First sound

Before any paperwork: make a noise.

Hear it, then play it

This is low E — the thickest string, played open.

On a 7-string the thickest is low B, a fourth under the E:

This is the bass’s low E — the thickest of the four, played open, an octave under a guitar’s.

Five or six strings: the thickest is low B, under the E. Tune it too.

This is the 一の糸 (ichi no ito), the thickest string, open, in honchōshi on C. Koma on first; listen for the sawari’s buzz.

Pluck your lowest string and tune until the needle settles. Close is good enough today.

Now play it once, on purpose (one downstroke of the bachi). That’s your first sound here. It counts.

One more minute: walk it up

Same string, three notes: open, fret 3, fret 5. Any rhythm, any speed — this little walk is the seed of about half of rock and roll.

Same string, three notes: open, bunkafu 3, bunkafu 4 (C, E♭, F; 4 matches the open 二の糸). Index finger, any rhythm, any speed: a min’yō shape in miniature.

Where you’ll use this

Notes on the neck: the open strings you just tuned become names you know.
Learn a song: riffs start exactly like that low-string walk.

Check

A sound came out of your instrument
You played it on purpose