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Product Specifications
The kalimba is a modernised adaptation of the mbira, developed by ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey in the 1950s to make the instrument more standardised and accessible.
The metal tines are tuned to C Major across three octaves.
When a tine is plucked, adjacent tines vibrate too, adding harmonic depth to each note. The cup-shaped body is a departure from flat-board designs.
The curved form improves resonance and makes the instrument more comfortable to hold.
Rosewood is a dense, hard timber with a high sound transmission rate, producing a tone that is warm and full through the low frequencies and clear and responsive in the mid-to-high range.
Material: Rosewood
Tuning: C Major
Keys: 17 Scale: C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 A5 B5 C6 D6 E6
Includes: Kalimba, tuning hammer, music book, stickers, cleaning cloth
Shipping & Returns
We dispatch most orders on the same day and ship across Australia and worldwide. Metro deliveries in Australia usually arrive within 2–5 business days, and express options are available at checkout; regional and international timeframes depend on the destination. You’ll receive tracking details when your parcel is on its way.
Need to return your order? Let us know within seven days of delivery. Please keep the item unused and in its original condition. Full details are in our Shipping & Returns policy.
Reviews
FAQs
What is a kalimba and how is it played?
The kalimba is a thumb piano with roots in southern Africa, a modernised version of the mbira, which originated among the Shona people of Zimbabwe.
Kalimba is held in both hands, and its metal tines are plucked with the thumbs.
Each tine is tuned to a specific note, and when one is plucked, adjacent tines vibrate too, adding natural harmonic depth.
The C Major tuning means any combination of notes sounds pleasant together, so there’s no wrong way to start. Most people can play a simple melody within a few minutes.
What is the difference between a cup-shaped and flat-board kalimba?
The body shape of a kalimba affects both how it feels to hold and how it sounds.
A flat-board kalimba sits against the palms with the tines facing forward, compact and straightforward.
A cup-shaped kalimba body curves inward at the back, sitting more naturally in the hands. The cup shape also creates a resonance cavity that improves volume and helps notes resonate more fully.
Browse our full range of kalimbas and other tuned percussion to compare styles.
What makes the kalimba a tuned instrument?
A tuned instrument is one where the notes are fixed to specific pitches before you play.
On a kalimba, each metal tine is cut and positioned to vibrate at a precise frequency, producing a defined note when plucked.
This 17 key kalimba is tuned to C Major, covering three octaves from C4 to E6.
Because the scale is set into the instrument itself, you don’t need to read music or understand theory to play in tune. Every note you produce is already in the right relationship with the others. The kalimba sits within our tuned instruments range alongside steel tongue drums, handpans, and balafons, each built around a fixed scale or tuning.
What is rosewood and how does it affect the sound?
Rosewood is a dense, hard timber used across a range of instruments for its acoustic properties.
In a kalimba, it produces stable low frequencies and clear, responsive mid-to-high notes, a warmer and fuller tone than softer woods like sapele or maple.
It also has a high sound transmission rate, meaning notes carry well and sustain cleanly.
Beyond the acoustic qualities, rosewood has a rich natural grain that gives each instrument a distinct look.
What is the difference between a kalimba and an mbira?
The kalimba and mbira share the same basic design: metal tines mounted on a resonating body, played by plucking with the thumbs. The mbira is the older, traditional instrument, originating among the Shona people of Zimbabwe where it holds deep ceremonial and spiritual significance.
The kalimba is a modernised adaptation, developed by ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey in the 1950s to make the instrument more standardised and widely playable.
The mbira typically has a more complex tine layout and a rawer, more resonant sound. The kalimba is more immediately accessible, with a straightforward linear tine arrangement and a clearer, brighter tone.
African Drumming carries mbira made by master musician Garikai Tirikoti of Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, for those drawn to the traditional instrument. Make sure to check our mbiras and other tuned instruments.
