What Are Kandokoro (Finger Positions) on the Shamisen?

"Kandokoro" refers to the finger positions pressed with the left hand on the shamisen. Unlike a guitar's frets, there are no physical markers — you find each position by feel and by ear. Bunkafu notation represents these positions with numbers, which can be confusing at first if you don't know how the numbering works.

How the numbering works

"0" means an open string (no finger pressing), and higher numbers move further up the neck toward higher pitches. Adjacent numbers are generally a half step apart, so the number itself represents a pitch distance.

Half-step positions (sharps and flats)

Because bunkafu numbering is already in half steps, you don't need separate sharp or flat symbols the way staff notation does — moving the number by one already represents a half step. Some schools or method books use their own labels or small marks for particular in-between positions, so it's worth checking the legend in whichever book you're using.

Tips for memorizing finger positions

• Start with the numbers that show up most often in songs (like 0, 2, 3) instead of trying to memorize everything at once.
• Positions differ by string, so learn the first, second, and third strings separately.
• Check every position against a tuner or reference pitch as you practice.
• A sticker on the neck can help at first, but the goal is to rely on ear and feel alone.

How this relates to tuning

The same finger position can produce a different pitch depending on the tuning in use. Kandokoro describes where to press, not an absolute pitch — keeping that distinction in mind makes bunkafu much easier to understand overall.