A brief introduction to Zimbabwean thumb piano playing and other tunes.

The kalimba is a traditional African musical instrument and is known by different names in different parts of Africa. "The kalimba is the Kenyan name for the instrument, the Congolese call it the Likembe, in Zimbabwe it is called the Mbira, and there are other names such as Sanza and Thumb Piano.

The kalimba's body is usually made of wood or gourds, with a number of tongue-shaped flexible metal strips of varying lengths, the range and pitch of each kalimba varying according to the number and length of the strips.

The kalimba is generally played by holding the instrument in both hands and using the two thumb fingers to "press" the tongue-shaped elastic metal strips to play the kalimba with elasticity. This way of playing has given the kalimba the nickname "thumb piano". It is said that the result of practicing this instrument with too much enthusiasm is usually a blurred thumb.

Some kalimbas are fitted with soda bottle caps or seashells, which make a hissing, hissing, or rattling sound when played, similar to that of a tambourine's metal blade, which enriches the sound.

The Thumb Piano is a traditional African instrument, and in different African countries, the Thumb Piano has different names, for example, Kalimba? is the Kenyan name for the instrument, while in Zimbabwe it is known as the Mbira, and the Congolese call it the Likembe, and it also has the names of the Sanza and the Thumb?Piano.

The sounding body of the thumb piano is a flexible metal bar of varying lengths on top, with wood or gourds as the *** sound box underneath. In the past, these metal bars were only made of metal melted in ore, but now they are made of higher quality steel. Thumb pianos come in many different shapes and with varying numbers of steel bars. The Zimbabwean thumb piano, for example, has 22 to 28 steel bars arranged in two rows in a wooden circular cabinet. The music played by this instrument is said to not only drive away evil spirits from the sick, but also serve as a prayer for rain, making it one of the much-loved musical instruments in Zimbabwe.?

The thumb piano is mainly used to accompany the singing, when playing, to hold the body of the piano in both hands, and then play with two thumbs, when the thumb is pressed and then released, the steel will vibrate and sound. Some thumb pianos are fitted with some shells or soda bottle caps and other objects, so that when playing can be issued at the same time some similar "hiss" sound, or like a tambourine when the metal piece of the ringing sound, so that the acoustics are more rich.

The thumb piano is small and easy to carry, when the sun goes down at dusk, people will form a circle and use it for singing or storytelling accompaniment, some of the natives in the long-distance walk, but also will carry it along the way to spend time.

The Thumb Piano is a traditional African musical instrument and is known by different names in different African countries, for example, Kalimba? is the Kenyan name for the instrument, while in Zimbabwe it is known as Mbira, and the Congolese call it Likembe, and it is also known by names such as Sanza and Thumb Piano.

The sounding body of the thumb piano is a flexible metal bar of varying lengths on top, with wood or gourds as the *** sound box underneath. In the past, these metal bars were only made of metal melted in ore, but now they are made of higher quality steel. Thumb pianos come in many different shapes and with varying numbers of steel bars. The Zimbabwean thumb piano, for example, has 22 to 28 steel bars arranged in two rows in a wooden circular cabinet. The music played by this instrument is said to not only drive away evil spirits from the sick, but also serve as a prayer for rain, making it one of the much-loved musical instruments in Zimbabwe.?

The thumb piano is mainly used to accompany the singing, when playing, to hold the body of the piano in both hands, and then play with two thumbs, when the thumb is pressed and then released, the steel will vibrate and sound. Some thumb pianos are fitted with some shells or soda bottle caps and other objects, so that when playing can be issued at the same time some similar "hiss" sound, or like a tambourine when the metal piece of the ringing sound, so that the acoustics are more rich.

The thumb piano is small and easy to carry, when the sun goes down at dusk, people will form a circle and use it for singing or storytelling accompaniment, some of the natives in the long-distance walk, but also will carry it along the way to spend time.

The other two can't really be found