Balancing Life with a Kalimba Even While You Work

Choosing an instrument to play is the first step towards entering a whole new world. It can be a fun-filled and exciting one, with lots of learning, and the effort you put into it will always be worthwhile.

Family responsibilities, a full-time job and other life priorities might leave little time to practice music. Add some pending reports along with accumulated work stress to the mix and hardly anyone can expect to be in the mood to pick up even a little instrument like the kalimba and play. Or can they?

Luckily, a kalimba is portable enough for roaming souls. So if finding time for the kalimba seems impossible when you have Zoom calls to attend and work on your mind, then this article just might bring about the change in perspective you need!

Caring for Stickers on Your Kalimba Tines

A quick search on YouTube for stickers and kalimba will likely have you watching multiple esthetically pleasing videos on how to apply stickers to the tines of a freshly unboxed kalimba. For those who have tried it out, it is especially pleasing when you finally manage to get them all aligned perfectly on the tines and look all  dressed-up and ready for some music practice.

Sticker placement, as we know, is an art in itself that requires steady digits besides a set of trusty tweezers. Even so, sticker mishaps can happen even to the best of us and can turn out to be a messy affair if done incorrectly. So if you or someone you know has been considering applying or removing the stickers on their tines, or perhaps looking for fresh ideas when it comes to stick-on kalimba decor, then this article might be what you need.

Fall in Love With These Gorgeous DIY Chromatic Kalimbas

Fancy building a chromatic kalimba? Take a look at these instruments for ideas!

December 2020 saw a wave of some very interesting chromatic kalimbas available for purchase that continue to gain popularity among musicians across the globe. Great looks, strong build and elegant finishing aside, the prices can be a bit steep for some.

With that in mind, a number of kalimba players decided to take things into their own hands. Quite literally in fact, by building their very own chromatic kalimbas. Some are dual-sided, while many more are dual layered chromatic kalimbas that are very unique from the ones available for purchase.

While the idea may seem both exciting and daunting, enthusiasts considering to self-build a chromatic kalimba should definitely plan their project well. 

Here is a self-survey before you decide if a DIY kalimba project is worth trying out

• Do you have experience working with wood
• Ever tried building a DIY kalimba kit before?
• Are you adept at using a tool kit?
• If not, is there someone or a workshop that can be of assistance?
• Are you musically knowledgeable enough when it comes to tuning the keys?
• Would you rather just buy a chromatic kalimba?

If the questions above inspired or deterred you in any way, no worries. You can still enjoy watching these self-made instruments made by kalimba hobbyists.

Merry Kalimba Christmas! Have a Jolly Time with 30+ Easy to Play Christmas Songs

Nothing like a festive mood for some merry music making. So get ready to warm hearts around the Christmas tree with these easy to play Christmas carols for the kalimba!

Here is a round up of some fine musicians who have kindly taken it upon themselves to share some merry melodies in classical and modern flavours that any thumb pianist will enjoy. Read on!

• Jennina Pascual Kalimba

With 30 Christmas songs to choose from you can pick a slow dreamy song or a catchier tune to play. Tabs are arranged for easy playing and experienced musicians and tweak the notes to make it more interesting. Links to all songs are shared below.

Considering Going Chromatic? Check Out These Kalimbas!

Take your kalimba music to the chromatic level!

Chromatic kalimbas have been around for quite some time and have recently received a surge in interest, especially among kalimba playing Youtubers. These instruments are an excellent step up from the diatonic kalimbas in 15, 17 or 21 keys, as they offer opportunities of complexity to the range of musical possibilities.

If you are wondering what makes a chromatic kalimba special, check out these articles for a quick introduction to the chromatic kalimba, as well as how to play a chromatic kalimba.

Here are some interesting chromatic kalimbas in various designs to play some beautiful music. Read on!

Kalimba Tabs Collection - Music Notes All in One Place!

Looking for a wider collection of music notes for your kalimba? Read on!

If you are a kalimba enthusiast with prior musical experience (piano especially), you may find it relatively easy to transpose notes on your own depending on the current instrument that you play. Even if you have not had any music lessons before, no worries. A little determination is all you will need to learn the kalimba.

Below is a highly varied collection that has been subdivided into categories of downloadable music sheets, music books and videos. Browse through and have the most melodious time of your life!

New to Kalimbas? Follow These Inspiring Kalimba Artists

Thinking of getting your first kalimba or have one and in need of some inspiration?

While a lot of kalimba playing musicians have some prior experience with learning music, many out there have decided to pick up the kalimba as their very first instrument. So take it slow and learn how to play at your own pace. The only competition you should be worried about is yourself.

There are a number of excellent kalimba players and each one has their own unique style that makes you want to learn to play. To help you out, here are a few kalimba artists that make your kalimba learning journey fun.

Kalimba Communities - Kalimba Forum, Facebook, Reddit and More!

Still undecided about the type of kalimba to buy?

Or perhaps you bought yourself a kalimba and have no clue where to start?

Do you have a key or tine that does not resonate very well and need to ask someone about it?

Learning to play a kalimba is fun, and what makes it an even better experience is being connected within a community dedicated especially for kalimba players. While YouTube, Instagram and other social platforms are great for sharing song covers, there are some highly interactive kalimba channels that are very responsive to queries. Some even post uniquely informative kalimba content for beginners as well as experienced kalimba players.

A well-organised community invites discussion and plenty of learning. So if you want to interact with other kalimbaists, get going and join any or all of the communities below.

Welcome to Kalimba World!

Welcome to Kalimba World!

For my very first post, I would like to share what this blog is going to be about. 

It has been two months since I got my first two kalimbas (details in another post). I really do enjoy playing the kalimba, transposing notes, and even learning new ways to improve techniques and sounds. 

As much as I'm having fun learning, something still felt amiss. And then it struck me! What we all desperately want and need is a dedicated kalimba community space. So, I started this blog!

Plenty of resources here

- Get ready for resources redirecting to videos and guides for learning and reading kalimba tablature, as well as weekly updates on new songs to learn from various kalimba artists around the world. This includes any information that could come in handy for any kalimba learner, this is where you could find it.

- My own personal learning journey in relation to my Instagram and YouTube videos which could benefit other kalimba players will be featured here as well.

- Occasionally some related tongue-in-cheek posts too.

Feature posts

Yes, absolutely! If you are someone who posts regularly, there is a good chance they can be added here. If you have queries or suggestions for posts, comment away on this or any future article and let me know. 

Get involved!

All updates about this blog and freshly published posts will be mentioned using my Soft Nightingale account on Instagram, so follow me there for regular updates.

Catch up on YouTube by subscribing to Soft Nightingale.

Also, do follow this blog. You'll be updated every time there is a new post! 

Please be sure to mention that you found me via this blog. If you are here via any of my social media pages, do mention in the comments.

See you in the next post!