Learn to play Kalimba: It's that easy

The Kalimba is a traditional African instrument that is becoming increasingly popular in Europe. And who would be surprised? The Kalimba's reeds invite you to start playing. The soothing sounds are simply magical. And the instrument is so small that it fits in any pocket. Learning to play the Kalimba is very easy - even for children. Many amateur musicians, music lovers and songwriters have already discovered the versatile Kalimba for themselves.

Short History of the Kalimba

The Kalimba as we know it today originated in Zimbabwe - around 3000 years ago! To this day, its predecessor, the Mbira, is played for religious purposes to call upon the spirits of ancestors and to enter a trance. To amplify the sound, a calabash could be held to the hole in the board. Because of its great importance, this form (Mbira Dzavadzimu) is the national instrument of Zimbabwe. Over time, another variant developed from it, which is mostly played for entertainment (Mbira Nyunga Nyunga). Both forms consist of a solid wooden board as a base, on which between 7 and 56 metal tines are attached in two rows.

The ethnologist and music researcher Hugh Tracey discovered the "Kalimba" in northern Zimbabwe in the 1950s. That is what the Mbira is called there. Fascinated by the sound and playing style of the instrument, he derived the western Kalimba from it in order to make it accessible to the masses. To do this, he arranged the metal tines in just one row and adapted them to the diatonic scale. The modern Kalimba is therefore a hybrid of the African design and tone production and the European tonality.

Where does the sound come from? The structure of the Kalimba

The structure of the modern kalimba is simple: the reeds are mounted in a row next to each other on a solid or hollow wooden body. The size of the kalimba varies from the size of a palm to the size of an A4 sheet of paper.

When plucked, the individual reeds vibrate. This vibration is transferred to the wooden sound block, which is amplified and gives it its warm, fine tone. As with all lamellophones, the characteristic sound of the kalimba comes from the fact that overtones vibrate when a reed is plucked - unlike with wind instruments, for example. This creates a very special sound dynamic. In addition, the neighboring reeds also vibrate. This makes the sound even richer and more complex.

Playing Kalimba made easy – an introduction

Do I have to be able to play an instrument?

Learning to play the Kalimba is very easy: just get started and try it out. You don't need any previous knowledge of making music to play it. You will still make quick progress. The Kalimba is also ideal for children. A wonderful side effect is that the gentle tones put you in a calm state of mind and turn practicing into a meditative practice.

How do I play sequences of notes?

Sounds are created when a reed vibrates at a certain frequency. With the Kalimba, the length of the reeds determines the pitch. The longest reed in the middle therefore also produces the lowest note. With the Kalimba B17, this is a C(c'). From there, the scale (CDEFGAHC) is built up by plucking alternately left and right. So to the left of the C is the D, to the right of the C is the E, to the left of the D is the F, to the right of the E is the G and so on over two octaves until you reach the highest notes on the outside. It won't be long before you'll know the positions of the individual notes in your sleep.

But melodies are not enough for me!

For those with musical training, this reed arrangement also means that you can easily play a 1-3-5 chord by plucking three reeds next to each other. On the Kalimba B17, you play over two octaves, so you can quickly play both melody and accompaniment on the kalimba.

Can I play the kalimba from sheet music?

You can of course also play your Kalimba from sheet music. There are templates and books with different, sometimes very descriptive, notation systems. If you already have a little experience reading music, you can quickly get started with children's or folk song sheet music for piano or recorder. The melodies are well-known and almost all are available in C major. With more previous musical knowledge, you can derive easy Kalimba arrangements from classical and pop music. The exotic sound of the Kalimba also invites you to experiment musically here.

Hokema: Your number one for Kalimbas

The Kalimba is a must for all music enthusiasts and those who like to experiment, whether young or old. Our family business has been lovingly handcrafting Kalimbas and Sansulas since 1985. We use 100% no tropical wood and manufacture in Germany. In our online shop you will find the model and accessories that suit you.