How to Tune the Chinton
Before you play the Chinton, there's one thing to do first: tuning.
This means adjusting the pitch of all three strings — the same as tuning a guitar.
It might sound daunting, but with a smartphone tuner app, even complete beginners can do it easily.
Types of Tuning
The Chinton has three tuning systems, identical to those of the shamisen.
Honchoushi is the most fundamental tuning. It has a bold, direct quality.
Ni-agari raises the second string (the middle one) from Honchoushi. The result is a bright, lively sound. "Sakura Sakura" is played in this tuning.
San-sagari lowers the third string (the thinnest one) from Honchoushi. It gives a calm, slightly melancholic feel.
Which tuning to use is indicated at the beginning of the sheet music for each piece. Starting with Honchoushi or Ni-agari is recommended.
What You'll Need
Install a tuner app on your smartphone. Search for "shamisen tuner" and you'll find several free options. Shamisen-specific apps display the target notes clearly, making it easier to tune without confusion.
A general chromatic tuner (for guitar, etc.) also works, but if you're unfamiliar with shamisen note names, it may feel a bit confusing at first.
Step-by-Step Process
Open the tuner app and place your phone near the Chinton.
Pluck the first string (the thickest one) lightly with the pick. The app will pick up the sound and display the current pitch. If the note is too low, turn the tuning peg away from you to raise it; if it's too high, turn it toward you to lower it. Once the app shows the target note, that string is done.
Repeat the same process for the second and third strings. Once all three are in tune, you're ready to play.
Tips for Turning the Tuning Pegs
The tuning pegs respond to even small movements — just a slight turn can shift the pitch significantly. Don't rush; turn slowly and gradually.
The peg may slip back if it's not held firmly in place. If this happens, press the peg inward toward the neck while turning. The pegs are held by friction, so if you don't push in enough, the string tension will push it back.
Push in while you turn — that's the key.
On the other hand, if a peg feels stuck and won't turn, don't force it — you could damage the peg or the neck. Instead, pull it slightly outward first, then try turning again.
String Names
When holding the Chinton in playing position, the thick string at the top is the "first string" (ichi no ito), the middle one is the "second string" (ni no ito), and the thin string at the bottom is the "third string" (san no ito) — the same names used for the shamisen.
Thicker strings produce lower notes; thinner strings produce higher notes.
How Often Should You Tune?
Check the tuning every time before you play. Nylon strings shift slightly with temperature changes and over time. Brand-new strings especially tend to stretch, and may go out of tune even mid-session. Just retune whenever you notice it.
After some use, the strings will stabilize and hold their pitch more reliably.
Tuning might feel like a chore at first, but playing at the correct pitch helps train your ear as well.
In the beginning, tuning alone might take ten or fifteen minutes. You might not know how far to turn the peg, or find that it slips out of tune as soon as you think you've got it.
But after doing it a few times, the feel of the pegs becomes familiar — you start to sense "ah, turning it this far changes the pitch by about this much."