Description
This 17-Note kalimba tuned to C is similar to several different brands of kalimba from China, but is different in three ways: different tine metal from a new source makes this kalimba sound especially sweet; the heart-shaped sound hole makes this kalimba special; and the kalimba can come to you with its tines painted in the color of your choice (or unpainted, if you choose), and the format of the tine-painting will match the largest collection of kalimba tablature and kalimba instructional material in the world.
The heart-shaped sound hole represents my love for the kalimba – and hopefully yours too! The wood-etched shadow of the heart echos the forms of both a dolphin and a bird, representing wild and free life. The wood-etched stars represent the hope for a sparkly, sparkly future for all people, for all beings on our planet, and for your kalimba playing as well!
The painted tines make reading kalimba tablature a simple and pleasurable task. We now have several books and ebooks for the 17-Note kalimba in C.
While the 17 notes of this kalimba may be overwhelming for a beginner, this instrument can be simplified by “blocking off” the upper 7 notes, leaving the central 10 notes and using the instructional materials for the 10-Note kalimba.
Because of that, I can recommend this kalimba for virtually anyone – for beginners, for intermediate players, and for advanced players.
While this kalimba is the same size as the Hugh Tracey Treble kalimba, it is made with thinner wood and thus weighs a bit less than the Hugh Tracey, so it could be easier for smaller persons to handle. The tines are softer and thinner metal, which means this one is easier on your thumbs if you are a beginner. While the sound is beautiful, it is still a bit tinny when compared to the Hugh Tracey kalimba.
Some tines are painted to help you find your way, and to help you read tablature. You have some tine painting options:
What color do you want the painted tines to be painted?
What tine painting system do you want? All of our books and downloads for the 17-Note Kalimba in C assume the “6-painted-tine” system, in which the middle tine is not painted, but both higher C tines are painted. However, you can also get the “5-painted-tine” system, in which the central tine is painted. The “double tine painting” system will paint the 6-tines in one color and the 5-tines in another color. You can relate preferences for the second color in the Customer Notes when checking out. Or, you can choose to get your kalimba with unpainted tines.
If you do not specify, we will do the 6-painted-tines system (so you can use our books and instructional materials), and we will send you “soonest available” color.
