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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on June 5, 2010 at 7:52am

Have you seen this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWD6RlfOazc

Enjoy, Keni Lee

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Permalink Reply by BenBob on June 5, 2010 at 8:08am

Nope, nice video - thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Siklopz on January 5, 2011 at 7:46pm

it's an okinawa sanshin.  it's the okinawan predecessor of the shamisen and is played a bit differently.  the skin is traditionally python, but they're often made of synthetics now (vs. the dog or cat skin typically used on a shamisen).  the pick is a buffalo horn monstrosity that fits on the index finger as opposed to the large ginkgo-shaped bachi used to pick a shamisen.

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Permalink Reply by Siklopz on January 5, 2011 at 7:48pm

my apologies, it's a chinese sanxian (longer necked predecessor to both the sanshin and the shamisen), but i think the skin is still python.  sorry for the confusion.  if you want to check out some great shamisen vids, look up kevin kmetz on youtube.  he's a japanese born american player who has won numerous awards in japan for his playing and he likes to play anything from traditional japanese tunes to metal, baroque classical, hendrix, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on January 5, 2011 at 8:14pm

I kinda dig this clip myself........

Now dont that look fun? YEE HAW!

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Permalink Reply by Roger Morin on January 5, 2011 at 10:35pm

That big instrument is not a shamisen, a shamisen has a small body with a long skinny neck and a body about 8" square.

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