Ghost of Yotei contains 8 Shamisen Song locations. Learning all Shamisen Songs unlocks the Like Mother, Like Daughter trophy.
Shamisen Songs are learned from certain locations in the world and from doing certain quests and other side activities. They can be played by swiping left on the Touchpad and will automatically guide you to collectibles. Because of this you should prioritize getting all Shamisen Songs before going for other collectibles. This will make it very easy to find everything. The Robes for Sitturaynu armor also guides you to nearby Shamisen Songs with a golden bird.
Nothing is missable, everything can still be done after the story in free-roam.
Collectibles Overview:
Video Guide
How to Unlock All Shamisen Songs
1 – Atsu’s Song
Automatically learned during Prologue.
2 – Song of Well-Being
From the Shamisen Practice location in Ishikari Plain, along the coastline in the north-west.
Effect: Guides you to Hot Spring locations
3 – Song of Vanity
From the Shamisen Practice location in Teshio Ridge, west of Red Crane Inn.
Effect: Guides you to Vanity Gear locations
4 – Song of Revenge
In Tokachi Range region, go to the named map location “Musician’s Camp”, in the north of Shizunai Woods. There you find a ronin playing his Shamisen. Give him a donation, then talk to him, follow him to his camp and build him a campfire. Play your Shamisen at the campfire while he talks to you. Afterward he teaches you this song.
Effect: Guides you to Yotei Six Camp locations
5 – Song of the Ainu
Complete Side Tale: The Soul of an Instrument in Tokachi Range at Ainu Musician’s Camp + Side Tale: A Melody of Thoughts in Nayoro Wilds at Cukpet Hills Campsite.
Effect: Guides you to Ainu Items
6 – Song of Spirit
Complete Side Tale: Master of the Shamisen in Yotei Grasslands.
Effect: Guides you to Bamboo Strike locations
7 – Song of the Wolf
Complete any 4 Wolf Dens to unlock this. After your 4th Wolf Den you will automatically sit down to play the Shamisen and learn this song. See Wolf Den Locations.
Effect: Guides you to Wolf Den locations
8 – Song of Shrines
Learned from a randomly appearing man when you make camp. Hold 
while near your horse to make a camp. There is a chance that random NPCs show up at your camp. The guy who gives the song is one such random encounter. He is confirmed to spawn when camping throughout Ishikari Plain, but is seemingly completely random and could spawn in any region. Make a camp, sleep, fast travel to another location, repeat. Camping in quick succession doesn’t seem to work, after you get a random encounter at your camp it’s best to wait a while before camping again and do some more side tales. For me he appeared after doing Side Tale: The Bomb Maker and then camping along the shoreline between Otaru Beach & Howling Cove in Ishikari Plain.
Effect: Guides you to Shrine Climb locations
For all other collectibles refer to Ghost of Yotei Collectible Guide.
Fujyno says
Hey! The last song, Song of Shrines is guaranteed- its a campsite in Ishikari Plains. There’s the same NPC there and he mentions you playing the shamisen. By talking to him you get the song. I have a screenshot of its spawn location, if i can send it to you somewhere? Otherwise its between Higashi Lumberyard and the Fire Fox den(a little to the west, off the road).
PowerPyx says
We looked into it and didn’t find him there, so possibly he can spawn at campsites but there’s some randomness to this too.
Zak says
I cant seem to find somas song. After defeating him and learning his song. Apparently we cant keep it?
Anthony says
I found the settler for song of shrines sitting at a campfire between Broken Horn Garrison and Ishikari Market.
Owen says
I was heading to a location that still had fog on my map when I saw a little tornado of swirling leaves. I took that as a sign to stop and make a camp and thats when he appeared.