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[kalimba-keys]

Kalimba Song Tutorial #1 - A Thousand Years Pt.2 by Christina Perrie

Hey guys, it's me again - your ever-enthusiastic kalimba lover. As promised, here is a kalimba tutorial for A Thousand Years Pt. 2 by Christina Perrie:

The tablature was constructed by yours truly, in about 2 days, and I'm very proud🥺. It was the second song that I learned to play on my kalimba. This shows you that it really isn't hard to pick out your favourite songs on this instrument.

Below are the tabs (tablature/notes) for the song:

(A Thousand Years Alternate Beginning 1)

(3° 1°) (3° 1°) (3° 1°) (7 2°)

(3° 1°) (3° 1°) (3° 1°) (7 2°)

(2° 4°) (2° 4°) (2° 4°) (1° 6)

(3° 1°) 4° 3°(7 2°)

(A thousand Years Pt 2 Beginning 2)

1° 5 1° (5°) 1° 5 (4°) 1° 5 (3°) 1° 5

(1° 6°) 5 1° (5°) 1° 5 (4°) 1° 5 (3°) 1° 5

2° 6 2° (6°) 2° 6 (5°) 2° 6 (4°) 2° 6

(3°) 1° 5 (3°) 4° 3° 2° 7 5 7 5

(1°) 5° 3°(1°) 5° 3° (1°) 5° 3°

3° 2° 1° (1° 6) 6° 3° (1°) 6° 3° (1°) 6° 3°

(5° 3°) 4° 3° (1° 6°) 6° (5° 3°) 4° 3° (2° 7°) 3°( 7 5) 1° (6 4)

(6° 4°) (7° 5°) (1°° 6°) (7° 5°)

(3° 1°) 5° 3° 3° 5° 3° 6° 5° 2° 1°

(3° 1°) 5° 3° 3° 5° 3° 6° 5° 2° 1°

1° 2° (4° 2°) 3° 6 5 1° 2° 1° 2° (4° 2°) 3° (2° 7)

(1°) (3° 1°) 5° 3° 3° 5° 3° 6° 5° (2° 7) 1°

(2°) (3° 1° 6) 5° 3° (5) 3° 5° 3° 6° 5° (2° 7) 1°

1° 2° (4° 2°) 3° (6 4) 5 1° 2° 1° 2° (4° 2°) 3° (5° 7)

(2° 7) 3° 4° (3° 1) (quiet 3°1 3°1 3°1) 5° (6° 4°) 5° (7° 5°) 6 (1°° 6°) (quiet 1° 1° 1°) 7° 6° (5° 3°) 5° 4° 3° (2° 7) 2°

6 6 (6 4) 7 (1° 6) (2° 7)

(3° 1°) 5° 3° (3° 1°) 5° 3° 6° 5° 2° 1°

(3° 1°) 5° 3° (3° 1°) 5° 3° 6° 5° (2° 7) 1°

1° 2° (4° 2°) 3° (6 4) 5 1° 2° 1° 2° (4° 2°) (3° 1°) (2° 7)

1° (3° 1°) 5° 3° (3° 1°) 5° 3° 6° 5° 2° 1°

(2°) (3° 1° 6) 5° 3° (5) 3° 5° 3° 6° 5° 2° 1°

1° 2° (4° 2°) 3° (6 4) 5 1° 2° 1° 2° (4° 2°) (3° 1°) (7 5)

Don't forget to reblog this post and follow me for more info on the Kalimba and more song tutorials. And feel free to ask me any kalimba-related questions on my home page!

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[kalimba-keys]

The History Behind the Kalimba

Good day, 'tis I, your kalimba-loving friend, back with another post. So, in my last post, I shared with you one of the most underrated instruments out there today, the kalimba. But...what’s the history behind it? Who even invented this quirky, aesthetic little instrument? 

Now, if you remember, I also mentioned that it is “a modern take on the Africa-originated mbira”, so let’s begin there, shall we? 

Where did it originate? 

The first ‘instance’ of the Kalimba was the mbira, a Zimbabwean-named percussion instrument - belonging to the lamellophone family of instruments - whose origins date back to 1000 BC. Don’t get me wrong, the kalimba and the mbira are two separate instruments (in theory but not really in practice); what I mean is that the mbira paved the way for the development of the kalimba. As a matter of fact, the mbira is only one of the instruments within the Kalimba family tree and is merely the instrument directly before it. There are a substantial number of others including the “hera”, the “njari huru” and the “karimba”. These were all invented among specific areas in Africa including Zambia, Rhodesia, Malawi, and Mozambique, according to Andrew Tracy, a South African ethnomusicologist (someone who studies music from its originators), born on my birthday heheh. Based on the construction and components of the many forms of pre-kalimbas that existed, they could all technically be considered the same instrument. The Africans had their reasons for naming them differently...perhaps it was different per tribe?  

So, as you can see, the design has come a far way. 

What was its original design? 

One of the kalimba’s first designs incorporated bamboo reeds instead of the metal tines that we see today.

The sound was still remarkably swell despite the quote and quote ‘lack of technology’. But, if you ask me, I think the original design is beyond its time and well... GENIUS! Who even thinks of these things!? Take a listen to a 'Bamboo Kalimba' in おんらく市場 's video below:

Can you believe that bamboo can make that sound?

If you look at its design you can see that it contains the same features as a modern day kalimba with its hollow body, tines, vibration batten and not-so-cylindrical sound nut, and its sound outlet which, though not circular, serves the same purpose.

 

So...how has it become modernized? 

Let’s look at the process of how the kalimba evolved into what it is today. Hugh Travers Tracey - father to Andrew Tracey who was mentioned before - was also an English ethnomusicologist (someone who studies music from its originators). He is the one responsible for the initial stages of the westernization of the kalimba. So basically, after having discovered the series of ‘pre-kalimbas’, as I like to call them, from as early as the 1920s, he commercialized a modern take on them...which is what we know today as the kalimba.  

And actually, it was around the late-1960s that the mbira became quite popular, spreading to continents and countries outside of Africa with the help of Mr. Tracey of course. But also...here’s a little fun fact for yah- it certainly was for me... 

For all of you who may be interested in oldies, and I’m talking about music from like the 70s to the 90s, did you know that Earth Wind and Fire had a huge impact in increasing the popularity surrounding the kalimba? Maurice brought one on the stage in one of their concerts, along with their typical rock instruments, guitars etc. and it was just like *POOF* - something like that at least. Actually, not at all like that, but you get the picture.

~Yeahhh~ maybe only the older readers of this blog would know who they are...but not to worry. Maybe check out their music? If you wanna...no pressure. 

Well alright, before I start to ramble on about my love for oldies and other unrelated things, I’ll end this post here. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for the next one! Here’s a hint...it’s gonna be a kalimba song tutorial for a not-so-recent but very beloved song to get us started off with the tutorials that I will definitely be posting for yah! Can you guess which one it is? 

PS:// Don’t forget to follow my blog if you find it interesting, and feel free to ask me any kalimba-related questions on the home page of my blog.

Follow my Instagram for future lives and updates: https://www.instagram.com/nataliadcreates/

'Till then! 🤟 

[kalimba-keys]

Where’s that one instrument that I can just like...vibe with?

Did you grow up hearing your mom or dad make plans for you to learn the piano, the violin, the guitar, or any of those other mainstream instruments? Or have you found yourself wanting to take your savings and buy an instrument yourself? Among the ones you looked at, were they bulky, expensive, so intricate that you couldn’t just pick them up and start playing them?  Me too.

Maybe you want to try something different - something you can carry everywhere and make people stop and stare - but the farthest you can get from a piano is a harmonica...oh wait! Isn’t the harmonica the most purchased instrument worldwide? It is according to several sources.

Sooo...you’re stuck. Well, you stumbled across this blog didn’t yah? Take it as a sign.

Let me tell you about one of the world’s most inexpensive, versatile, decently sized, overall underrated, “I can just pick this up and start playing” instruments...the Kalimba. 

So what the heck is it? 

The kalimba, also known as the thumb piano, is a modern take on the Africa-originated mbira.

They are typically made with a hollow, wooden base with the option of having a circular sound outlet, a vibration batten, a cylindrical sound nut, two sound holes on the back, and a number of metal keys, formerly known as “tines”, which can range from as little as 5 tines to as many as 34 - or more if you count the ones that people DIY. However, people tend to go for 17 key kalimbas (like the one in the picture above). 

Kalimbas are played using, you guessed it, your thumbs. But an important note to make is that you need to grow your nails a little in order to use it. Luckily, sometimes they come with thumb guards when you purchase them. You essentially swipe the nail of your thumb against (or pluck) one of the tines in order to create a sound. The sound will resonate through the hollow wood and out through the sound outlet –if you have one that is – creating this pretty, harmonic, harp-like, reverberating sound. 

Oh, and here’s a fun little tip: you can cover and uncover the sound holes at the back using your middle fingers to create a “WAH” sound which can add flair to whatever song you’re playing! 

In terms of tune, it is typical for kalimbas to be pre-tuned to the C key, specifically, the upper octave of the C major scale. The G major scale would be considered the second most popular pre-tuned kalimba scale. However, either can be adjusted with a tuning hammer – the tool used to change the pitch or key of a kalimba. 

It is a metal tool used to adjust the position and distance of the kalimba’s tines from the bridge, using light taps on each. So, in essence, the pitch that a tine makes depends on how close or far it is from the kalimba’s bridge. 

Now, back on the scales. Your starting note (or the lowest note on the scale) is always the lowest tine on the kalimba...or, to make it easier for you, the centermost tine that hangs lower than the rest. Depending on the number of tines that your kalimba has, the note will be different. (Check out the pics below to see what I'm talking about)

NB://These images were taken from the little songbook that came with my kalimba.

Now let's talk about price and versatility. Kalimbas can cost anything between $1 USD to $2000+ USD depending on the number of tines, the size, the brand etc. Now, I know what you’re thinking...the most expensive ones are the best quality ones and the kalimbas with more tines cost more. Well, you’re right and wrong. Technically yes, well-known brands will produce more expensive kalimbas because they have a brand name attached to them and because, in some instances, they tend to be the companies that produce kalimbas with the most tines. An example of this is the brand Seeds which is known for its new 34 key kalimba for $120 USD. (I believe they have a discount right now.) The brand WYKDL, on the other hand, has a 17 key kalimba for $2316.94 USD proving that the number of tines does not necessarily matter. However, this does not mean that you can’t get a good quality kalimba for way less. There are many great kalimbas out there for as little as roughly $20 USD.  

What’s even better is that some kalimbas, as cheap as $33 USD, come with built-in pickups that allow you to plug them into amplifiers, immediately transforming them into electric kalimbas. (I’ve also recently discovered a fully electric kalimba by the brand Playwell for only $34.90 currently on discount on Amazon.) In this way, you can enhance your kalimba’s sound with many effects, which is where it becomes a pretty versatile instrument. (This thing be sounding like an electric harp, now that’s something!) 

Check out the video by Emily Hopkins below for another type of versatile electric kalimba, and check out the different sounds it can make! 👇

Well, that’s enough rambling for today. I’ll end with my own praise of the instrument: What can I say... I love it dearly. It’s the first time I’ve really been able to enjoy an instrument because there was no pressure when I started plucking at it. I wasn’t joking when I said that you could literally start playing it immediately. As a matter of fact, stay tuned for a tutorial on an all-time favourite song from a well-known movie. And yes...I’ll even put the tablature (tabs/notes) on the screen so that you can follow along with your kalimbas...if you’ve got yourself one by then 👀.

*whisper* It's coming after the next post *whisper* 

PS:// Don’t forget to follow my blog if you find it interesting, and feel free to ask me any kalimba-related questions on the home page of my blog.

Follow my Instagram for future lives and updates:

https://www.instagram.com/nataliadcreates/