As a kalimba enthusiast, I found the available notes on my 17 key kalimba were severely limiting what songs I could play, so I delved into the world of the chromatic kalimba.
I used my own research to compare kalimbas with between 33 to 42 keys and created two Chromatic kalimbas buyers guides to share with you.
THIS chromatic kalimba buyers guide covers kalimbas with between 37 and 42 keys.
Later, I will publish a buyers guide for chromatic kalimbas with between 33 and 36 keys.
So, what’s so great about a kalimba with a huge amount of keys?
It comes down to song choice and availability. The 17 key kalimba is diatonic, meaning if it were a real piano, it would only have the white keys.
A kalimba with 37 to 41 keys is chromatic, meaning it includes both diatonic notes, as well as the sharp and flat notes you would find on the black keys of a piano.
PLUS a 42 key kalimba would cover more octaves than a 17 or 21 key kalimba, giving it even more range, especially notes in the lower range below C4.
Compare that to a Seeds 41 Key Chromatic Kalimba which covers 2 WHOLE octaves 2 Partial octaves and is chromatic, therefore also includes sharp and flat notes.
Chromatic Kalimbas with 37 to 42 keys usually have more bass notes than Kalimbas with 34 keys or less.
Of course typical full size pianos have 88 keys, so even a 42 key kalimba can not translate every piece of piano music on a kalimba.
But…
A 37 to 42 key kalimba will have the notes available to play most intermediate and even some advanced piano pieces, without needing to rewrite the music.
So what 37 to 42 key kalimbas are available today?
Let’s take a look at the reviews, key layouts and special features of 5 of the best chromatic kalimbas with between 37 to 42 keys so we can compare.
Seeds 41 Key Chromatic Kalimba
Keys: 41
Tuning and Key layout: Tuned to C
Note Range: F3 to E6
Review of Seeds 41 Key Chromatic Kalimba:
Pros:
- The Seeds is top echelon in terms of sustain. The tone really lasts.
- The note layout is comfortable, allowing you to play chords without crossing thumbs
- The layout of the keys is more intuitive than other chromatic kalimbas, especially for those who play piano. Most of the sharps and flats are on the first row, the diatonic notes are in the middle row, and the bottom row has bass notes.
- Tuned to C right out of the box, making it great for beginners and those crossing over from other instruments
Cons:
- The tines slip and it comes out of tune faster compared to other brands
- The volume is lacking, the sound projection is not on par with other kalimbas. But some people appreciate its quieter gentle melody for relaxing, sound therapy and even meditative play.
- Notes are less clear and some have a buzz when played, compared to other kalimbas
Neutral:
- It is made from Okoume wood, which is lightweight and easy on the hands and wrists during extended play. Okoume wood also has decent sound protection as a resonator for this kalimba.
But…
Okoume wood is a softer wood and that means the screws holding the tines will need lightning and could even be displaced. - The keys are tightly spaced, making it easy to hit the wrong note, but also makes it easier to play cross over chords.
LingTing 42 Key Chromatic Kalimba
Keys: 42
Tuning and Key layout: Tuned to C-tuned lower layer and a #C-tuned upper layer
Note Range: E3 to E6b
Review of LingTing 42 Key Chromatic Kalimba:
Pros:
- Far and away, the sound of this kalimba is its biggest asset. The sound is rich and resonant, with ample sustain. The tines have a chime like sound, not plunky or buzzy. It is also reasonably loud, compared to others.
- This kalimba fulfills a need for a kalimba that can play songs that rely a lot on the lower register (below a C4). The addition of the lower E (E3) allows this. However, with this kalimba, you lose the higher E (E6) so you may have trouble with songs that rely a lot on the higher registers. (This is opposite of the Seeds 41 key kalimba which has no E3 and DOES have E6.)
- The keys are soft, smooth and easy to play. They don’t hurt your thumbnail and its super easy to coax the sound out of them.
- Once you get it in tune (which is challenging) it STAYS in tune for a long time.
Cons:
- The most significant drawback of the LingTing 42 key chromatic kalimba is the layout of the keys and notes. The layout is COMPLETELY reversed in comparison to the diatonic arrangement of 17 and 21 key kalimbas. If you play a 21 or 17 key kalimba you won’t find the keys where you expect them and will need to retrain your brain and muscle memory to find each notes new location.
- The tines are not engraved and the stickers with the notes are not aesthetically pleasing.
Neutral:
- This kalimba is wider and heavier than most other kalimbas out there. This can be negative because it can cause hand and wrist fatigue if you play for a long time. On the other hand, it allows the tine to be farther apart, and as a kalimba player, I really appreciate that, especially since with a 42 key kalimba I have to manage two rows of tines.
- This kalimba is challenging to tune. The structure that secures the tines is very secure, which means tuning is a challenge, but the kalimba is less apt to fall out of tune either.
Hluru 38 Key Chromatic Kalimba
Keys: 38
Tuning and Key layout: Tuned to C
Note Range: A3 to F6
Review of Hluru 38 Key Kalimba:
Pros:
- One of the best features of this kalimba is it has a full and pleasant sound. This kalimba is made from American Black Walnut, which is at least 10 years old, and only the curly or fiddleback patterns are used. Using the curly or fiddleback wavy portion of the wood, vs the pattern with straight uniform lines, creates a more rich and full tone.
- This 38 key kalimba is chromatic, so it can play a wider range of music than 17 and 21 key diatonic kalimbas. However, it does not have as many bass notes as other chromatic kalimbas in the range of 38 to 42 keys, and it has no E3 nor E6
- Relative to the LingTing 42 key kalimba, this kalimba has a more intuitive layout of the notes. The bottom row is nearly identical to a 17 key kalimba, but with two bass notes placed in the center. The top row has the sharps and flats laid out in a way that makes sense.
Cons:
- Compared to other kalimbas in the range of 38 to 42 keys, it has fewer bass notes and a lot less range.
- Some people noticed their kalimba had a few buzzing keys and missing accessories.
- The tines are not etched, and stickers are used.
Neutral:
- This kalimba is not as wide as the LingTing, which may make it easier to hold, but the tines are closer together.
Sound Sample of Hluru 38 Key Kalimba
Chill Angels 41 Key Chromatic Kalimba
Keys: 41
Tuning and Key layout: Tuned to B
Note Range: B3 to E6
Review of Chill Angels 41 Key Chromatic Kalimba:
Pros:
- The range is remarkable. This kalimba has both E3 and E6, whereas Lingting and Seeds have only one or the other.In fact its lowest note is C3 and its highest is E6. You can play a very wide range of songs that rely on the upper or lower register with this kalimba
- The bamboo board provides crystal clear notes. This kalimba has a clean bright sound that falls somewhere between a bell and a chime sound.
- Customizable design on the board.
- No repeated keys unlike LingTing and Seeds.
Cons:
- The longer tines needed to create bass notes fall out of tune pretty easy.
- The Tines are not etched, it took me a while to figure out the arrangements and notes, which is why I created this note arrangement chart.
Neutral:
- Decent arrangement, but some keys are in an awkward spot eg. Bass notes and bass sharps/flats on the bottom row, with all other sharps and flats on the top row. But the arrangement allows for no redundant notes and is really the only setup that makes sense because its a kalimba, not a piano which is much wider, its not possible to arrange notes exactly like they are on a piano.
- Tuned to B major. Some folks like this, others would like a C Major tuning. ( a C Major version of this Kalimba is currently being considered, so stay tuned)
Sound Sample of Chill Angels 41 Key Chromatic Kalimba
Amazon Link coming soon!
Poopoopido 37 Key Chromatic Kalimba
Keys: 37
Tuning and Key layout: Currently the only available tuning is B at 440Hz
Note Range for the B tuned kalimba: Chroma+ E3 to E6, FullChroma E3 to F6
When you purchase this Kalimba it has two possible arrangements that are nearly identical. As you can see from the key arrangements below the only difference is the Chroma + has an E6 and C6# on the ends of the top row.
The Full Chroma has an F6 and an E6 on the ends of the top row. They are otherwise identical. The layout is chosen at random based on available stock.
Poopoopido Chroma + notes layout
Poopoopido Full Chroma notes layout
Review of the Poopoopidoo 37 Key Chromatic Kalimba:
Pros:
- The sound of this kalimba is sublime. The upper register notes are crystal clear the mid register is robust and and the lower register bass notes have a deep resonance. This kalimba has great acoustic projection.
- The layout is easy to follow. The diatonic tones are on the bottom and the corresponding semitones (sharps/flats) directly above the note.
- These kalimbas are hand painted and handmade with a sapele wood resonator. There is an oil painting on top, coated with resin, and the underside remains natural wood. Each one is unique and gorgeous.
- Stays in tune for a long time.
- The tines are laser etched.
Cons:
- These are hand made in limited quantity and not always in stock.
- The sustain of this kalimba is quite long lasting and the notes may overlap, especially songs with a faster beat.
Neutral:
- These ship from France and are more expensive than other chromatic kalimbas, but I believe they are worth the price and wait time for shipping. You get what you pay for and these kalimbas are unmatched in terms of sound and beauty.
Poopoopidoo 37 key kalimba sound sample
38 to 42 Key Chromatic Kalimba FAQs
What are the main differences between a 41 key kalimba and a 34 key kalimba?
A 34 key will expand the range of music you can play but not to the extent that chromatic kalimbas in the range of 37 to 42 keys can.
A 34 key kalimba is not quite fully chromatic within the 21 key range because in each octave they cover there are a few missing sharp and flat notes and you will notice that once you pick up a piece of music to play and find the note you want is not there. Frustrating!
With a 41 or 42 Key kalimba the set of 21 diatonic notes on the bottom row have the full set of corresponding flats and sharps in the top row, making them fully chromatic within the range of octaves that kalimba covers.What is the range of a 42-key kalimba?
Generally, most fully chromatic kalimbas with 41 to 42 keys cover note range from E3 to E6. This is a generalization, however so there are some exceptions.
Seeds 41 key Kalimba range: F3 to E6
LingTing 42 key kalimba range: E3 to E6b
Hluru 38 key kalimba range: A3 to F6
Chill Angels 41 key kalimba range: B3 to E6
Poopoopidoo 37 key kalimba range: Chroma+ E3 to E6 FullChroma E3 to F6
You will notice the range of chromatic kalimbas with 37 to 42 keys generally have more bass notes than chromatic kalimbas in the range of 33 to 36 keys, and diatonic kalimbas with 17 to 21 keys.Why do some chromatic kalimbas have repeat notes?
In this lineup you may notice that the seeds 21 key chromatic kalimba and the Hluru 38 key kalimba have duplicate or redundant notes.
I personally and NOT a fan of duplicate notes because in my experience it confuses things to have the exact same note in two different locations on my kalimba.
But, here is one reason a kalimba might have duplicate, repeated or redundant notes.
Repeated notes may allow a player to access that note more easily or without repositioning their hand.
For example, on the Hluru 38 key kalimba the F5 note is related once on the lower right side and once on the upper left side, so it could be played by either thumb easily.
On the LingTing 42 key kalimba there are repeated notes, but since the bottom row is tuned to C Major and the top row is tuned to C#, you will notice that the duplicate notes have a different number. This kalimba is not very intuitive to play and not a great kalimba for beginners.Are chromatic kalimbas suitable for beginners?
I think it depends. I would say anyone who is even moderately familiar with reading notes, playing from sheet music or who has some level of music theory knowledge can play a chromatic kalimba.
What if you have no musical background? I think you can learn. That was me 10 years ago, and I managed.
From my experience, I started with a 17 key kalimba, and it was good kalimba for beginners, however I quickly learned how limited my choice of songs were, particularly the popular songs I wanted to play. And even when I did find those songs I wanted written for the kalimba, they never really sounded as robust as I wanted.
Thats why I decided to learn a little more music theory and try a chromatic kalimba. The amount of songs available to play increased and so did the quality of the sound of songs I played increased because the notes of the original song were now available to me on the chromatic kalimba, where on my 17 key diatonic kalimba they were simply not there.
One caveat is if you are using the kalimba for sound therapy or sound healing, and just want to play it more or less at random and have the music sound good. In this case, the chromatic kalimba is not the right choice. With a chromatic kalimba, if you are playing notes at random is sounds like chaos, of in music terms, unharmonious.
For sound therapy and meditation kalimba play, I recommend a pentatonic scale kalimba. Why? With the pentatonic scales, all notes harmonize with each other so you can not play an inharmonious note, even if you play notes at random. Its hard to find kalimbas with pentatonic scales, but I recommend the Gecko 8 key kalimba for sound therapy and playing for meditation.
If you are interested in sound healing, many Handpans also have pentatonic tuning for the same reason, each note is in harmony with all other notes. I have an article on Handpans for meditation and sound therapy here.
This my chromatic kalimba buyers guide for 37 to 41 keys. I hope you find one that resonates with you.
Be on the lookout because I will soon publish the counterpart for chromatic kalimbas with 33 to 36 keys.
I leave you here, at the end, my fellow travelers.
May your journey be filled with light and love and beautiful music!
Until we meet again!
Katie Lyn
PS. If you love enchanting music as much as I do I think you will fall in love with the siren song of the handpan. Learn more about the captivating handpan here.
Also, another easy to learn, yet enchanting wind instrument is the ocarina. If you are interested in Ocarinas see my hot list here of the best ocarinas for beginners.
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