Best Kalimba instruments and teaching letters notation with kalimba-tabs.com? Understandably, making the right choice of a Kalimba, especially if you’re new to it, can be overwhelming. You’ll need to ask your self what qualities and features of the instrument are important, as well as, assess the level of your playing skills. The answers to those questions will help decide on a model that’s best for you.
In case you didn’t know, some Kalimbas come equipped with a pickup. So, for those who like to rock it loud and proud, this is the perfect Kalimba for you – the Vangoa 17 Key Kalimba. It still sounds like your typical Kalimba but, you can do so much more with it sound wise. As you probably know, a pickup makes it possible for you to hook the instrument up to an amplifier. Exactly as you would do with an electric guitar. This means that you can turn up the volume and use this for onstage performances. Be careful though, pickups do tend to detract from the exotic sound of your Kalimba a little. So, you might experience a different sound with using the pickup and when you don’t. Even though the Kalimba is not supposed to be altered in terms of its sound when amplified, there are no rules that say that it can’t be. So if you want to play a distorted, screaming Kalimba solo through a guitar amplifier on max, then go for it. Experimentation and innovation are, after all, how great music is made.
The kalimba is an instrument from the family of idiophone instruments; of African origins, from the Shona region (Zimbabwe) it is also known as Mbira, Sansa, and it was introduced into the Western world by Hugh Tracey in 1920; the Kalimba is a modernized version of the Mbira and its evolution is a faithful reflection of the culture and essence of the regions where it has been played. Also known as a thumb-piano, it can be played by holding it with both hands using the thumbs (like a smartphone). Previously, it was made with sheets made of wood or bamboo, but over time its development led it to perfection by using metal sheets that were later adopted. Find even more details on kalimba tabs.
Along with the kalimba and user manual, Apelila treats you to a tuning hammer, stickers, velvet bag, and two finger picks. Again, you won’t get a waterproof case with this model, so you may want to invest in one of these separately. Any instrument constructed from wood can be damaged by the elements, so a hardier case might be needed. However, the Apelila Kalimba is one of the lowest-priced kalimbas on the market and it certainly performs better than you’d expect. Retailing at around $22, you can’t fail to be impressed by the quality and craftmanship on show. Ideal for beginners, as well as more experienced players, the Apelila Kalimba is a great choice if you want to bag yourself a quality instrument without blowing your budget.
This next has a solid wooden body hollowed and braced. It is tuned to an international standard C tuning and is rather non-traditionally shaped to resemble a bear with a nose shaped sound hole. Though it is a little tacky the circular shape of the main body is actually conducive to a good sound as it has better acoustics than the 90-degree angles in the other kalimbas we have chosen. Aklot does sell a trapezoidal model as well but we thought we would show an option which is a little kookier for a little variety in today’s reviews. It is well-constructed and has 17 steel tongue keys which are comfortably curved and have a good ring and timbre. It comes with a heavy duty watertight EVA case which is cushioned and custom designed to fit around the curvature of the piece. It also has a tuning hammer cleaning cloth, starters guide, and stickers. See more information on here.
