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Your shamisen's "type" depends on how it's used and its characteristics. If your shamisen meets a specific subtype, it is that type. If not, refer back to the neck.
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Measure your shamisen's neck width just under the chibukuro to learn its neck class. Look near the dou to see if it has a hatomune or not. Measure its footprint (tip of the tenjin to end of the nakagosaki) to find out is overall size.
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Measure your shamisen's dou's length and width across the flat play space at the widest point to learn its body class.
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Neck ClassBody ClassDimesions based on data from Kameya and Tokyo Wagakki
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棹の種類
Neck Classifications
Dimensions
胴の種類
Body Classifications
Dimensions in 尺貫法
Dimensions in metric
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細棹HosozaoLess than 2.6 cm二番Niban6寸ｘ５寸４分18.1818 x 16.3636
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名古屋Nagoya6寸3分 x 5寸6分5厘19.0909 x 17.1212
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中棹ChuuzaoMore than 2.6 cm, less than 2.8 cm長唄Nagauta6寸5分 x 5寸9分19.6969 x 17.8787
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五厘大Go Rin Dai6寸5分5厘 x 5寸9分5厘19.8484 x 18.0303
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太棹FutozaoMore than 2.8 cm一分大Ichi Bu Dai6寸6分 x 6寸0分20.0000 x 18.1818
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一分五厘大Ichi Bu Go Rin Dai6寸6分5厘 x 6寸0分5厘20.1515 x 18.3333
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二分大Ni Bu Dai6寸7分 x 6寸1分20.3030 x 18.4848
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正寸Seisun98 ~ 101 cm; values up to 103cm have been reported三分大San Bu Dai6寸8分 x 6寸2分20.6060 x 18.7878
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四分大Yon Bu Dai6寸9分 x 6寸3分20.9090 x 19.0909
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五分大Go Bu Dai7寸0分 x 6寸4分21.2121 x 19.3939
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短棹Tanzao 92 - 95 cm in general六分大Roku Bu Dai7寸1分 x 6寸5分21.5151 x 19.6969
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七分大Nana Bu Dai7寸2分 x 6寸6分21.8181 x 19.99999
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Note that chuuzao are sometimes referred to as hosozao, either due to borderline sizing or generational linguistic tendencies. Note that shamisen which are 2.6 cm wide are on the borderline of hosozao/chuuzao. Do not overstress this.Body size names are usually referential back to nagauta. A 五分大 (5分大・go-bu-dai) body is defined as being 5 bu bigger than a nagauta. However, be aware that variance is a constant factor. These are generally hand made instruments, even if modern tools and jigs are used. Match the dimensions as closely as you can.
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A bu is .303 cm
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A rin is .0303 cmNiban and Nagoya sized dou are smaller than typical nagauta shamisen. Niban is intended for children.
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The following list is a work in progress; data specific to some genres and sub-genres remains difficult to find.
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Characteristics
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General Shamisen SubtypesNeck ClassesBody ClassesSawariNotes
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長唄NagautaHosozaoHatomuneNagautaAzuma or En Sawari Rare
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端唄HautaHosozao or ChuuzaoHatomuneNagauta or Go Rin Dai
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小唄KoutaHosozao or ChuuzaoHatomuneGo Rin DaiCan have Azuma Sawari
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柳川YanagawaExtremely Thin HosozaoHatomune(Smaller than Reguar Jiuta)Embellishments common. No doukake（？）. Long, thin bachi.
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民謡Min'yoChuuzaoNo HatomuneGo Rin Dai to Ni Bu DaiAzuma or En Sawari Common
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生田地唄Ikuta JiutaChuuzaoNo HatomuneIchi Bu Go Rin Dai to Ni Bu DaiYamasawari
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山田地唄Yamada JiutaHosozaoNo HatomuneNagauta or Go Rin DaiYamasawari
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新内節Shinnai BushiChuuzaoHatomuneIchi Bu Dai
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清元KiyomotoChuuzaoHatomuneGo Rin Dai
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常磐津TokiwazuChuuzaoHatomuneIchi Bu Dai
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義太夫GidayuFutozaoHatomuneNi Bu Dai to San Bu DaiYamasawari
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津軽TsugaruFutozaoNo HatomuneYon Bu Dai or LargerAzuma or En Sawari CommonMetal Rindo Common
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低音TeionChuuzao or Futozao (?)
Tentative dimensions:21.63 x 20.7
Used in nagauta arrangements when a lower sound profile is necessary.
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Unique Shamisen ExamplesNeck ClassBody ClassSawariNotes
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おわら三味線Owara ShamisenHosozao or ChuuzaoHatomuneGo Rin DaiFunctionally a kouta shamisen.
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豪絃GougenSpecialSpecial
A monstrously huge shamisen associated with Kineya/Kine-ie. Often Bowed
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