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Multi-mode music from my book “Exploring the Hokema B11 Kalimba” When you start playing your kalimba, on which note do you start? Most people think the low(est) note is where they should start – and they tend to play their kalimba in that key. However, you can play your kalimba emphasizing other notes, and not only do you play in a different “key” in each case, but you will also play with a different scale or mode… and each scale gives your kalimba playing a different flavor. If you have a B11 kalimba, watch this video of B11 multi-mode music. you can learn these “tricks” and understand how to play

This song is perfect for the Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba Get both easy and advanced versions of “Silverbells” for the Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba   The holiday classic “Silverbells” turns out to be the perfect song to showcase the Hugh Tracey Treble kalimba. Why, you might ask? Because the song “Silverbells” dips down to the 3rd of the scale, but no lower. In the opening line, “City sidewalks,” the word “walks” goes down to the 3rd. Also, the refrain “Silverbells” starts on the 3rd and goes up. It seems that “Silverbells” was made just for this kalimba! But even if you have a different kalimba, you will still be able

Because of the greatly superior overall kalimba experience that you’ll have with us Mark Holdaway and Mike Ankomeus of Kalimba Magic tune, paint, and set up the kalimbas you buy from us   Most kalimbas you buy online will arrive at your door in a relatively untuned state. Most kalimbas you buy online are packed by someone who has no idea of how to set up the instrument. At Kalimba Magic, Mark Holdaway or Mike Ankomeus tune every kalimba before it ships. We paint the relevant tines to help you read the tablature. We include a tuning chart and a “care and feeding” card directing you to the online resources

The Top Five Reasons Why A Box Lotus and a Regular Lotus Karimba   My idea of kalimba playing perfection is being able to know exactly where every tine is on my kalimba without looking. To be able to leap across from one side to the other, or to be able to jump large intervals from a low tine to a high tine… perfectly! To be able to play amazingly, quickly, accurately, and crisply, all by feel and memory. Ah, it’s a lovely dream. But after playing for 33 years, I still like to rely on visual cues to help me keep my place and find my way on the kalimba.

Let Me Count the Reasons The 15-Note Hugh Tracey Alto Kalimba has been made from African kiaat hardwood by African Musical Instruments in South Africa since 1954.   I have recently heard from several people who were trying to purchase an Alto kalimba, but their attempts were somehow foiled. Some ignorant sellers are marketing cheaper kalimbas, claiming them to be Hugh Tracey Alto kalimbas. One fellow who was trying to get a good deal had bought two different kalimbas that claimed to be Hugh Tracey Alto kalimbas… but neither of them were! He begged me: “How am I going to get an Alto kalimba?” Well, it isn’t that hard. I

This is the tuning Cornelius Duncan uses on his track on Poncho Sanchez’ Acclaimed CD “Trane’s Delight” One of the key features of most kalimbas: You will find the higher-octave note on the opposite side from where you find that same note an octave lower. For example, low C is on the right, and the C that’s an octave higher is on the left side of the kalimba. This layout (which is of alternating ascending notes) completely informs how the instrument is played and the resulting music.                                        But what if there were a tuning where a given note that is on the right side… stays on the right side in

Find the books and downloads that will work for your kalimba I’m Mark Holdaway. I’ve been playing kalimba since 1986, and I put all my experience into my kalimba books. Hi, Mark from Kalimba Magic again. Each different type of kalimba, with different notes, is capable of different songs. Hence, each different type of kalimba needs its own book. As there are dozens of fundamentally different types of kalimbas out there, there are many many kalimba books… in my universe, anyway! I have written 50 kalimba instructional downloads and 25 kalimba books. And so, when you go looking at my kalimba books or ebooks, figuring out which one/s would work

On most kalimbas, including the 17-Note Kalimba in C, octave pair notes will be on opposite hands Here is a great tip to help you play the 17-note kalimba. Actually, most “regular” kalimbas follow this rule, so read on even if you have an 8-Note, an Alto, a Treble, or a Pentatonic kalimba. “Regular” kalimbas have low notes in the center, and as you go farther from the center, notes get higher. Consecutive notes alternate from right to left, going outward as you go up the scale. Consider the scale “Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do” = “1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8.” If the low

If you live in a humid climate, your kalimba tines could rust over the years I have seen some pretty old kalimbas with totally rusted tines. Kalimbas that have lived on a sailboat for 5 years. Kalimbas that have lived in Hawaii for 20 years. Kalimbas that have lived in Miama for 10 years. These high humidity environs can certainly induce kalimba tine rust. But I think most of these kalimbas could have been handled differently so they didn’t get so bad so fast. Keep reading if you would like to know some simple things you can do to prevent or remove rust from your kalimba tines.   What if