo) as well as modern fusion (jazz, rock, pop, etc), so it's kind of in a gray area. (Most don't even consider it a traditional style given how recent it was coined) 01:50 Not that it matters, but just want to point out that the song we play here (Sakura Sakura) is generally not considered a tsugaru-jamisen song (although tsugaru style players sometimes add it to their repertoire for a bit of classic flavor) :-) 04:28 Neo means "Sound Cord", not "Sound Tail" (I had a different kanji in mind) 04:43 "This is a koma case." It's actually a lipstick case, but I put my koma (bridge) in it. Lipstick cases are quite often used as a convenient container for storing koto picks as well as shamisen koma. (And that particular lipstick case I had came with a used koto I purchased) 04:55 "Sawari, which means touching". It's true, the word sawari (sawaru) does mean touching, and most likely that's where the name of the effect is derived from (because the vibrating string is being touched by the wood ridge), I'm not 100% sure. So, just want to make it clear that I could be wrong about that! 08:11 Information on shamisen tunings - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DDUyP9IhRLA.html 09:48 "It's the perfect instrument for that." Meaning, just like ukulele, you can quickly learn enough to enjoy the experience (unlike accordion or trumpet) That's about it!

I like how he started playing the instrument and went straight to playing a slide blues tune.

Not only did a guy of Japanese heritage who grew up on black music learn a Japanese instrument from a guy of European heritage who grew up on Appalachian music, the instrument he learned might not be popular much outside of museums, if it wasn't for the popularity of American west coast surf rock in Japan. I love that.

Fun fact, Taiko drum sticks are also called bachis, because bachi just means "thing to hit with"

As soon as you started playing it sounded like a swampy blues instantly. Incredible

Greetings from Japan! 🎌🗾⛩️ The Okinawan version, “san shin” （三線), is also super fun. the ”do” is wrapped is viper skin, and the ”bachi” is either a long bamboo reed held a little like a pencil or a honed cow‘s horn olaced on the index finger. 😮

I hope your Acoustic guitar in this video is ok after being in the rain. It is nice to see you guys Jam in the beginning of this video. I have never heard an Acoustic guitar played with a Shamisen played before. I find it interesting how some countries actually have buzzing strings in their music unlike how most North American music with stringed instruments is with no string or fret buzz.

I knew this would happen when samurai guitarist had a shamisen in a video. I have played shamisen for a while, but stopped because i was afraid to be too loud for the neighbors.

I love this educational content about instruments from different cultures, you could do a series of different countries and all that. Itd be cool to see you experiment with them.

Fun Fact: every culture that has stringed instruments has a banjo

This guy is so damn cool. So knowledgeable and passionate.

I Have wanted an electric shamisen and cello for years!!

Great video. I've known about the shamisen for a few years, thanks to Wagakkiband, but I never knew that surf music had such an influence on how it's played in the modern era. Also, I really like what you said about the cross-cultural aspect of music. It made think about and really appreciate how that plays into the music that I make. I'm someone of European descent who grew up on music descended from Africa (rock, blues and R&B) and I play music heavily influenced by those genres on a Hawaiian instrument (ukulele) that was descended from a Portuguese instrument. It's wild to think about how many cultures it all filters through.

Kyle is such a great guy, and probably solely responsible for 90 of shamisen players in the US today due to Bachido. Wonderful to see him getting some of the recognition that he deserves!

That last little “flavor” riff he played was like fuckin’ slap bass funky shit. Now I want a Shamisen

The Shamisen is such a cool instrument! I love the sound it produces! The one he was putting together with the twisted tuning pegs. Then the one he was playing with the 2 tone neck. Both looked awesome!

Wow what a suprise, never expected to see Kyle Abbot on a guitar channel haha

Kyle is a legend

I find something liberating about instruments and music like this. Tune it to your voice, play it like your grandpa showed you and add some spice to it.

I have a rare vinyl record of some blind Koto player from the 50s it’s pretty dope

love that crazy distance between the cultures you mentioned and then how today we can bring it all together in this day and age, abso-Lute-ly love the traditional side of things but those bluesy runs Kyle Abbott added in they were just oh so smooth. thanks for bringing the past into the now guys

Rad video. I've always wanted a shamisen. I love the sound. They remind me of a banjo, and they're usually tuned DGD, so you can play western music on them pretty well. I've seen some really cool shamisen bluegrass fusion stuff on here.

SG back with a bang.. i would love to play the shamisen..

Awesome video! Thanks SG!!!!! 🎸🔥🎸🔥🎸

That was really interesting. Thanks!

That was so interesting to hear!

I don't know if I'm just brainwashed by the hours upon hours of Kurosawa films I watched growing up, but I couldn't help hearing a similarity between this and classic Morricone-style Western music. I'd love to hear a fusion of the two styles!

this was awesome!!!

Thank you, this was absolutely awesome to watch! Love the mix of cultures somewhat brings in the heritage that used to be, just out of sheer love for the craft!

This was immensely fascinating and Sammy-g's reflections on the sharing of culture at the end was pretty profound. Would love to see more content of this sort,

What a wonderful video! I love the shamisen!

You should be proud of this video. What a marvelous expression of, well, everything that makes music special

So cool. I gotta try one of these one day.

I could definitely see the instrument, and playing styles, inhaling someones interests completely.

Loved it!

Inspiration mode initiated. I’m going to find a way to share blues in my own way and I’m so excited to do it

This is awesome! I've been wanting to get into Japanese or Chinese instruments, and this guy is proof that commitment and passion can get you anywhere.

This was really cool!!

Was just thinkin last night "damn i havnt seen sammy g in like a month" lol

Filming in the rain. Samurai!!

10:24 The introspection at the end was beautiful

I definitely hear this bluegrass influence when he plays, I'd bet he played clawhammer more than Scruggs.

Totally cool video. The Shamisen reminds me of the sitar or gayageum. I like the nasally, cigar box guitar sound of it. More please. Cheers....

The sound of blues and sorry knows no language or cultural barriers. This video inspired the sh!t out of me lol.

love the shamisen. The yoshida brothers is one of my favorite shamisen artists.

That is beyond awesome - I'd love to play one. I have a CD of traditional Koto music, and it's so soothing. I've tried playing the songs on guitar, but of course the nuances are lost. But it's still fun.

If you liked this video or the shamisen music in general there's a very underrated anime called "Those snow white notes" that's about shamisen players.

I need to buy one of these.

It's the beauty of music and cultures, one's ethnicity isn't a restriction

Definitely an acquired appreciation required for this sound.

You inspire the fuck out of me bro.

Inspirational. I love Japanese culture, I try to incorporate the style into what I do. Mastodon is a great example.

Sooo cool ❤❤❤🎉

Hup! And similar vocalizations are also used in Irish traditional music to indicate a change in the music to other musicians

Now I want one

Japanese plektrum looks like the nicest ice scraper ever

Appalachian Blue Grasss is an Americanized version of Celtic Folk Music. The Banjo, Bohdran, Fiddle, Tin WHistle etc are all also Celtic Folk Instruments along with Pipes

Hooray!!! 😃✨

thats one funky banjo

FUTURISTIC INTRO BRI

That was fun

Nice ending! 🤣🤣🤣

eyy its kyle! from the mobile thumbnail i thought it was mike lol.

❤ this!

6:59 😂pure joy

In the late 80's, I took part in a theatrical production of The Emperor's New Clothes, in Kabuki theater style. In a time before the internet, I had to research and build a Shamisen from a handful of encyclopedia photos and then develop an ear for the style, well enough to improvise atmospheric and occasionally, featured music through much of the show. The instrument turned out really well, considering I guessed on things like using the goatskin from a tambourine, and a mix of banjo and classical guitar strings. But, the best moment was when the American College Theater Festival judge asked how long I had been playing the instrument, and was shocked to hear that I learned it for the production, and had to build it, before I could begin practicing what I had only been able to listen to on cassettes the director had compiled for me.

Wagakki Band mixes traditional jpanese instruments with rock. They are so cool and different

Tenth! lol Great video. For some reason I kept expecting Brendon Acker to join this chat. lmfao Would be awesome to get all of you guys together. Just all of the weirdest multicultural instruments of all time. Oh shit! Special episode of weird gear maybe?

great video! 4:06 the kanji should be “撥” for bachi by the way

i dnno why but i always loved shamisen, the sound and distortion tinggles with my brain ahahahhahahaha

I was scared for a second, as a traditional Japanese music enthusiast, when I saw the video title, but once I watched it, I realized that everything I know about Japanese music is right.

A week from now we’re going to be getting yoshida brother covers

This looks super fun to play. Too bad they are quite expensive to buy

Love the sound of the shamisen! The way it's constructed and sounds, it's kind of like a "Japanese banjo." I wonder if anyone plays the shamisen with finger picks.

This is a good slalp in the face to those who complain about "cultural appropriation" without which the remnants of most cultures would disappear off the face of the earth. Makes you wonder where the Blues would be if wasn't for foreign bands like the Rolling Stones and such showing their appreciation for the art.

6:30 you can tell a good musician when they can instantly make music on an instrument they have never played before

Hey Sammy! Check out the Ralph Bakshi film American Pop.

Glad to see this vid. I have a Shamisen. I bought it after watching the Wagakki bands Ninagawa Beni wail on one in a vid. I went online and bought one right from Japan and probably paid too much. Friends should not let friends drink and buy! LOL I had it for a while but the skin on the front and back split and no own around here works on them. I have been to the Bachido web sight for info. Great web site I learned a lot. I might try doing the repair myself.

Oh, I'm not sure how I'm going to sneak one of these in to the house. Mission Impossible.

i want to hear Journey of the Sorcerer on this thing so bad

10:48 Appalachian!? How did you not get tempted to perform a Shamisen cover of Dualing Banjos!?

The neck is so polished your skin catches on it. The solution is not to make the neck finish matte, it’s to put pants on your fingers…

JOYBOY HAS RETURNED

love your take on this topic. so refreshing, all you hear nowdays is "culture appropriation"

This reminded me of videos from a guy made 15y ago..just youtube "Shamisen Malmsteen"

the empire of the rising sun blues

Do you mean that you were in santa cruz California? I live not too far from there.

as a Canadian I thought you were plying with a ice scraper...

I've always thought of as the Japanese version of the banjo.

Is there a bass version? 🤔

Weird, i was just thinking about the "Japanjo" just a couple days ago

Yoo I’m one of those blind riff raff

ほんとうにすごい。^^

Looking at the instruments being under rain hurt me.

Me: Reads title of the video "Everything You Know About Japanese Music Is Wrong" Also me: Well jokes on you! Everything I know about Japanese music is that the Koto is the weirdest and most beautiful sounding stringed instrument to exist on this planet

👽

Those ice scrapers they play with cost a couple thousand bucks. Pretty sure. I can get 2 for a dollar.

I bet you’re very happy that you used the Orangewood that day huh? 😀🎸 Oh yeah. This video goes great with edibles.

One might say he's a...Shamisensei 😏😏 #illseemyselfout

Does this guy also play Indian instruments? He looks like someone i saw perform in Boston.