Kalimba is a cool and easy-to-play musical instrument that originated in Africa. This instrument is usually made of wood and has a long metal rod capable of playing high notes when plucked. If you want to be able to play kalimba, make sure the instrument is tuned first. Then, you can create your own melody by playing one note and chord. Once you're fluent in playing this instrument, you can learn how to play the song by reading the tabs.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Tune in Kalimba
Step 1. Download or buy a tuner
Before playing the kalimba, you need to make sure it's tuned to make the right note. You can download a simple tuning app on your phone or buy a digital guitar tuner. If you already have a tuner, turn it on and place it next to the kalimba.
- Some popular tuning apps include VITALtuner, Cleartune, and iStrbosoft.
- You can buy guitar tuners online or at a music store.
- The price of a digital guitar tuner is usually around 150 thousand-600 thousand rupiah.
Step 2. Look at the kalimba tone chart to determine the correct pitch
The teeth of the kalimba are metal rods that extend from the top to the bottom. Most kalimbas will include a tone chart that shows what gear you need to play to get a certain note out, and some even have markings engraved on the teeth. If you don't have a tone chart, look online to find one that fits your kalimba.
- For example, if your kalimba has 8 teeth, look for a tone chart for a kalimba with 8 teeth.
- Kalimba for beginners usually has 8 tones or 8 teeth.
- The more sophisticated Kalimba has 12 tones or 12 teeth.
Step 3. Play the middle gear of the kalimba and look at the notes on the tuner
Find the center tooth of the instrument and pluck with your fingernail while looking at the tuner. Kalimba teeth will vibrate and emit a tone.
- Kalimpa teeth act like the keys on a piano.
- In most 8-tooth kalimba, the middle tooth is a C tone.
- In a 12-tooth kalimba, the middle note is usually a G or C.
Step 4. Tap the teeth up with a tuning hammer if the tone is mole
Kalimba tuning hammers are small metal hammers that can be purchased online. Tap the lower end of the tooth lightly up to raise the pitch. Pluck it back and listen to the tone. Keep tapping and adjusting gears until the pitch is just right.
- For example, if you're using an 8-toothed kalimba and the tuning shows a C♭ or B note, that means the pitch is a mole and the kalimba teeth need to be repositioned.
- You don't have to press too hard when you tap the teeth of the kalimba. Do it very lightly so it only changes a little.
Step 5. Tap the teeth down with a tuning hammer if the tone is firm
If the tuner shows a tone, it means that the kalimba's teeth emit a sharp tone and need to be lowered. Tap the top edge of the tooth lightly to slide it down. Pluck the kalimba's teeth again to play and make sure the notes match.
For example, if you're using an 8-toothed kalimba and your middle tooth makes a C♯ or D note, it means that the tone is sharp and the tooth needs to be lowered
Step 6. Tune the other teeth
Repeat the above process until you've tuned in all of the kalimba, followed by the tone chart to make sure each tooth is in tune and ready to play.
Part 2 of 3: Playing Tones in Kalimba
Step 1. Hold the kalimba with both hands
Grip the kalimba in your hands, with the scalloped side facing you. Place both thumbs on the front side of the kalimba and rest your other fingers behind it. You can also place the kalimba on a flat surface instead of holding it.
Do not cover the two holes on the back of the kalimba when handling so that the sound is produced just right
Step 2. Flick the teeth of the kalimba with your thumb to play a note
For a good sound, flick the kalimba's teeth with your thumb nail. Kalimba teeth will vibrate after being flicked. Practice flicking with your fingernail until the notes resonate.
- When you're just starting out, your fingers may feel sore if you play the kalimba for a long time. However, you will eventually get used to it with lots of practice.
- You can also buy and use piks instead of fingernails.
Step 3. Use both thumbs alternately to snap the teeth of the kalimba and make a progression
Unlike the piano, the notes of the kalimba alternate, fanning out from the center of the instrument. Playing the gear pair on the opposite side of the kalimba will result in a whole-step, or a full note that goes up or down. Experiment with flicking the various teeth on the left and right of the kalimba to play note progressions.
For example, in an 8-toothed kalimba with standard tuning, the tooth to the left of the middle tooth is a D tone, and the tooth to the right of the middle tooth is an E tone
Step 4. Flick two adjacent teeth to play a chord
Flicking two teeth next to each other creates a chord. Use your thumbs to play both teeth at the same time and play chords. Experiment with different teeth in the kalimba to create chord sequences, known as chord progressions.
Step 5. Combine multiple notes and single chords to create your own song
For example, you could play the middle gear three times, then play the chord 4 times, then play the middle gear again for a full progression. Experiment with other progressions and chords to compose your own song.
Part 3 of 3: Playing Tabulation with Kalimba
Step 1. Find the tab for your kalimba
Look for a kalimba tab that matches the number of teeth your kalimba has. For example, if your kalimba has 8 teeth, search for “8 tooth kalimba tabs.” Find the song you want to play and open the song tab.
You can even find kalimba tabs for famous songs, such as "This Is What You Came For" by Calvin Harris and "24K Magic" by Bruno Mars
Step 2. Listen to the songs to determine how long each note needs to be played
The tabs will tell the gear which needs to be played, but not for the duration. For this reason, it's a good idea to listen to a song before it starts playing.
- Usually, tabs will have links to related songs.
- If the tablature doesn't have a song, you can find it online on sites like YouTube.
Step 3. Read the tabs from top to bottom
The midline extending through the tabs reflects the middle teeth of the kalimba. Each vertical line to the right and left of the vertical line represents each tooth on a musical instrument. Look at the tabs for the arrangement of the notes before starting to play.
Step 4. Pluck the kalimba teeth
Each dot on the tab represents a note or tooth that needs to be played on the kalimba. Read the tabs from left to right, from top to bottom, from playing the kalimba teeth in order. Keep reading tabs and playing songs. Practice until you're good at playing each part of the song.
When you're just starting out, it's easier to master one part of the song before moving on to another
Step 5. Practice playing various songs
After you've practiced enough, you should have memorized how to play the related song. To make your kalimba even more fluent, practice playing each song until you get the hang of it.
