Changes

The scale employed is fairly different from that of traditional Japanese music; in the standard tuning, called ''honchôshi'' 本調子, the three strings are most typically tuned to what Western notation would consider B-E-B or C-F-C, though variations exist. Two of the most common alternate tunings are ''niagi'' 二上, in which the middle string is raised up to a higher pitch, and ''sansagi'' 三下, in which the bottom, highest-pitched, string is lowered to a lower pitch.

The scale employed is fairly different from that of traditional Japanese music; in the standard tuning, called ''honchôshi'' 本調子, the three strings are most typically tuned to what Western notation would consider B-E-B or C-F-C, though variations exist. Two of the most common alternate tunings are ''niagi'' 二上, in which the middle string is raised up to a higher pitch, and ''sansagi'' 三下, in which the bottom, highest-pitched, string is lowered to a lower pitch.

The sanshin's strings are played with a small claw-like piece called a ''chimi'' 爪<ref>O: ''chimi'', J: ''tsume'', lit. "claw"</ref>, made of water buffalo horn, lacquered wood, ivory, or another material, which is fitted over the index finger and held in place with the thumb and other fingers. Rather than plucking or picking at the strings, as is done with certain other instruments, the sanshin ''chimi'' is simply passed through the strings, coming to rest on the next string as each string is played. The sanshin is a monophonic instrument, meaning it does not make extensive use of chords, but rather is played almost exclusively one note at a time.

The sanshin's strings are played with a small claw-like piece called a ''chimi'' 爪<ref>O: ''chimi'', J: ''tsume'', lit. "claw"</ref>, made of [[water buffalo]] horn, lacquered wood, ivory, or another material, which is fitted over the index finger and held in place with the thumb and other fingers. Rather than plucking or picking at the strings, as is done with certain other instruments, the sanshin ''chimi'' is simply passed through the strings, coming to rest on the next string as each string is played. The sanshin is a monophonic instrument, meaning it does not make extensive use of chords, but rather is played almost exclusively one note at a time.

In addition to noticeable differences in the size and shape of the instrument overall, its tuning, and the snakeskin, the shape of the ''chimi'' is one of the more noticeable differences between the Okinawan sanshin and the Japanese shamisen, which uses a larger, flatter plectrum, called a ''bachi'', which is held in the hand and often used to strike the strings or the body of the instrument in a percussive manner. The sanshin's delicate snakeskin could not long survive such strikes, and they are not used in Okinawan music.

In addition to noticeable differences in the size and shape of the instrument overall, its tuning, and the snakeskin, the shape of the ''chimi'' is one of the more noticeable differences between the Okinawan sanshin and the Japanese shamisen, which uses a larger, flatter plectrum, called a ''bachi'', which is held in the hand and often used to strike the strings or the body of the instrument in a percussive manner. The sanshin's delicate snakeskin could not long survive such strikes, and they are not used in Okinawan music.