You are in the right spot if you are looking for YOUR kalimba tuning!
Discover the kalimba notation of YOUR kalimba with an easy-to-understand kalimba tuning diagram that shows you which notes each key plays.
Here are 28 of the most popular kalimba tuning charts to help you find the notes on a kalimba you own.
Want to know what notes are on your Kalimba? The following illustrations show you what notes are on each tine of your 17 key kalimba.
The Newlam 17 key kalimba is one of THE most popular kalimbas on Amazon right now and for good reason. Shoppers are after the perfect mix of affordability and quality, especially when choosing their first kalimba. The Newlam Kalimba is tuned to C Major.
This LingTing 17 Key Kalimba is a high-quality kalimba with a solid African Paduk hardwood board resonator. Hardwood is preferred for kalimbas since it keeps the tines secure and the wood will not wear away over time around the mounting holes as the kalimba is played and tuned, which is a complication of softer wood.
Moozica is known for the clear tone their kalimbas produce. I would compare the sound of each tine played to the crisp sound of striking a bell. This 17 Key kalimba features this crisp tone, is appealing to the eye, and feels well made, which I noticed especially while holding and playing it.
The YUNDIE is a newcomer to the Kalimba scene. Those who try the YUNDIE appreciate its low price and say it’s a great value because for the price, it’s a quality kalimba instrument. Others say tuning is a challenge, which, if I am being honest, has always seemed challenging for any kalimba I have.
The UNOKKI 17 Tine kalimba is a popular choice kalimba because it’s affordable and has a great sound. That rich sound is thanks, in part to being made from mahogany, which is an effective resonator of sound waves.
Gecko is a trusted and popular brand in the kalimba among kalimba enthusiasts. The Gecko 17 tine kalimba is a highly regarded kalimba that is time-tested and proven reliable. I love the resonant mahogany wood because it gives the instrument such a rich sound.
The Orora 17 key box resonator kalimba is a newcomer, and I like its catchy casual surf design. It includes a detailed kalimba tabs book with songs from Harry Potter, Toy Story, and more. It also includes a display stand, something I have not seen others include. Nice touch.
The Seeds 17 tine kalimba is from a well-known kalimba designer, who is pretty popular. This 17-tine kalimba is made from Okoume wood, which offers a warm resonant sound. Okoume is a soft wood. Softer woods are not ideal for kalimbas because the hardware can loosen up in the wood over time as you play and tune your instrument.
Hugh Tracy is one of the original Kalimba makers. Tracy, originally from Devon England, moved to Zimbabwe as a farmer. He brought his love of interest with him to Africa and there discovered the Mbira, which he adapted to create what is today called a Kalimba, which translates to “little music”.
This Hugh Tracy Kalimba has 17 keys and is tuned to a treble scale at G major. It also features a pickup.
Want to know what musical notes are on your 21 key kalimba? Here are the 5 most popular 21 key kalimbas with the notes laid out on an easy-to-read illustration.
YUNDIE offers an affordable 21-tine kalimba for the beginner. Th 21-tine kalimba adds 4 more bass notes than their 17-tine model and expands the range of songs you can play. This kalimba has a rich, warm sound making it a great value for the price.
Everjoys offers an expanded 21 key kalimba including 4 extra bass notes compared to the 17 tine model. I also love that they carry so many different colors so you can get one that fits your style and is easy on your budget.
Moozika is a trusted brand that has many years of experience making kalimbas. This solid koa wood board resonator 21 key kalimba has excellent tonal quality. Koa is a hardwood that delivers a crisp sound that matches the richness and warmth of mahogany. This quality kalimba is a treat to listen to.
The LingTing 21 tine Kalimba is made by a well-known kalimba maker with a solid reputation. This particular 21-key kalimba has the distinction of being tuned to the scale of F Major, which I believe gives it a pleasant, soft soothing tone compared to C tuning
This unique Hluru kalimba is popular because of its one-of-a-kind wa¡hale and water design. design and a price that is hard to beat.
Chromatic kalimbas are a great way to expand your musical repertoire. The added keys are usually semi tones, that allow you to play music from sheet music, and the songs you play with a chromatic kalimba have more depth thanks ti the addition of semitones.
I personally believe anyone can play a chromatic kalimba and beleive chromatic kalimba for beginners is a great choice.
The Chill Angels 34 key chromatic kalimba is a long-standing favorite. If you are not sure is a chromatic Kalimba is the right choice for you, check out the article I wrote on them here. If you want an in depth review of this Chill Angels Kalimba and other Chromatic Kalimba Reviews, look here.
This Moozica 36 key piano tuned kalimba is unique in that it is tuned similarly to a piano where notes go from low to high as you move from left to right. As seen on other kalimbas, the standard for a kalimba is that notes get lower towards the center.
The Hluru chromatic kalimba is unique because it is tuned to the B scale and IMO has a mellower sound than the standard C tuning. I also appreciate the design of the kalimba and that it is made with hardwood, so it will last longer and stay in tune.
The Magadi 30 tine chromatic Kalimba is wider than most others and can be played flat on a table. This kalimba is one of my favorites because the sound is so soothing
This seeds 34 Key kalimba is a popular choice chromatic kalimba and plays beautifuly when its in tune, but the issue with this model seems to be that after a while it will not hold its tuning and does not sound the same as when it was new.
If you like to play songs within the higher octaves, this is a good chromatic kalimba to get. The LingTing 34 tine kalimba has a kalimba notation that is arranged intuitively, with sharps and flats on top, similar to how they are on a piano, except the notes alternate left and right instead of ascending higher pitches left to right as a piano is laid out.
This seeds 41 key kalimba has a great sound with unbelievable sustain. It has an intuitive layout, especially if you are a piano player. If you want to see my in-depth review of this Seeds 41 key kalimba, find it here.
The Hluru 38 key kalimba has an impressive number of tines, and I love that they are laid out in a way that makes sense. Pair that with the fact that this kalimba features a rich, mellow sound and no wonder it is one of the most popular chromatic kalimbas.
The Chill Angels B Tuned 41 key kalimba is their latest chromatic kalimba and has an impressive 41 keys that allow you to play a much wider selection of songs than a 17 or 21-key kalimba. I like the fact that the face of this kalimba is customizable, you can even place your K tabs on the front to read them as you play.
The LingTing 42 key kalimba has the most keys of any of the most popular chromatic kalimbas and that means there are more options for you when it comes to what songs you can play on it.
It is also one of the best-sounding kalimbas available. It is a treat to play.
A mini kalimba is a fun portable way to take a little music with you. Mini kalimbas make great gifts and can be the perfect distraction to keep the hands of littles busy.
This hot little kalimba would make a good gift for keeping hands busy on the go. It has 8 keys, tuned to C, but the tines are so short, it produces a tinny sound compared to larger kalimbas.
The MiFoge is an adorable cat-shaped mini kalimba that would make a great gift. This super small affordable kalimba is currently a top-selling kalimba on Amazon, and while the sound is not as robust as larger kalimbas, it will fit in a backpack or purse, is a fun conversation starter and is great on the go.
This Gecko 8 Key mini kalimba is by far the best-sounding mini kalimba available. Its register is a little higher pitched than other mini kalimbas, which is a plus or a minus depending on if you like higher pitch tuned instruments.
The sound quality is better because it is just a little bit larger than other mini kalimbas and made from superior materials.
This kalimba is also special because it has a pentatonic (5-note) scale. With the pentatonic scales, all notes harmonize so you can not play an inharmonious note, even if you play notes at random.
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If you want to learn more about kalimbas I have a few other resources. I wrote this list of chromatic kalimba reviews, and in this article, I discuss why I think chromatic kalimbas are a good choice for beginners.
Thats all for now, fellow travellers. Until next time, be blessed.
Much Love,
Katie Lyn
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