Is kalimba the same as mbira?
Despite these similarities, the kalimba and the mbira are not the same instrument. Even a kalimba tuned mbira is not the same as a kalimba, just in tune with it. The kalimba is actually a smaller, modern version of the mbira, which dates back more than 1,000 years in Zimbabwe.
Why is mbira called kalimba?
Tracey’s design was modeled after the mbira nyunga nyunga and named ‘Kalimba’ after an ancient predecessor of the mbira family of instruments.
Is mbira a tuned instrument?
Apparently, only instruments made by a Mujuru clan member can be truly called in “Dambatsoko” tuning. Furthermore, such instruments can be tuned in a variety of ways by the Mujuru clan and, despite the variety, all may be referred to as “Dambatsoko.” Dambatsoko mbira are often Low tuned.
Do Kalimbas need to be tuned?
Most Hugh Tracey kalimbas will hold their tuning for several months. If you play very hard, you may need to retune weekly. If you drop your kalimba, or if you get the tines caught in a bag or on your shirt sleeve, you can mess up the tuning. Doing a touch-up on the tuning can take as little as a few minutes.
What do the terms tuning and Chuning mean in relation to the mbira?
Mbira players often speak of “chuning” to describe how high or low the instrument sounds, and its timbre, as well as the tuning of the scale. Several authors have attempted to represent some common mbira tunings in terms of Western scales or modes.
What is the most distinct feature of mbira?
What Is the Most Distinct Feature of Mbira? The way in which you play the mbira is distinct. You stroke or pluck keys with your thumbs. The resulting sound is reflective and pastoral, reminiscent of the traditions behind its creation.
Are Kalimbas tunable?
This World Percussion USA kalimba (kuh-LIM-buh) is a very well built thumb piano that has seven tunable keys.
Is Njari a type of mbira?
The njari is a less common type of Shona mbira originally introduced from Mozambique. It was quite popular in Zimbabwe during the mid-20th century, and frequently featured there in radio shows during the 1950’s and 1960’s.
What element is often attached to an mbira?
The mbira consists of a series of tuned metal or bamboo tongues (lamellae) attached at one end to a soundboard that often has a calabash or box resonator. (The related mbila has tin-can resonators.)
Are there chromatic kalimbas?
The Chromatic Treble Kalimba has a bass note of C, and the front side is laid out like the Bb Treble, tuned up to C. In its standard tuning, every tine on the front has a flat immediately behind it. That is, there are 17 tines on the front and 17 tines on the back.
Can kalimba play sharps?
If you’re a new kalimba player, you may find yourself wondering – do kalimbas have sharps and flats? It depends, but in most cases the answer is no – at least when the kalimba arrives. However, there are some situations where this is different, and certain notes indeed are sharp or flat.
How are Kalimbas tuned?
Kalimba tuning can be considered a noun and a verb at the same time. A kalimba’s tuning refers to what notes are where and how they sound together. To tune a kalimba is to actually adjust tines so they have the exact sound they are supposed to, according to which note a tine is designated to play.
Can you tune a kalimba to a different key?
The 8-Note Kalimba can be tuned to different scales from around the world. Most 8-Note Kalimbas have a standard tuning of the C major scale (the Goshen Box 8-Note Kalimba has the same basic note layout but is tuned to D major instead).
Can kalimbas play sharps and flats?
It depends, but in most cases the answer is no – at least when the kalimba arrives. However, there are some situations where this is different, and certain notes indeed are sharp or flat.
What is diatonic kalimba?
Diatonic Kalimbas “Diatonic” is a fancy word that means the kalimba has only the notes in some major scale – you know, “Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do.” It can have one octave, two octaves, or more, but it must have all of these notes, and it will have no other notes.
What are the holes on the back of a kalimba for?
The vibrato effect. There are two sound holes on the back of the Hugh Tracey kalimbas, or on the sides of the Goshen box kalimbas and the Catania gourd kalimbas. When you cover and uncover these sound holes, you will get a vibrato effect, changing the tonal properties of the notes you are playing.
What tuning is the mbira in the video?
The mbira being tuned in the video is an MBIRA workshop pitch – around B – Nyamaropa tuning mbira. For other tunings, you can use the same techniques, but tune to the recording of your tuning, below.
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What is Nyamaropa tuning in mbira?
Nyamaropa tuning is by far the most common mbira tuning in Zimbabwe. The intervals are usually similar to Mixolydian mode, though not exactly except in G Nyamaropa mbiras. 1. MBIRA workshop pitch (around B) Nyamaropa tuning:
How do you play the mbira?
Then the lower left keys are played from the outer left of the mbira to the center. Finally the right side keys are played, from the center of the mbira to the outer right side. Nyamaropa tuning is by far the most common mbira tuning in Zimbabwe.