About the kalimba | GECKO

The kalimba, which originated in Africa about 3,000 years ago, is a plucking type of somatophone instrument.It's called Kalimba, and it's usually played at religious services or social events in Africa.Its music is said to drive away evil spirits and pray for rain, making it one of the most popular instruments in Zimbabwe.

The following is the Gecko Kalimba , Gecko Musical Instruments to take you to understand the knowledge of the thumb piano.

Sound Principle:

The earliest ones were made of bamboo or wood. About 1000 years ago, they were made of iron bars.In modern times, higher-quality steel has been used to make metal plates, which are shrapnel pieces of varying lengths on the body of the instrument.The more it is, the wider the range, the difference in quantity and length.It also makes the range of the thumb piano different from the treble.

Metal pieces of different lengths are attached to the panel, the longest usually in the middle of the instrument, and the shorter ones in the high notes.Place the instrument on both sides in length order and hold the body in both hands while playing.Then play it with two thumbs, and when the thumb is pressed down and released, the steel will vibrate and make a sound.

Range:

The metal shrapnel on the top of the kalimba indicates his vocal range, and the more shrapnel, the wider his vocal range.Dominion types are: 5, 8, 10, 15, 17, 20 tones.The more the soundtrack, the wider the range, the more songs you can choose to play.

Material of sound box:

Wood is used as the sound box, mahogany and acacia wood are more common.

Peach core: it is a common wood, its wood texture clear, full tone, has a very good sound extension characteristics.

Acacia wood: the density that compares mahogany core wood is high, play the sound that come out is clear and thorough, sound transmissibility is good, vocal range is more balanced.

Black walnut: the density is very high, the body is thick, is to make the thumb piano more high-end wood, the price is relatively expensive.

Non-mainstream wood, for example: red sandalwood, gold nanmu, red sandalwood, camphor wood, hedgehog mahogany, auguman and so on.

Process:

Thumb piano is mainly divided into box or plate type.

Box type with a sound box, the keys when the sound resonated strongly.By moving your fingers around the tremolo hole, you can make a whooping sound.The board resonates less, but each note is clearer and the tone is brighter.You can place it inside or on top of the resonance box to increase the volume.

The production process of thumb piano is divided into single board and joint board. The single board is composed of a single piece of complete wood on each side of the sound box, so that the sound transmission is more complete.The board is composed of different panels, side panels and bottom plates, which makes the sound of the whole veneer almost.

So that's all about the thumb piano.I believe that you have a different understanding of the thumb piano after watching it.I hope you like the thumb piano.We are a professional Gecko Kalimba from China - Jiegao Musical Instruments, welcome to consult!