Similarities and differences between the Western stringed instrument, the guitar, and the Japanese stringed instrument, the shamisen

Have you ever seen a shamisen? (Or even a picture!)
Most of you who have reached this article have seen a shamisen at least once.
Don’t you think the shamisen is a little bit like the guitar?

In this article, we will look at a few of the same and different parts of the guitar and the shamisen.

First, the same parts.
Both the guitar and the shamisen share the fact that they are both stringed instruments.
Furthermore, they also share the fact that they are both played with the torso resting on the right leg.

So what are the differences?
First, the number of strings. Most guitars have six strings, but the shamisen has only three.
Furthermore, if you look closely at the strings, you will find that most guitar strings are made of metal or nylon, while most shamisen strings are made of silk thread or nylon.
Incidentally, in the shamisen, strings are called ito (thread). The thickest string is called “ichi no ito,” the second thickest is called “ni no ito,” and the thinnest is called “san no ito.
Finally, let’s look at the neck.
While guitars have frets (which serve to visually check the pitch, right?), the shamisen has no frets. So, when you first start practicing, put a sticker on the place where you press the strings with your fingers (called “kanjokoro”).

Now that we have introduced the similarities and differences between the guitar and the shamisen, you may find further insights by actually playing the guitar and the shamisen.
Why don’t you compare the guitar and the shamisen?