Kalimbas for skilled musicians
If you are a skilled musician, you will be able to get a lot out of the kalimba. I recommend one of the Hugh Tracey diatonic kalimbas (Alto or Treble), or perhaps the chromatic kalimba. The Alto, a 15-Note box-mounted instrument, is our best seller, and the Treble with 17-Notes is the second best seller.
There are thousands of songs that you can teach yourself on these capable and versatile instruments, and you can write your own compositions in many different styles including folk, classical, rock, funk, new age—you name it.
We also have many instructional resources and books for the Alto and Treble kalimbas, and many musical pieces are available in electronic KTabS tablature form for free or for almost nothing.
If you need to play in other keys, the "Bb Treble" can be tuned to Ab, A, Bb, B, or C, and the "D Treble" can be tuned to C, Db, D, Eb, or E. And if you are particularly ambitious in your kalimba playing, you may want to get a chromatic kalimba.
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The Hugh Tracey 15-Note Alto (2 octaves) is not too hard to play and offers great harmonic possibilities. / $145, or with pickup $157 / Listen / Watch / Watch 2 |
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The Hugh Tracey Treble has more tines (17), but is smaller, offers more harmonic complexity and requires more dexterity (or smaller hands!). / $130, or with pickup $142 / Listen / Watch |
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The Hugh Tracey Bb Treble starts out as a Treble, but is tuned and painted like the Alto with the root in the bass. Since 2006 this has been my favorite kalimba. Can tune to Ab, A, Bb, B, or C / $115, or with pickup $128 (still at 2010 prices!) / Watch / Learn |
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The Hugh Tracey D Treble is similar in concept to the Bb Treble. Can tune to C, Db, D, Eb, or E / $115, or with pickup $128 (still at 2010 prices!) / Learn |
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The Hugh Tracey Chromatic Kalimba offers the ultimate in harmonic flexibility on a hand-held kalimba: 26 notes (flats/sharps are on the back side), 2 octaves, fully chromatic. Recommended for very serious players. Comes with pickup! / $160 / Watch |
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The Hugh Tracey Celeste Chromatic Kalimba is the same chromatic instrument, but the board-mounted design works better for people with smaller hands. Comes with pickup! / $145 / Watch |
