User Manual

139A User’s Guide to Garritan World Instruments
THE STRING INSTRUMENTS
ARIA name: Description: Controls:
Japan
Koto e Koto is a Japanese zither. It is the largest of
the Asian zithers at around six feet in length. e
instrument usually has 13 silk strings set upon
movable bridges. e Koto is played horizon-
tally and the player plucks the strings using
picks attached to his or her ngers. A common
technique is “tsuki,” where the player plucks the
string while pressing the string on the other side
of the bridge with the other hand, causing the
note to bend. Another technique is to pluck the
string rapidly in alternating directions to produce
a tremolo eect.
• Range: C3 – C6
Vel (attack), MW
(vol/eq), Sus, Lgth,
VAR1, VAR2,
FiltLv, FiltFq,
Keyswitches
Sanshin e Sanshin is a three-string instrument that is
very important in traditional Okinawan music. It
is a precursor of the Japanese Shamisen and con-
sists of a roughly square sound box covered with
snakeskin, a long neck, and three strings. It is
played with a plectrum worn on the index nger.
• Range: C2- C6
Vel (attack), MW
(vol/eq), Sus, Lgth,
VAR1, VAR2,
FiltLv, FiltFq,
VibSpd, VibAmt,
Keyswitches
(incudles mutes)
Shamisen e Shamisen is a long-necked, fretless, three-
stringed instrument (Shamisen literally means
“three avor strings”). e instrument is similar
in sound and size to a banjo with a box-like
skin-covered body. It has soap-soaked strings thar
are plucked with a heavy ivory plectrum called a
“bachi.”
• Range: C2 – F6
Vel (attack), MW
(vol/eq), Sus, Lgth,
VAR1, VAR2,
FiltLv, FiltFq,
VibSpd, VibAmt,
Keyswitches
(includes mutes)