Presenting the Electric Kalimba
u/Crudeyakuza — 12 hours ago
r/kalimba
▲ 0 r/kalimba
I vibe coded Kalimba play along app. Looking for feedback
Hello community !
I vibe coded Kalimba create / play along song app.
It lets users create songs, export/import notation , play songs etc.
Im looking for some feedback from fellow Kalimba players. Most of features work without registration.
Keep in mind its mvp, so some features might not work as good.
u/ChanceAngle7527 — 1 day ago
▲ 10 r/kalimba
Decent Kalimba recommendation to reduce screen time?
Looking for a decent kalimba recommendation. Hoping to train myself to reach for it instead of my phone when taking a break. I definitely want something that sounds and feels like an instrument, instead of a kids toy, but I also don't want to overspend, since my use case is pretty casual. There's a sea of them on Amazon, but I cant tell the good ones from the bad ones. Advice would be greatly appreciated.
u/digital_ecologist — 2 days ago
▲ 7 r/kalimba
A 41 key kalimba that’s not a Seeds ??
I have been looking for a new kalimba for a few days now, specifically for one that has 41 keys.
I’ve seen the 41 seeds kalimba but I’ve read allot of negative reviews on here and other sources.
While others say it’s a pretty good kalimba.
I’m just wondering what you all think and recommend.
I mainly want a 41 key kalimba after finding Noah / kalimbaobsession on TikTok playing some of my favorite songs and I’m not sure if her songs can also be played on a 34 key kalimba.
u/FunkyPants0_o — 5 days ago
▲ 16 r/kalimba
Ukrainian folk song “Moonlit night”
The night is so bright, full of stars and moonlight,
In this light you can gather the needles.
Come to me, darling, despite all your tiredness,
Show me yourself for few minutes.
You shouldn't fear of getting your feet wet,
The cold dew will not touch your feet.
Up to the very threshold of your house
you'll get in my arms, if you need...
You shouldn't fear of cold, oh, my white swan,
It's warm - neither clouds, nor the wind...
I'll hold you tight to my own flaming heart,
And this heart is so hot, like a heat!
u/_VarvarkA_ — 5 days ago
▲ 9 r/kalimba
Kalimba Sound
I finally got the Kalimba from Amazon that my father ordered for me😁.
Now before I begin to play the instrument, I want to know if any of you think the sounds are off?
I tested C1 and E3 that are good from the insTuner app… except the rest of them need to be running right.
u/Bobateadraw — 5 days ago
Who Do You Love by Marianas Trench
I was thinking about the song this morning (such a banger) and thought “wow, it would sound really good on a kalimba”. I am trying to translate it from piano to a 17 key one but I have barely any experience with writing or translating music lol; so far I’ve only gotten the intro’s basic notes (and they’re still a bit off 🚶♀️). Wondering if anyone here who is maybe more experienced is interested in trying it out?
u/-beehaw- — 6 days ago
▲ 2 r/kalimba
Use Markers and instead of Scale Stickers on Kalimba’s Tine?
I notice that when I scroll down the videos on YouTube about decoration for kalimba?
I saw a video about that showing “Don’t Put Stickers on Kalimba, it spoils the sound”.
And I saw a YouTube video testing the different sound between stickers/non stickers on kalimba tine.
The stickers made the sound worse, while thin markers made the sound better and faster.
My question is.. Should I still need the stickers or perhaps use the think markers instead to my kalimba?
u/Bobateadraw — 9 days ago
▲ 19 r/kalimba
Hollow body, version two in design phase
A couple years ago I made a hollow body kalimba with a cedar body and spruce top. I found out the hard way that there’s a whole lot more involved in designing hollow bodied instruments. The biggest issue that time is that the bracket was too wide and the way it was sitting was deadening two tines on each side.
Now I’m working on the next version. I chose some nice hardwoods that would work nicely together, and will be making a hollow body that is much wider. It’s going to be pretty big, so I’ll be putting in some divots for my hands to fit in for reach. That’s not in the photos because my assistant making the photos for me was having difficulty understanding my instructions. I’ll be using a Seeds 34k two-layer bracket and keys.
There are sound holes, it was suggested I put them on the sides or back (I chose back) so that I could use my fingers to block them for sound effects. Good idea. The corners will also be much rounder, again my art assistant was having continued comprehension issues.
My art assistant was having a very had time understanding the direction I wanted my wood slats to go, and that gave me an idea. What about a horizontal, chromatic style with a single looooong bracket? I’d then play it like a piano with the sound holes in the side facing away from me.
I’ll be making it by cutting and stacking layered slats of wood. Think of those little wood models, see last photo, I’ll assemble it in three parts, smooth the insides, glue it all together, and then round the corners off the outside. Easier to do than explain TBH.
I’m partial to the two-layer, handheld version with the ergo cutouts, but I’d like to ask your opinions.
u/LilStinkpot — 11 days ago
▲ 3 r/kalimba
Can I woodburn a kalimba without fucking it up?
Hi hello sorry if this is out of the scope of this sub but I wanna woodburn a custom spiderman theme for my friend's birthday but i don't wanna fuck up hte sound of the kalimba. is this possible?
u/Little_Rat2 — 10 days ago
▲ 5 r/kalimba
Circus song (entrance of the gladiators) Julius Fučík
Hello!
I am a complete beginner, have followed perhaps two or three YouTube tutorials, I would really like to play the iconic circus/clown song but can’t find it anywhere for kalimba, I have the 17 key one . Mostly interested in the main bouncy part of the song . If anyone has the easy to read tabs or can make it would be awesome.
Thank you!
u/ccinono — 11 days ago
▲ 12 r/kalimba
How long did it take you to stop looking at your thumbs while playing?
Been playing for about four months now and I still find myself staring down at the tines constantly. The moment I try to look away, even just to glance at sheet music or a tab, I completely lose my place and start hitting wrong notes. It feels like my thumbs just have no spatial memory yet.
I know it's probably just a time thing, but I'm curious how other people worked through this. Did you do specific exercises to build that muscle memory, or did it just naturally click one day after enough repetition? I've been trying to practice short phrases with my eyes closed, which honestly feels humiliating at first because I miss so many notes, but it seems like it might be helping slowly.
The other thing I noticed is that the outer tines feel a lot easier to find by touch since your thumbs naturally drift to the edges. It's the middle range tines that trip me up the most, especially when a melody jumps around a lot rather than moving stepwise.
Would love to hear how long the "eyes glued to the instrument" phase lasted for other people. Also if there are any tricks beyond just grinding repetition, I'm all ears.
u/benbakes27 — 13 days ago
▲ 3 r/kalimba
Kalimba tab help for old song
I want to play the gelfling song from the dark crystal its very simple but I cant find what tabs to use, does anyone know how to find that
Please and thanks
u/rosegoldsweetie — 14 days ago
▲ 1 r/kalimba
Newbie here!
Hello, all you lovely people!
I'm interested in buying a decent to good quality Kalimba. Is there any brand you recommend? And do you prefer it solid or hollow? Is there any online store recommendations that have a website and/or ship to New Zealand? Also, I'm a student, if the price is lower than $50NZD would be great but if the price difference between the decent and good one is not that much, I may be able to stretch my budget a little bit more. Thank you in advance! I hope I don't sound to unrealistic!
Sorry, English is not my first language.
u/In_the_house_ — 13 days ago