So i recently started playing the Sanshin. I bought my Sanshin in Okinawa at "Akebono Sanshin." When i got back to Colorado my grandmas friend taught me how to read Kunkunshi and how to play. So the other day i started this song called "Tachiutushisugachi"(瀧落菅攪) , and its one of my favorite koten (classical song). So everything was going good until i came across these notes 「ｲ尺､ｲ老､口尺 and so on」and i was really confused. I know 尺 and 老 but i had no idea how to play it when it was ｲ老 or 口尺. So after doing some research it turns out these notes known as "High Position" meaning you have to move your hand closer to the base of the Sanshin. So i have to books that show where i should put my fingers for the notes. I looked in both and here's where i get even more confused. They were showing the same placement but different note! After doing more research basically depending on you music you are going to either have to use one or the other. Example my music uses 口尺 for the bottom string but my other music uses ｲ乙 for the same string, same placement and yes same note. BUT since i chose to use 口尺 now ｲ乙 is used on the top sting. Confused? I made this picture to help you :
I used the Blue Notes and what is shown on the makeshift Sanshin.
The picture is NOT to scale
