Kalimba

[jazzman21]

Does anybody play one of these? I really like the way they sound, it's like a handheld xylophone/vibraphone.

[Jazz Kat]

No. I do play marimba and vibes, but do not own a kalimba. Interestingly, Martin Denny's mallet player didnt use a kalimba, would of been perfect ya know.

[rostasi]

Does anybody play one of these? I really like the way they sound, it's like a handheld xylophone/vibraphone.

In my days of collecting African percussion,

I used to play 3 different sized thumb pianos:

bass, tenor and alto. If you decide to buy one,

make sure that you have some finger holes

on the bottom to aid in it's resonance and,

also, to add the occasional tremolo effect.

I used to think that they all had these holes,

but the cheap gift store kinds often don't and

you could very well consider yourself ripped-off.

[mikeweil]

I have one of the "commercial" models, though self-made from a set of parts, and a traditional one from Zimbabwe, which is very hard on the fingers due to the heavy steel the tongues are made of. I once saw a Shona musician in concert - amazing!

Remember this is called many different names - sanza, mbira, etc. - kalimba is rarely used in traditional African cultures.

A web search for mbira will turn up much valuable information.

[mikeweil]

... like this: http://www.mbira.org/

[jazzbo]

I have a small one I bought in Ethiopia in 1968. It's not of the greatest qaulity, but the wood is amazing! It's fun to pluck now and then.

[Jazz Kat]

MALLET LINK

[chris olivarez]

I don't play one but I think it's a neat sounding instrument.

[Jazz Kat]

If heaven has a sound, it sounds like a marimba!

[Jazz Kat]

If heaven has a sound, it sounds like a marimba!