Kalimbas & Mbiras
14 Note Chromatic kalimba mounted on an attractive cherry wood sound box
Unlike the Hugh Tracey chromatics where the sharps and flats are on the opposite side of the sound board, the Magadi chromatic has all the notes mounted together on the front making it a lot easier to see what's going on
Small holes on the side of the instruments can be opened and closed to allow the application of vibrato on certain notes
Kalimba - 17-key Okoume with Accessories
A 17-key Kalimba with carved okoume wood body, tuned to the standard key of C Major. Otherwise known as a "finger piano", the kalimba is a descendant of the African Mbira and has evolved into today's fun and easy-to-play instrument. This model is supplied with a tuning hammer, labels for learning the keys, a beginner's guide, thimbles and a carrying bag. A great instrument for anyone new to music and for accomplished players alike.
- Scale:F3 G3 A3 B3 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 A5 B5 C6 D6 E6
- High-quality mahogany wood
- Hollow lotus pattern
- More balanced timbre
- Low wood density
- Lighter texture
- Short high pitch sustain
- Dimensions: 14cm x 18cm
- Includes: Tone stickers, Tuning Hammer, Cloth, Song Book
- Scale:C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 A5 B5 C6 D6 E6
- High-quality mahogany wood
- Hollow lotus pattern
- More balanced timbre
- Low wood density
- Lighter texture
- Short high pitch sustain
- Dimensions: 11cm (top width) 14cm (bottom width) x 18cm (height)
- Includes: Tone stickers, Tuning Hammer, Cloth, Song Book
- Scale:F3 G3 A3 B3 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 A5 B5 C6 D6 E6
- High-quality solid wood
- Gentle and sweet sound
- Thick and full timbre
- Dimensions: 11cm (top width) 13cm (bottom width) x 18cm (height)
- Includes: Tone Stickers, Tuning Hammer, Cloth, Song Book, and Bag
- Scale C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 A5 B5 C6 D6 E6.
- Gentle and sweet sound Thick and full timbre
- Gentle and sweet sound
- Thick and full timbre
- Dimensions: 12cm (top width) 14cm (bottom width) x 18cm (height)
- Includes: Tone Stickers, Tuning Hammer, Cloth, Song Book, and Bag
- Scale:F3 G3 A3 B3 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 A5 B5 C6 D6 E6.
- Warm timbre
- Very balanced
- Moderate sustain
- Lots of tuned overtones.
- Lighter texture
- Short high pitch sustain
- Dimensions: 15cm x 20cm
- Includes: Tone stickers, Tuning Hammer, Cloth, Case, Pick up, Song Book
- Kalimbas & Mbiras are plucked instruments originally of African origin, also known as 'thumb pianos'.
- Metal tongues of different length project over a metal bridge fastened to a wooden resonator.
- The tongues are tuned to various scales, either traditional African or western (diatonic or pentatonic) tunings.
- These is also a range of tuition resources to get you started
- Some instruments have built in pickups
- Includes the ethereal 'sansula' from Germany and the Hugh Tracey kalimbas from South Africa
- Also a couple of well tuned budget models.