In Satsuma biwa music, songs (narrative parts) and the instrument were played alternately while the music of the Chikuzen biwa took in the musical elements of shamisen and had a part of biwa as accompaniment for songs.
薩摩琵琶では歌（語り）と楽器は交互に奏されるが、筑前琵琶の音楽には三味線音楽の要素が取り入れられており、歌いながら琵琶の伴奏を入れる部分がある。