Kalimba Christmas Medley, I

[andycavaco]

Esse instrumento é muito legal !

[Xana6637]

im gonna buy that one!! :)

[Russel894]

Are these instruments expensive? Where can you buy these? Is it hard to learn the songs?

[kalimbamagic]

You can get poor ones for $30, this one costs a bit over $100 and is very capable of making great music. As to learning - I invite you to go to my KalimbaMagic web site and click on Learn How to Play - the best resource for learning to play like this is the Kalimba Tablature - i have written many books, and others are starting to write books as well. -Mark

[owdray]

may i ask, which kalimba is this? ( I'm totally new to this kalimba thing and I was thinking of getting one for myself and I was thinking of getting one like yours in particular.) Any advice? :P

btw, you're awesome!

[kalimbamagic]

This is the Hugh Tracey Bb Treble Kalimba - the Alto Kalimba is the most popular (they outsell the Treble 3:1) - but this is a Treble that has been modified to be more like the alto, with the side effect of being tuned to the key of Bb.

If you have BIG hands or like to play with guitars, go for the G Alto.

The Trebles are a bit smaller w 17 (ie, 2 more than alto) tines - if you

don't want to play w guitars, or if you play with Trumpet, Trombone, etc,

and have normal or small hands, Bb treble!

[owdray]

@kalimbamagic

Thanks for the info! I have rather small hands and reaching for eights in piano is just nice for me. I think I'll go for the Bb treble!!

However, the only one i can buy from the music store around my area is

a large 17 note mbira rosewood. I wonder if that is recommended or comparable to the hugh tracey one?

[JollyJakester]

Is this kalimba you're playing an alto kalimba. I count 17 tines. I think the treble kalimba has 15 times, unless it's the other way??

[JollyJakester]

Have loved the kalimba for a few years and will be buying one or two in a couple of weeks. Will probably get the Hugh Tracey alto and maybe also a chromatic. How do you get that vibrato sound?

[FCO0710]

looks like hes waving his thumb up and down over the soundhole

[moshack]

Beautiful.. but you set the bar so high it seems unreachable. I could practice the rest of my life and never get any where near your level. But I will keep trying :)

[JeanmarieSimpson]

SO beautiful, Mark. Thank you!

[Pacoamadeus]

BRAVOOO!!!

[headpulp]

That's the most beautiful sound I've ever heard one of those make, kudos to you

[remadeyoga]

Very Impressive, Its really easy to listen to. It has its own subtle sound that's very relaxing and not to mention you played it beautifully

[Mark9309]

I would never have known this instrument existed unless I found it on Youtube. Very primitive instrument but there is beauty in simplicit. Just wish it was a little louder. I like the wah wah affect.

[kalimbamagic]

Louder? It stands up fine to a couple of acoustic guitars. Then again there is the "electric kalimba" option. -M

[cowpooca]

wow, this is wonderful! is everything played in the key of c on a kalimba?

[kalimbamagic]

Actually, this one is in B flat. Usually the Hugh Tracey Kalimbas come in G, but I retuned this one! Merry Christmas!

[ChocloManx]

Very nice! do chromatic kalimbas exist? my pentatonic one is nice but I'd like a little more possibilities. :P

[kalimbamagic]

Yes, Chromatic Kalimbas do exist. Search for Chromatic Kalimba on YouTube and you will see Sharon Eaton playing one - with chromatic notes ON THE BACK SIDE of the kalimba. You can also search the web for them, I've got a resource page for chromatic kalimbas.

HOWEVER, you are skipping over the DIATONIC scale. Pentatonic is a simplification of the DIATONIC (do re mi fa so la ti do) scale. SO, perhaps start there, and THEN branch out to the chromatic.

[ChocloManx]

Thanks.

Hmm maybe you're right. Learing to play a chromatic one would be pretty tough!

[MuGeNTOM]

That's some amazing playing sir, is it easy to learn/play like a piano? It would be grand to bring that everywhere with you and play a few tunes.

[kalimbamagic]

It is easy in that all the notes are "in key" - but it is difficult to wrap your head around the fact that the notes "zig-zag" on the kalimba when you go up the scale. It is very easy to hit a wrong note, but if you are on the correct side, that note will harmonize with the one you intended to hit. But it is VERY EASY to take with you everywhere you go, so you can practice while taking your morning walk, or while taking a coffee break at work.

I've written 7 books with songs in tablature.

[MuGeNTOM]

Thanks for the info & reply! It really looks like a great instrument to play with a warm peaceful tune to it. I may give it a go in the near future :)

I'm sure the "zig-zag" notes are confusing but you make it look like child's play! Keep up the good work!

[Asarelah]

Sounds sort of like a music box.

[gatojazz13]

Muy bueno!!!

[Alosnup]

That sound is very close at the sound that angels produce with their instruments. The simplicity is biggest thing of the Univrers.

Frank

[KalimbaSpell]

merry Christmas

[thisisBO]

what key is that kalimba?

[kalimbamagic]

This one is tuned with the low note as Bflat,

tuned to the Bflat major diatonic scale.

[puppetpatti]

beautiful beautiful. You move thru your medley with such grace and perfection. I just love it. Are these new arrangements or on they on your cd?

[MatheusManentee]

Just... Beautiful.

Amazing!

Greetings from Brazil!

Btw... What is the tuning of your Kalimpa?

[kalimbamagic]

This one is tuned with the low note as Bflat,

tuned to the Bflat major diatonic scale.