Hello!
I just bought a nagauta shamisen and a donner guitar clip for tuning. It has many options for tuning: Chromatic, Guitar, Bass, Violin, Ukulele, Banjo and Wind Instrument of Key F, Bb, Eb. Which mode should this be set to? Thanks!
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Welcome to Bachido!
In shamisen playing, there are three common tunings, called
ćŹčŞżĺ (Honchoushi), tuning the strings the outside strings to the same note, and the middle string to relative fourth of that note, for example C-F-C
äşä¸ăă (Niagari), tuning the strings in fifths, for example C-G-C
and ä¸ä¸ăă (sansagari), tuning the thinnest string down three semitones from Honchoushi, for example C-F-Bb.
There isnât a specific register you have to tune to though - you can pick basically any note within a reasonable range and tune your low string to that, and tune the others to it. I used C as an example since C and D are probably the most common since it isnât overly low or so high as to stress/slacken the strings too much, but really itâs up to the player. A lot of older recordings that Iâve heard are in B because it makes for a warmer tone and the strings last a bit longer when theyâre tuned lower.
So, that tunerâs specialized settings wonât necessarily apply, just pick a note and tune according to the tuning style youâre going for.
http://bachido.com/overview/tuning
^ this page gives great explanations and audio examples of these, so you can tune to those or tune to whatever key youâd like and just use the same intervals.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for the help. My question was more on the line of if iâm trying to play Niagari, tuning my shamisen using the guitar setting may say C but it may say D in the chromatic setting or G in Ukulele. So how do i know which setting is the correct C for the shamisen.
Youâre welcome!
If Iâm understanding, it gives one note while youâre in one setting, but a different one in another? Since those modes are programmed to tune for specific instruments Iâm guessing theyâre preprogrammed to expect certain notes, and tell you how far from it you are. For just a straight C go with the chromatic setting, since itâs not thinking itâll be anything different and trying to correct for it.
Hey there,
I use a generic Korg tuner to get in tune when my ears donât suffice. Looking at the amazon page on the Donner tuner, youâre best off setting it to Chromatic.
If you can adjust the frequency, set it to 442 hz - but if you canât donât stress it. The most important thing is the relative tuning between the strings.
If you happen to be a little sharp or a little flat, as long as your other strings match it youâll be fine~
Good to set at 440 if you are playing with other people.
I canât tune my nagauta to D. Inevitably, I will break a string.
Good to set at 440 if you are playing with other people.
Thatâs probably the frequency that the chromatic tuner setting starts at, since itâs the western gold standard. Which is fine.
I got the 442 number from playing with a minâyo group (shamisen, kokyuu, fue, kane, sasara, and kokiriko).
I canât tune my nagauta to D. Inevitably, I will break a string.
Maybe youâre over tightened? You should be able to hit D. Itâs a relatively common key (6ćŹ).