Shamisen vs. Biwa

Shamisen vs. Biwa — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Shamisen and Biwa

Shamisennoun

(musical instrument) A kind of three-stringed Japanese fretless lute.

Biwanoun

A plucked lute, originating in the classical and traditional music of Japan, characterized by a pear-shaped body and four or five high frets, giving the instrument a distinctively twangy tone.

Shamisennoun

a Japanese stringed instrument resembling a banjo with a long neck and three strings and a fretted fingerboard and a rectangular soundbox; played with a plectrum

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