Bachizuke / Otoawase

Welcome to the first playing technique lesson! One that you may come back to many times... the Bachizuke or 'Otoawase'.

In this lesson we are taking a look at one of the most important moments in any Tsugaru shamisen players performance. The moment where the audience decides whether they will even listen or not! 

Even professional Tsugaru players practice this regularly. Even after decades of playing.

Most Tsugaru songs will start with this, and it can take some time to perfect... and so today, we start our journey into playing the Tsugaru Shamisen with the Bachizuke!