Also known as the thumb-piano, the kalimba is a melodic percussion instrument based on an age-old African instrument, the 'mbira'. The kalimbra is a 'lamellophonic', or 'liguaphonic' instrument since it's played by plucking a set of tuned 'lamella' or tongues, which can be made from wood or metal, but the tongues of a kalimba are always metal. You can get kalimbas in a variety of different shapes and sizes; fitted with varying numbers of tongues; and you can even get electric as well as acoustic kalimbas.
The Origin of the Kalimba & Thumb Piano
The kalimba is originally based on the age-old African instrument, the mbira, a percussion instrument played by the Shona tribe in Zimbabwe. The mbira looks almost identical to the kalimba, but has more tongues fitted on the left side of the body. In the fifties, the kalimba was designed by the musicologist Hugh Tracey as a more simplified version of the mbira and was later popularised by one of the lead singers of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. Traditionally, the kalimba has a solid wooden body rather than a hollow body.
Learning to Play the Kalimba
The kalimba is played by plucking the metal tongues with both thumbs and has a beautifully warm sound. Learning to play the kalimba is actually fairly easy. You can just pick up a kalimba and start getting familiar with the way it works, watch a few tutorials to find out what it can do, and in very little time you'll be able play little melodies or entire songs.
Kalimba Tunings
There are some kalimbas you can tune using a special tuning hammer to gently bend the tongues up or down to correct the pitch, or by tapping the tongues forward or back to change the note.
Electric Kalimbas
Electric kalimbas are amplified via one or more pickups instead of a hollow body, like a guitar. Since you can plug an electric kalimba into an amplifier, they're much easier to perform or record with and you can even add some cool effects.
What Do You Need to Play Kalimba Music?
Besides your kalimba, you don't actually need that much. A kalimba book might be handy, as well as a few good online tutorials to help you get to grips with the instrument, but since the kalimba is so easy to pick up, you'll be able to play melodies and songs fairly quickly. As with any instrument, it's best to start at a slow tempo and only speed up when you can play a melody all the way through without making any mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Kalimba
How does the kalimba work?
When you pluck one of the tongues of the kalimba, it vibrates and this vibration is passed through the body of the kalimba at the point where the tongue is fitted. This amplifies and projects the sound acoustically.
How do you tune the kalimba?
There are some kalimbas you can tune using a special tuning hammer to gently bend the tongues up or down to correct the pitch, or by tapping the tongues forward or back to change the note.
What does the kalimba sound like?
The kalimba has a warm and clear sound which is acoustically amplified by the body.
How do you play the kalimba?
The kalimba is played by holding the body in both hands and plucking the fitted tongues with the tips of your thumbs. Some techniques involve the other fingers as well.
Where does the kalimba come from?
The kalimba as we know it comes from America, but is originally based on the African mbira. The mbira is almost identical, but has more tongues on the left side of the body.
