Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Alternative Tuning for the
Hugh Tracey Celeste Diatonic Junior:
a perfect starting point for Celtic music

The Celeste Diatonic Junior is a good stepping stone kalimba for someone who has grown out of the 8-note kalimba. It is also a great kalimba for those who have been playing the Alto or Treble kalimba, but want to play something easier to work on speed or improvisational skill.

Here is the standard tuning:

However, I have been tuning it differently for Celtic music, lowering the low F# to F natural, and raising the upper F# to G and the upper G to A. This way, the four right-most tines make the A minor chord and the four left-most tines make the G major chord - a perfect starting place for Celtic music in A minor:

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