sham·i·sen  (shām'ĭ-sěn')  n. A Japanese musical instrument resembling a lute, having a very long neck and three strings played with a plectrum. [Japanese samisen : san, three (from Middle Chinese sam) + mi, taste, touch (from Middle Chinese mujh) + sen, string (from Middle Chinese sianh).] |
shamisen
long-necked, fretless Japanese lute. The instrument has a small, square body with a catskin front and back, three twisted-silk strings, and a curved-back pegbox with side pegs. It is played with a large plectrum; different types of plectrums produce distinct tone colours for specific types of music.
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