Learn Kalimba

If you have ever had a question about learning Kalimba and the number of keys, there is a good chance that here you will find the answer to all your doubts that may concern a Kalimba for beginners or possibly Kalimba songs . The Kalimba is a great instrument for any beginner, but one of the main questions that is often asked is whether you can play every song with it.

First, you should check out the guide to learning the Kalimba that we have prepared for you and get to grips with your new instrument. A person's ability to master an instrument is directly proportional to the amount of time they are willing to devote to it. However, you will be amazed at how quickly you will progress on the Kalimba once you start learning to play the tongue drum . Anyone who has at least one musical instrument or some basic knowledge of music theory can learn the Kalimba even more easily .

There are a few things to consider to understand if a song is playable on the kalimba. Let's look at these in detail below.

Learning Kalimba - that's what matters!

As mentioned above, it is easy to experiment with the Kalimba and learn to play the Kalimba . What are the main reasons why you should want to learn to play the Kalimba ?

• The first reason you'll enjoy learning the Kalimba : It helps you see and understand music in a completely different way than any other instrument. The Kalimba's unique note layout requires you to understand it more physically than mentally. You learn how to work your thumb to complete a particular song. In a completely unique way, playing the Kalimba really brings your awareness into your body.
• A second reason to love the kalimba: it is relatively easy to create more complex music on the kalimba. The way the notes are arranged on most kalimbas not only helps with playing melodies, but also makes it easy to accompany the melody with chords, arpeggios or even counterpoint. Learning to play the kalimba is really easy.
• The third reason you will enjoy learning Kalimba : The simplicity of the Kalimba invites you to embrace the simplicity of the spirit. If you approach the Kalimba from a standpoint of raw energy, you will not truly connect with the spirit of the instrument. Become peaceful, soft, open and receptive. Open your mind to gentleness. And the Kalimba will slowly reveal its secrets to you over the days and years that you will play the Kalimba .
• The fourth reason: Learning to play the kalimba is simply fun! When you're on a winning streak, when the right notes come out of you as if by magic, when you feel like you're getting better day by day and even moment by moment, it's a real thrill.
• The fifth reason why playing the Kalimba is so great: It is a unique sound that inspires you to make unique music. The Kalimba inspires simple and clear harmonies, wonderfully charming melodies and true musical and emotional sensitivity.
• The sixth reason why you want to learn Kalimba: The Kalimba is small, easy to carry and hold, has a low environmental impact and is relatively inexpensive.

So playing the kalimba is like a form of meditation. And as a meditation, the kalimba can transform us. It can help you reflect on what you've done and who you are. And on the other hand, it's like chasing the thrill of getting better and better and seeing the notes line up at the tips of my thumbs . It seems to happen all by itself, and it's one of the reasons why you keep learning to play new types of kalimba. It's a good way to pass the time.

Kalimba for beginners - these are the most important aspects for a good Kalimba!

In addition to the low purchase price of a kalimba, there is also a wide selection of instruments to choose from.

The number of notes/keys on a kalimba is one consideration, as they come with 7 to 21 keys, or tines as you can also call them.

Don't think that a 17-key kalimba isn't for you if you're a beginner. Sure, you can buy a thumb piano with fewer keys to start with, but anything under 10 keys can cause you to quickly outgrow the instrument.

Our suggestion is to buy a 17 kalimba as your first instrument. The design can play a role in your purchase decision, and the more elaborate the design, the more the kalimba is likely to cost, so keep that in mind. Simple can be beautiful.

Hold the instrument properly and give your fingers space to play

The standard kalimba will unfortunately not be able to play all songs, as the range of some songs is simply too many notes. However, most songs should be possible if the kalimba is tuned to the song's requirements and the music is adapted for the kalimba. Alternatively, a chromatic kalimba can offer more flexibility and open up many more possibilities.

The more keys a kalimba has, the higher the outer notes become, to the point where they are very short and - except on the very best instruments - almost unplayable. The highest notes are often difficult to access. The lowest note is the longest tine and is located in the middle of the instrument. It is the note with the greatest distance between the tip and the point where it meets the bridge. This is generally the fundamental note of the instrument.

In the early stages of playing the Kalimba, almost everyone's thumb skin hurts, even when playing with their nails - but over time, a little callus develops on the thumbs and the pain is gone.

Sit comfortably on a chair and take the kalimba in your hands. Start exploring the keys and sounds . It is clear that a kalimba with many keys leaves you less space between them and you are more likely to make a mistake when you want to pluck a certain note.

Learn to play Kalimba - it's never too late or too early

The instrument consists of metal tines or keys that the player plucks with the thumb - hence the name " thumb piano ". The kalimba usually has a resonating body, but it is not uncommon to find models that only have a simple board with tines attached to the top.

Kalimba or mbira can also have a different number of keys. There are simpler models with seven or eight tines and more advanced ones with seventeen or more.

The most common type of kalimba has seventeen keys, and you can get one based on the tuning of those keys. Even children can pluck the kalimba and learn kalimba , as can people of advanced age. The sounds are so soothing that the instrument helps relieve stress.

Learn Kalimba for beginners - the simple Kalimba playing guide

Now we come to the practical part - a guide to playing the Kalimba that will make learning the Kalimba easier for you. What are the notes on a Kalimba? There are many different Kalimbas that can differ in the number of notes. For example, you can buy a Kalimba with just 8 or 10 notes, or a Kalimba with 21 keys .

While you can often choose what key your kalimba is in, which determines the exact pitch of the tines, most entry-level kalimbas have the same 10 notes.

These are the basic notes that will help you learn to play the Kalimba songs so easily that you may not even think about what you are doing. The basic notes of the Kalimba are: F, D, B, G, E, C and A . While these are the notes that the Kalimba has, each of these notes will vary slightly on your Kalimba, requiring small adjustments to ensure your Kalimba is used correctly. Sometimes the only difference in sound you will hear is when you play complete Kalimba songs .

Step by step and not everything at once

Easy Kalimba Playing Instructions / Kalimba for Beginners :

•       Hold the kalimba in both hands. Place the kalimba in the palms of your hands so that the keys are facing you. Place your thumbs on the top of the kalimba and interlace the rest of your fingers behind the kalimba. You can also lay the kalimba on a flat surface instead of holding it when you are just starting to play the kalimba .
•       Do not cover the 2 holes on the back of the kalimba when holding it, otherwise it will not sound right.
•       Press a key with your thumbnail to play a note. To get a good sound, you need to hit the key with your thumbnail. The tine should vibrate when you hit it. Practice hitting the tine with your nail until the note resonates. In the beginning, this may be painful if you play the kalimba for a long period of time, but over time, our fingernails get used to playing if you really want to learn kalimba .

How does that sound? Are you ready for the rest of the Kalimba playing guide ?

•       Hit the tines alternately with both thumbs to create a progression. Unlike a piano, notes on the kalimba alternate by spreading out from the center of the instrument. Hitting the corresponding key on the other end of the kalimba will play a whole tone or note up or down. Experiment with hitting different keys on the left and right sides of the instrument to play a progression of notes.
•       For example, on an 8-note kalimba in standard tuning, the tine to the left of the center is a D and the tine to the right of the center is an E.
•       Strike 2 adjacent tines to play a chord. If you strike 2 tines that are right next to each other, a chord will be played. Use your thumb to strike both tines at the same time to play the chord. Experiment with different tines on the kalimba to create a series of chords, called a chord progression.
•       Combine individual notes and chords to create your own song. For example, you can play the middle tine three times, then play a chord four times, then play the middle tine three more times to get a complete progression. Experiment with other progressions and chords to create your own song, or start playing Kalimba songs from the music book.

Retuning the tones

Most kalimbas have 17 keys and are tuned to C major . Without getting too deep into music theory, this means that the kalimba can only play natural notes ( C, D, E, F, G, A and B ) in a diatonic scale. This would be the same as if you were only playing the white keys of a piano.

“ Tuning a kalimba ” is the process of tuning each individual key to a specific pitch so that the notes sound exactly as expected. When played together, the perfectly tuned tines complete a musical scale or part of it. This is the tuning of the kalimba, and how the instrument sounds when the notes are played together.

Regardless of whether you feel that your kalimba is out of tune or not, it is a good practice to check the tuning of each key weekly. To do this, you will need:

•       a kalimba (of course!)
•       Tuner (physical or mobile app)
•       List of required notes
•       Tuning hammer
•       patience

You can find some videos on YouTube showing exactly how to retune the kalimba. Unfortunately, for some kalimba songs it is necessary to retune the kalimba, or you may have several kalimbas at hand.

Kalimba songs - you can learn some Kalimba songs very quickly.

If you want to play your favorite songs well, you should practice them. The concept is simple: look at the Kalimba songs in our sheet music book . We have arranged the songs from easy to difficult. Start with the first song in the sheet music book and you will be able to play it in no time. Then move on to the next song. One builds on the other when it comes to learning to play Kalimba .

Or watch YouTube videos on how to learn the kalimba and play along at the same time. Don't worry if you can't play it well right away, because practice makes perfect.

Learn Kalimba Conclusion

It really doesn't matter if you want to learn Kalimba for beginners , are already advanced, young or old - learning Kalimba is always an amusing pastime that is also relaxing. As a beginner, you can follow our Kalimba playing instructions and enjoy those first sounds.

Of course, if you want to become an expert, you will need both time and practice. While the basics of the instrument are easy, more advanced techniques are not so easy to learn. Of course, it is still easier than learning a violin or piano.

We recommend that you start with a 17-key kalimba from Sonodrum and play the kalimba songs in the music book . And, to practice and improve, you need to know how to practice. A promising way to practice is to play up the scale to get used to the position of each note and then change the pattern. Don't worry if you do something wrong, because to get good you have to make mistakes. The good thing is that the sounds of the kalimba never sound bad or unpleasant. Something harmonious always comes out when you pluck the keys.

Learning Kalimba is easy and you now have the basic information to start right away. Have fun!

FAQs: Frequently asked questions about learning Kalimba

Is it easy to learn Kalimba?

Yes, it is really easy. Anyone can start learning the kalimba , no matter how old or young they are and whether they know anything about music theory or not. It is best to start with a kalimba that has 17 keys.

How do you hold a kalimba?

To hold the kalimba comfortably with both hands, you need to wrap your fingers around the back of the instrument. Since the instrument is played by plucking the metal keys with your thumbs, you should be careful not to hold the instrument too tightly, as this will make it harder to move when playing notes.

How do you learn to play Kalimba?

You can learn to play the kalimba by experimenting or by playing one song at a time in your music book. It starts off easy. You should definitely start by "strumming" up and down the scale. Then you will get a feel for the instrument and the sound.

How to read Kalimba notes?

The lowest note is in the middle of the keys and the highest is on the outside of the instrument. You should remember that each kalimba comes in a specific key. This means that there are no notes that are not in that particular key, which means you can't go wrong.

How to tune Kalimba?

You tune the kalimba by working the keys with a tuning hammer. The kalimba hammer is an essential tool for tuning the thumb piano. It is made of metal with a wooden handle and is used to adjust the kalimba keys with small taps to change the distance between the front of the key and the bridge, which changes the pitch of the keys and the notes played. Kalimbas are similar in concept to harmonicas, where you get one in a specific key, such as C. While you can play songs that are not in the key of C, you may need to modify it a little or change the key.

By far the easiest way to check the accuracy of the tuning for each key of the kalimba is to use a tuner. These can be either electronic tuners or a tuning app on your mobile phone.