thumb piano
Plucked tine instrument
A thumb piano is a small handheld instrument consisting of metal or bamboo tines attached to a wooden resonating box, played by plucking the tines with the thumbs.
The instrument originated in Africa, where it goes by various names including kalimba and mbira.
The tines are tuned to different pitches, producing a soft, bell-like sound: She picked out a melody on her thumb piano.
Thumb-plucked tine instrument
- ShonaSouthern African Bantu language
- ZimbabweSouthern African republic
- BantuAfrican language family
- AfricanOf that southern continent
indigenous · tradition · ancestors · spirituality · ritual · ceremony · healing · griot
Fork's pointed projections
- keysLock-operating instruments
- resonatorFrequency-amplifying device
- soundboardTone-amplifying wooden surface
- gourdHard-shelled decorative fruit
wooden · box · metal · prongs · buzzers · shells · beads · soundhole
Removing by tugging
- fingerplaySung gestures for children
- handheldDesigned for palm use
- portableAble to be carried
- acousticRelating to sound
melodic · percussive · polyrhythms · ostinato · interlocking · improvisation · vibrato · dampening
kalimba
Thumb-plucked tine instrument
African · indigenous · tradition · ancestors · spirituality · ritual · ceremony · healing · griot · oral history
tines
Fork's pointed projections
- keysLock-operating instruments
- resonatorFrequency-amplifying device
- soundboardTone-amplifying wooden surface
gourd · wooden · box · metal · prongs · buzzers · shells · beads · soundhole · handcrafted
plucking
Removing by tugging
- fingerplaySung gestures for children
- handheldDesigned for palm use
- portableAble to be carried
acoustic · melodic · percussive · polyrhythms · ostinato · interlocking · improvisation · vibrato · dampening · glissando
resonance
Amplified oscillation at natural frequency
- timbreSound's distinctive character
- vibrationsRapid oscillating motions
- sonorousDeep and full-toned
twangy · bell-like · crystalline · warm · sustain · harmonics · overtones · reverb · drone · chiming
- percussionbass drum, bongos, cajon, drum, congas
- beginner instrumentsrecorder, xylophone, tambourine, triangle, maracas
- instrumentsguitar, guitars, pianos, drum, drums
- stringed instrumentsguitar, lyre, lute, mandolin, harp
- small instrumentsukulele, harmonica, kazoo, ocarina, recorder
- African craftsAfrican masks, wood carving, beaded jewelry, kente, tribal jewelry
thumb pianopipe organ
Wind instrument with tuned tubes
grand piano · church organ · concert harp · double bass · tuba
thumb pianoharpsichord
Plucked-string keyboard instrument
clavichord · pipe organ · classical piano · violin · bagpipes
thumb, piano, thumbs, pianist, thumbnail, thumbing, thumbed, thumbprint, upright piano