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This article is within the scope of WikiProject Musical Instruments, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of musical instruments on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Musical InstrumentsWikipedia:WikiProject Musical InstrumentsTemplate:WikiProject Musical Instrumentsmusical instruments articles
Need to clarify the tuning; I understand it's re-entrant in fifths (all within one octave?), variously described as "F, C, G, D, A" or "a'-d'-g'-c'-f'", but I'm not clear specifically which strings are lower. By nomenclature is " c' " the lowest pitch in the " ' " octave? To avoid this confusion, it'd be good to get a basic diagram of string layout and a musical staff representing the relative pitches.
So far as strings, I understand gut was traditional, but I think I read something that some people use modern shamisen silk strings on these currently?
There are a number of refs which mention the various roles of the instrument (lullabies, trance, repelling ghosts) so those would be great to add.
One ref mentions the tonkori ovasi ("musical instrument demons") but I can't see more in the snippet. Another example?
Parallels with the wagon and with Jomon-era zithers?
Parallels with the kacapi (not the big zither, the small dulcimer-like ones)?
Are tonguri and tongari alternate spellings? The 1969 Asian Review mentions this as a "national instrument" seemingly in the context of the Ainu.
