How To Play the Kalimba: Selecting Beginner Kalimba, Tuning, Techniques, Exercises, How To Read Tabs

This video turned into a huge explanation of how to get started playing the Kalimba. Here are the important sections if you are comfortable with one area and want to skip:

00:04 Step 0: Picking a Beginner's Kalimba
04:35 Step 1: Tuning (if you need it)
06:48 Step 2: Basic Kalimba Techniques
08:24 DON'T FORGET TO DO THIS
08:35 Step 3: Basic Kalimba Practices
12:09 Step 4: Learning Melodies on the Kalimba
18:01 Step 5: Learning Chords on the Kalimba
12:46 Step 6: The Ultimate Kalimba Skill (Next Steps)

Here is the kalimba I am using:

Here are some of the resources I mentioned in this video:

Kalimba comparison video:

These are some Gecko Kalimba models that have at least decent sustain:

K15CAP G Tone
K17CAP B Tone Kalimba
K17CAS B Tone Kalimba
K17R C tone

Tuning app:

My favorite metronome app:

Online Piano for tuning (if you don't have a smartphone)

[mdaley]

A good thing to remember when playing off sheet music and regular notes. The right hand, or right side of the kalimba, the notes are on the lines. The left hand, or left side of the kalimba, the notes are in the spaces. This will help you to at least recognize which hand would be playing the notes.

[Trinidadianlove]

Me with no musical knowledge whatsoever coming here to learn my impulse-bought kalimba: hmm yes the floor here is made of floor

[MrDuckDrawz]

This instrument seems great for me

1: im too stupid for sm complex like the piano
2: i need a quiet instrument to learn bcs i live in an apartment
3: it sounds BEUTIFUL

i've never had ab instruemt with chords before so im excited to figure this out haha

[TommyJones]

I was getting ready to send mine back the instruction were horrible. Thanks to you I'm now enjoying it. My dog hides behind couch when I practice.

[FaeSuccubus]

i play the piano so I'm confident it won't be an issue to learn the kalimba fast. Thank you for the video! I'm getting my new kalimba soon.

[xxbigkisses]

wow, i never paid attention to the transpose button on that website. i usually just read all the different tabs posted till i found one that worked. great to know that. good video

[arckocsog]

I play with my pointing and middle fingers. Thank you that you confirmed that it’s a valid technique

[maryjanemagee]

I have a lot of trouble reading tabs! I feel like they are too “sideways” to read. By the way, you are a very clear, informative teacher. Thank you for sharing your wisdom! I hope you will keep making Kalimba videos, and show us how to continue onto lesson #2, etc.🎶🎵🌟

[callieperry]

Thank you for tuning so well! Lots of beginner kalimba videos hurt my ears, but this sounded beautiful.

[RavenWindrunner]

I got a kalimba and didn't realize it would be tuned to b major. I ended up tuning it to C major because more songs online are already in that key (I guess I could have transposed but that would be a good bit of work for every song). It definitely was an ordeal, I just bought a concave mushroom rivet punch to help strike the tines more accurately.

[velindawm]

This is SO enjoyable! I knew very little about this instrument, and it was a fascinating journey to learn how versatile and musical the kalimba is! Favorite line: "This thumb was pretty bored." Ha! So many delightful moments in this gem of a video. Thank you for sharing!

[phattamtubi]

Hi good night dear
Thank you very much for your good teaching how to use the kalimba good
I’m really like it so much ❤

[bonnievandermark]

Thanks for start up. Just got mine today.The next youtube video that came up is a 1 hour kalimba worship. I just started playing along with some harmony... I recommend you find a kalimba music video and just play along. Fabulous!

[Katie]

I am waiting for my first kalimba to arrive in the post and I'm very excited 😆 actually it's the same 17 Tyne kalimba in this video. Thank you for this upload, I learned so much and will definitely be back to go over everything again when it arrives. Subscribed ✌️Thankies😸

[conniemartin]

Thank you! You’re a good teacher! I’m waiting for my Gecko kalimba to arrive today from Amazon!

[raymondadamsiii]

That was perfect thank my friend. Peace and love ☮️

[IchigoMadnessTV]

THANK YOU! I was looking for a video that had a good amount of beginner's info. I feel like I'm already getting the hang of it all. Thanks for the video.

[dinergal]

Thank you so very much for such an informative video. This assisted in making a perfect gift decision. Again, thanks!

[Trinidadianlove]

Listening to you play the arpeggios was so beautiful!

[mischka]

I just got mine and do like it. I bought I think a reasonably good one, but probably expected it to sound fuller having been listening to on line video examples which obviously sound beautiful!! The first song I tried was Moon River where the notes were given in letters so I’m learning that and getting used to where the notes are. But another song was in numbers. When trying to memorise the notes I think it’s best to learn one style, in my case perhaps the letters and stick to it. So I’ll need to convert the numbers to letters in my notebook. I just can’t wait to be able to play it without thinking where the next note is !!! Practice, practice !