Kalimba
also called thumb piano, metal tongues on a resonance body
Kalimba or also called a thumb piano. Typical African accompanying instrument, the sansula is a special version.
Kalimba or Mbira are African names, in German it is called a thumb piano.
Metal tongues are attached to a hollow resonance body, swinging freely. The kalimba is held between both hands and the thumbs can pluck the tongues. Depending on the length of the tongue, a different tone is created.
The body can be a wooden box, a coconut or a gourd.
A special kalimba is the sansula with an drumskin for resonance. The tongues are not placed on a body but on a small frame drum. In an elegant, oval shape, it nestles well in the hands.
Kalimba
Sansula
the sansula is a kalimba, but the resonance comes from a drum skin, so it gives a vibrating sound, pentatonic tuning, dreamful and relaxing