Shamisen tuner – Sansagari (C-F-Bb)
C-F-A# · Alternative
Also known as 三下り
This free online tuner listens through your microphone and shows how close each string of your Shamisen is to Sansagari (C-F-Bb) tuning (C-F-A#). Play a string, watch the needle, and turn the peg until the meter glows green. If you prefer tuning by ear, tap any string card to hear its reference tone.
About Sansagari (C-F-Bb) tuning
Compared with Honchoshi (C-F-C), Sansagari (C-F-Bb) moves 1 string. Every change is downward, the largest by 2 semitones, so the instrument sits at lower tension than in Honchoshi (C-F-C).2 strings stay exactly where they were.
| String | Honchoshi (C-F-C) | Sansagari (C-F-Bb) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | C4 | A#3 | down 2 semitones |
Played open, the strings sound C-F-A# – from C3 at the bottom to A#3 at the top, a span of 10 semitones. Step by step across the neck the intervals are a fourth, a fourth, and that is what decides how chord shapes fall under the hand.
Left open, the strings together spell Fsus4. That is a by-product of how the intervals are laid out rather than the point of the tuning, but it does mean some chords need very few fingers here.
History
Where the Sansagari (C-F-Bb) tuning comes from
Sansagari, “lowered third”, lowers the third string by a whole step. It is one of the three basic shamisen tunings and gives a softer, melancholy sound.
Other Shamisen tunings
Standard
How do I tune my Shamisen to Sansagari (C-F-Bb)?
Allow microphone access, pluck a string, and the tuner will detect it automatically. The needle shows whether the string is flat or sharp – adjust until the reading is within ±5 cents (C-F-A#).
Which notes are used in Sansagari (C-F-Bb) tuning?
Sansagari (C-F-Bb) tuning for Shamisen uses the notes C-F-A#, listed from the lowest string to the highest.
Can I tune without a microphone?
Yes. Every string card plays a reference tone – tap it and match your string to the sound by ear.