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What are the best kalimbas?
The kalimba is a small, hand-held percussive instrument also known as the African Thumb Piano. They are handmade, rounded pieces of wood that have anywhere from 5 to 21 metal tines affixed over a small mouth. You simply take the instrument in your hand, press down on the tine you want to sound, and release it.
Some have described this African instrument as its own mini drum set, and indeed, you can become as proficient in playing the kalimba as you can playing a complete, multi-piece drum set. As for the best kalimba, it all comes down to different styles, like whether it is made from wood or metal and how far apart the tines are spaced.
Gecko and Moozica are two of the best manufacturers of kalimbas on the market. The Moozica Solid Koa Kalimba has 21 keys and is constructed from a solid piece of koa wood. This kalimba produces a warm, deep sound instead of something like the Gecko 17 key, which has a more angular shape and produces a higher, sharper sound.
Which kalimba is best for beginners?
One of the best kalimbas that beginners can buy is the Newlam. This beautiful little instrument is made from natural, air-dried wood. It comes with stickers, a flannelette bag, and cleaning fabric for your tines and body.
You can also purchase accessories like an electronic songbook, a tuning hammer, and additional instruction books. The hand-rest curve design makes this kalimba perfect for beginners. The shape makes it easy to play, and the tines are perfectly spaced for learning fingers.
Why is kalimba popular?
Kalimba can be played as part of an ensemble or for solos. This versatile instrument is known by many different names across Africa, where it originates. The kalimba is said to have originated in Kenya but is quite popular in Zimbabwe, where it's played in public orchestras and on the street.
The kalimba adds a warm, jovial sound to any orchestration. Apart from the sound of the kalimba making it a popular instrument for beginners to take up and learn, it's also relatively easy to learn. There are now bows or picks or reeds: just the instrument and your fingers. Learn the right notes, and you'll be ready for your solo performance!
Frequently Asked Questions
Kalimba FAQs
What is a kalimba?
The kalimba (also called a thumb piano or mbira) is a small lamellophone instrument from Africa, with metal tines mounted on a resonant wooden body. The tines are plucked with the thumbs to produce melodic notes, making it one of the most approachable melodic instruments.
How many notes does a kalimba have?
Standard kalimbas typically have 17 tines (notes), though variations exist with 10, 11, 15, 21, or more. The 17-note kalimba is the most popular for beginners because it covers two octaves in C major and works well for popular song arrangements.
Are kalimbas easy to learn?
Yes — kalimbas are among the easiest melodic instruments to start playing. Most people can play simple melodies within minutes. Tab notation makes it easy to learn songs by following number sequences.
Can kalimbas be tuned to different keys or scales?
Yes — each tine can be adjusted by tapping it forward or backward with a small tuning hammer. This lets you change the key, switch to non-Western scales, or set up custom tunings for specific compositions.
What is the kalimba commonly used for?
Kalimbas appear in world music, ambient and meditative recordings, film scoring, contemporary acoustic music, and as a relaxing solo practice instrument. The sound is soothing and lends itself to both solo and ensemble use.
Which kalimba brands does DCP carry?
We stock Meinl Sonic Energy kalimbas along with other quality makers, in a range of sizes, tine counts, and tunings — from entry-level beginner models to professional-grade instruments.