- Rigorous Raw Materials Selection: The Newlam 17 Keys Kalimba thumb piano is handcrafted with high-quality material and ore steel bars. Natural air-dried wood provides an ethereal timbre, which is a wonderful match with the natural wood grain.
- Embossed Notes & Hand-rest Curve Design: The keys are embossed with letters and notes, different from other stickers notes finger piano. Hand-rest Curve Design is to the correct angle ergonomically.
- Easy To Play: 5 minutes to learn a song. After you place your order, you will receive the play guidance and tips to play a song easily in 5 minutes. Suitable for kids and adult beginners and professionals.
- Product Includes: thumb piano, tune hammer, instruction book, stickers, flannelette bag, and cleaning fabric.
- Music Gift: If you are looking for a gift for a birthday Christmas, or for a music lover, musician, this Kalimba is a good choice. A kalimba can be used as an everyday instrument for someone who wants to play music but doesn’t want to carry around a big guitar or piano all day long.
The African-Tuned Kalimba thumb piano
The African-tuned kalimba has a wide and deep repertoire of music from across the vast Zambezi Valley and is thought to be closely related to the original mbira tuning from 1300 years ago.
Newlam kalimbas are made by the best material! This truly ancient instrument, its inherent musical logic, and a large repertoire of traditional African songs are open to you. Do you dare to enter through this door?
How To Play African Kalimba?
Every kalimba that we sell will come tuned to a specific tuning. Every kalimba that we sell is a real musical instrument. The tone is the same as a piano which is International C tune.
We give you the resources you need to succeed with your kalimba. Contact us as below.
Orders—Find your order—Get help with order(Problem with order—Other issue)—contact seller
Kalimba Package Includes:
1*17 Keys Kalimba
1*Tuning Hammer
1*Flannelette Bag
2*Finger Covers
1*Cleaning Cloth
1*Instruction Book
1* Thumb Piano Key Color Stickers
gladatlast –
Beautiful music!
My 10 year old has been learning piano for 3 years. I bought this to help keep his hands busy during summer vacation so he wasn’t wanting to play video games as often. It has worked beautifully and if you already play piano it is very easy to play songs you already have memorized on piano on this kalimba. It has a beautiful sound and it is so easy to take places with us.
Cecilia Z –
Good Quality
I looked and reviewed a ton of these thumb pianos for my grand son who is 4. I took a chance on this one and so glad I did. The sound is beautiful. Came with tuning and everything you need. I was so impressed I bought another for my great nephew who is 7, and he loves it
Subdonkus –
Pretty sound for on the go
I usually bring this with me on trips mostly cuz it’s easy and small. Definitely worth it
GuessWho? –
I would say definitely great gift for kids or an adult
My 18-year-old granddaughter absolutely loved this on her birthday. She probably had one when she was younger, but she has a bit of anxiety and I think for some reason this hit the spot. It’s not the only thing I gave to her, but she really loved it.
Kindle Customer –
Great for Any Beginner
When I received it it was very out of tune, it was actually fun to tune it. I recommend Sam Salvador’s tuning guide. Besides, with shipping, you may want to fine-tune it a little anyway, since it most likely won’t be zeroed.The quality and appearance are what you’d expect of a cheaper kind of mid-grade instrument, but the sound is great. The value must have been invested in it. There’s a website called kalimbatabs.net for easy-to-read beginner to professional music. Hope you enjoy.
8 people found this helpful
Melanie T. –
Great gift !
I bought this as a gift and the recipient loves it. Good sound easy to play and nice small size.
RUTH BOLEC RUTKA –
Beautiful sound
I bought this for myself. It is fun learning to play it. I then bought one for my adult grandson who learned to play guitar on his own. He thought this was a great instrument and wasn’t aware of it. He is excited to learn how to play it. I bought the little music notes tabs so add on so I can see the tines better until I get to know where all the notes are. The sound is beautiful and relaxing.
Abby Nadolski –
I love it
I love this so much! It is simple and easy to learn! It’s easy to hold and it fits comfortably in your hand. It also sounds wonderful, super good for relaxing times with children. Cleaning it is simple and easy, keeping care of it is also easy.
Jkd –
Beautiful
Purchased as a gift for a young teenager. Very well received! Appreciate the beauty and the quality of the instrument. Lovely tone. Even if she doesn’t learn to play efficiently, she does appreciate this unusual piece. Very gift! For someone who has everything?
Morgan –
Beautiful!
Absolutely beautiful! Both visually and audio. I was expecting actually a lesser quality product and was so surprised by how well made and BEAUTIFUL it is. Followed up with extra information from the seller who was above and beyond helpful and kind.
Mama SchickMama Schick –
Update: UNBELIEVABLE CUSTOMER SERVICE! Cracked 2 days after return window 😠
FINAL UPDATE 2/16/22:Situation was resolved promptly and perfectly. I am completely impressed with this company! Both items arrived today. The company was willing to ship replacements to two addresses as they were Christmas gifts. I would not hesitate to buy again.UPDATE 2/14/22:I awoke to an email this morning stating that my purchase had been refunded. I hadn’t sent a refund request as the problem occurred just after the refund deadline.There was a second email from the company offering to send me a replacement in addition to the refund! WOW!My guess is that the company was made aware of this review and took it upon themselves to refund my purchase and send an apology email with the offer to replace. I bought 2 and both have been refunded.We shouldn’t be surprised when a company respects their customers and stands behind their product like this, but I was. This kind of customer service is rare and I am completely impressed!Thank you!UPDATE 2/2/22:My son called to say his “cracked” in a few places. When he sent a photo I realized that it’s a gaping separation and not just a crack!He’s 24 years old and totally responsible- so it isn’t like he was rough with it. I understand a hairline crack due to humidity changes, but this is a serious gap and I’m so disappointed. Of course it happens on Feb 2 and the return window ended Jan 31. At the $25 price point I didn’t expect it to last a lifetime, but I did expect it to last a little longer than 1 month…Previous Review:I bought two to give as gifts to my two single sons in their mid-twenties. Both have a musical background.I needed something they could “mess with” on Christmas Day and this fit the bill.I was surprised how quickly they picked it up. The melodic sound was really pleasant as they plucked away throughout the day.Both got on YouTube and quickly found tutorials for specific songs they knew that had this sound. There is a song from Avatar the Airbender that they both immediately wanted to play.The craftsmanship is beautiful. I was impressed with how well made and nice these were. There are numbers somewhat engraved on each key which correspond with notes to be played. There are also stickers that can be used, but it would take away from the beauty of the piece.This was a fantastic purchase. Inexpensive, on trend, easy to learn, and not obnoxious for everyone else in the house.
28 people found this helpful
Astra –
Inexpensive and nice sound.
I use it for relaxation. I am not musically inclined. I do like the sound. Inexpensive nice product.
Poulee –
To start I love showing it to our visitors. My granddaughters love it
Easy to play. Its actually a real instrument. beautiful sound
Ranperre –
So cool!
A fun little finger piano, makes a beautiful sound a and makes for a great gift to a music lover
Eric P. –
Great Unique Gift for the Musician in Your Life
We gave this as a birthday gift to our teacher, who’s a music teacher and plays in a local orchestra. It was a HUGE hit.
Amy J. Campbell –
Great product
I bought this item for my daughter for Christmas. It was made well and sounds amazing. It came perfectly tuned. My kids have been in school band for years so they didn’t trouble to download or access the online learners guide. This product is worth the money.
420_in_MA –
Wonderfully made very easy to play
I picked up one of these on a whim as for something to fidget with with just my fingers and it turns out this is very easy to play and can be kind of addicting once you get accustomed to the scale I find it a great fidget widget item
Pen Name –
Beautiful look and tone
A gift my grandson adored
MERLINA CARO –
Unique instrument
My grandkids were surprised where the instrument originated and what does it do. My grandson loved it for being handy to bring to school. Loved the sound too.
Art Loredo –
Outstanding Customer Service
This kalimba was a birthday gift, so I was disappointed to see the wood split down the middle right after opening the box. This could’ve been a headache and a half but the seller was quick to respond, sent a replacement, and made things right. You can tell they care about their customers and maintaining a good relationship. I can’t recommend highly enough!
One person found this helpful
Tim in VT –
Very Nice, Very Nice!!
Very nice for the price and it comes with a nice bag to keep it in. We had gotten one for my wife last year and paid almost double. We got this one for my oldest daughter and when my wife saw it she wanted the new one because the quality was better and the sound had more depth to it. So its a 5 star buy in my book.
3 people found this helpful
My Own Man –
White elephant gift
Everyone fought over this ! Purchased for two separate parties and the response was the same !
maria de la cruz –
Absolutely yes
I bought this kalimba with the intention to learn. It was going great. Sounded amazing, it was well made. Unfortunately life got in the way and I returned it because I was not going to be able to have time. Definitely when things calm down in a couple of months I will be buying again and committing to learn to play this wonderful kalimba. Great product for a total beginner like myself. lol
Gene –
Delightful Kalimba!
I purchased this to replace a gourd kalimba I had years ago. I would often use it to play softly when putting my kids to bed when they were little. As they got older they would play with it as it is such an easy instrument to learn and play. For the price point, the craftmanship iof this kalimba is excellent. It is well made and was in fairly good tune when it arrived. The tines are more substantial than I’ve seen on most kalimbas in this price range which give a nice ringing tone (usually you’ll find them made of a milder steel that bends too easily giving a dull tone and bad intonation). The sound box is sturdy yet light and easy to hold, and the laser engraved purfling around the sound hole is a beautiful, elegant touch. The tremolo holes on the back fall nicely under the middle fingers making it easy to produce those “wa-wa” sounds. The bridge/nut assembly is solid, holding the tines securely but not so tightly as to make tuning difficult. The inclusion of the little tuning hammer is another nice addition and the instructions/songbook should easily get the beginner playing as soon as it comes out of the box.I am really pleased with this purchase and would definitely recommend this as a gift to anyone on your list.
3 people found this helpful
MBrad –
Love it
I am not a musician, so I don’t have any expertise- but I will say it looks very nice and sounds beautiful. It was mostly tuned, but it was really easy to use the little hammer and adjust. It’s also nice that they send additional learning materials via PDF after you receive the item. They were also really quick to respond when I had a question. I love all the accessories and dust bag that come with it. I think it’s a pretty good value for the price; it doesn’t look cheap at all (to me). I bought it for myself, but think it would make a nice gift. Some of the instructions weren’t super clear to me, but it wasn’t that a big of a deal, I just googled a bit. Overall, very pleased with it and would recommend.
Leah Craddock –
THE PERFECT GIFT
This was a perfect gift for a musically talented person or anyone! It’s a small and fun instrument to learn. It is durable and amazing quality for the price.
Lydia –
Great Little Beginner Kalimba
I picked this up after becoming obsessed with one my sister had purchased off Temu. It’s such a great little instrument to take your mind off the world for a bit. My husband and my 8-year old have also picked it up randomly a bunch too. Such a fun and decently priced pasttime!
Brian Jackson –
I Love It!
My Kalimba arrived today, and I love it! All tines are in tune. The instrument is a little more challenging to play than expected. I’ve already bruised my thumbs playing the thing, but in a good way :-). The sound is beautiful, and the instrument feels comfortable in my hands. I can’t wait for my music to start arriving tomorrow. The music that comes with the instrument is a little small to read, but I’ve been playing the sample music online out of the songbooks I ordered. This is a fun instrument that sounds beautiful. And the thing is so inexpensive. I’m already thinking of ordering one for my niece. I recommend ordering one yourself ASAP!Update: I ordered a second one. I have books arriving that use two different methods for color coding the tines. I tried using red stickers for one method and green for the second on the same kalimba and it was too confusing. Solution: since they’re so inexpensive, I ordered a second one so that I can have each dedicated to a different tine coloring scheme. Love this kalimba!
7 people found this helpful
Placeholder –
Great little instrument.
For the price I’m impressed. I’ve never played an instrument but at 80 I decided to learn. This is small enough and the instructions are simple. I can play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” five minutes after reading the little beginners lesson. I bought the Kalimba Song Book for beginners. Leafing through the book I’m very encouraged I will be playing songs in no time at all. So who says “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” . We travel a lot in our RV so this Kalimba will be perfect to take along and it won’t drive people crazy as it has a soft sound like a harp.Buy… you won’t be disappointed!!
4 people found this helpful
Teresa T. –
One of a kind
Unique musical instrument . Relaxing sounds can be played right out of the box. Looking forward to learning how to play this beautiful and portable instrument. Company is very attentive as well and stands by their product. Reasonable priced . Schools should add this instrument to their teaching programs. Very user friendly
Page Banfield –
Absolutely LOVED this Kalimba!
I bought this Kalimba for my son for a Christmas gift. I was surprised to find it larger than I thought it would be for the price, and it also seems to be made very well. It has a beautiful, melodic sound and I just love it! For the price, I would highly recommend this for any child or adult that wants to learn how to “thumb” the keys, it’s easy, and sounds just beautiful and it’s so “calming!”
One person found this helpful
Daphnern –
Beautiful music
Very impressed with this kulimba. It’s looks and sounds beautiful..purchased for my child but I love it just as much…even caught dad playing with it too.
Harley Cyn –
Everyone loves this
I was a little uncertain when I went to buy a kalimba online. There were so many choices. I went with this one because it had the best price/reviews/accessories all together. When the intended recipient opened their gift they were very happy with the variety. They immediately tried everything out. Before they were done, the rest of the family was lining up to take a turn.This instrument is very well made. It sounds beautiful even if you’re just idly plucking. With some practice, a person could make sweet music with this richly-toned kalimba. Well worth the price and shipped quickly.
SS –
Thumb piano
Excellent gift
E. Becks –
Beautiful Craftsmanship
I purchased this as a gift for a holiday party. I was so pleased with the craftsmanship and how beautifully crafted the item was. The piano itself had a wonderful, pleasing sound. Very impressed with the purchase.
icarusicarus –
High Quality
This is the first instrument I bought since the recorder I had to get in elementary school. I got this for myself as something to play with as a new pastime. I’ve had a lot of fun with it so I want to leave a review of my experience.The kalimba came in with no scratches or any damage. However, a few keys needed to be tuned. The box kit comes with a tuning hammer and a booklet that shows apps you can use to tune your kalimba. Took me a few hours to tune it. I made sure to look up some youtube videos for how to tune my kalimba (Tip’s Kalimba) beforehand.Each key has its respective note engraved. The kit provides green and red stickers you can put on the keys as reference points to make playing off sheet music easier. I don’t use the stickers as personal preference but I can see the benefit a beginner could get out of using them.The booklet provided contains well-rounded information for your kalimba and even gives a beginner guide to learning kalimba sheet music along with a few example songs. Although it teaches you to read kalimba sheet music, I prefer writing down my own created sheet music notes in a notebook. It takes time, but it is a fun process. I find myself playing random combination of keys following no song in particular just to hear the sweet sound the kalimba produces. It’s like controlled wind chimes.The thumb caps were a size too small for my thumbs but thankfully the box kit provided a small soft cloth to clean the kalimba keys with after use so I could just use my fingers without cover-caps with no worry. Always clean your keys after finishing playing with your kalimba with a dry cloth, like the one provided, to prevent rusting from the oil residue your fingers can leave on the keys.After use I always wipe down my keys and put it in the provided black bag to prevent it from catching any dust.The sound from the kalimba is very pretty and loud enough to play it to a group of friends or for a microphone to easily pick up the tunes. I was able to play my kalimba over a call to a friend via an iPhone 5, iPhone X, as well as over an ikedon mic without issue.The kalimba is roughly 5½ in. Length, 4in. Width, 1in. Height.Overall, it is a great product for yourself or as a gift considering it is very easy to play. I really enjoy playing my new kalimba.
4 people found this helpful
CatladyCatlady –
Beautiful sound, pretty easy to learn.
My Kalimba arrived with everything you see in the pictue, the Kalimba, a box, a velvet protective bag to store it in, a carrying bag with shoulder strap, tuning hammer, a small 2 song book that also has instructions how to get the free app for tuning the instrument, two colors of stickers for the keys to learn playing easier (I already put the green ones on in this picture), some stickers for key names/numbers in case you have a hard time seeing the ones etched on the keys already, a cleaning cloth, and two thumb guards (I have not used).I have never seen one of these instruments before I saw a YouTube recommendation video that had one of them. I ordered this on impulse.It’s surprisingly well made and very pretty. Even if you don’t know how to play a single song, it sounds awesome just strumming random keys!! No kidding! Sounds like a music box. It’s designed to be held without blocking the two sound holes in the back. If those are blocked or it’s setting on a table or lap, it does not sound nearly as pretty.I do recommend a free app called Kalimba Connect that helped me to learn to play it and read the music. It has either a virtual Kalimba to learn on or (as I did) you can set the app to detect your actual Kalimba’s notes as you play them, if it’s tuned correctly.I did have to tune mine some, but it’s easy. Lightly tap a few times down to lower the pitch, tap up to raise the pitch. The tuning app from Google Play will show you what note it’s playing, and the key shows you what it should be. The book helps with this process. My understanding is how often you have to tune depends on how much you play it.With the free Kalimba Connect app from Google Play I was able to learn a whole single note at a time song by the end of the evening from memory!! Remember, I have never even seen or heard of one of these things until the day before I ordered it!! I’m not particulary inclined to musical instruments either.It should be fairy easy for most adults and older children to learn a few basic songs. Younger children will problably still enjoy making some very lovely but random sounds on it.It is made of hollow wood and reasonaly sturdy, however it probably wouldn’t hold up to very young children who are still very rough with things yet. Meaning it probably wouldn’t take being tossed around or dropped frequently very well.With care, I’d expect this to last a long time. It requires no batteries, no charging, it’s portable for easy travel, sounds awesome even if you don’t know what you’re doing, is very beautiful, and a great conversation starter because it’s rather unique.To be fair, this review is supposed to be compensated somewhat. Even if it isn’t, I would have left this exact review even if it wasn’t. I still purchased the item and do not regret doing so! I highly recommend this item! Really!
31 people found this helpful
Bry –
Beautifully made and sound
I bought this when there was a super good deal going on. I like how it came with instructions thay were easy to understand. It came with a hammer to tune the kalimba which I liked. It was easy to play and it sounded beautiful. Light weight instrument and felt comfortable to play. Has a small cute design too.
Jessica –
Beautiful
This is a stunning instrument! My 13 year old daughter came home one day requesting to order one, “I will even pay with my own money!” I didn’t even know what it was! The seller even emailed song books and my daughter is thriving. The sounds are quite beautiful, even as a beginner!
One person found this helpful
Sylvia –
Learning to Play the Kalinds
This little musical instrument has turned out to be both a surprise and a delight! I ordered it because I thought it would be so easy to play. For me that has not been true. HOWEVER, I am getting the hang of it and find that when I feel stressed, picking it up and picking out a tune helps me relax, and in those transitional moments when I don’t quite know what to do with myself, it’s there for me. It’s so portable, and friends and family enjoy playing it. I am so happy I got it! It could be the perfect gift for just the right person.
3 people found this helpful
Manu Santosu –
Addicted
My new addiction. I’ve learned 2 songs already (from Legend Of Zelda).It’s so soothing, brings me peace. It came tuned already. Amazing quality. I love it
2GirlsMom –
Well made and fun
Teenagers into music loved it. Easy to pick up and use. Easy to tune. And, it looks very nice and well made.
Crystal Todd –
cute little instrument
i’ve learned a thing or two on an actual piano as well as 6 years on the clarinet and a few things on the ukulele and guitar, so i figured this would be a fun little thing to play around with. it’s lightweight and compact, so it doesn’t take up hardly any space. i think the sound is really pretty and it comes with a little booklet with a couple of song walkthroughs so you learn some simple things on it.
2 people found this helpful
Carz –
Love it
My daughter uses it all the time for singing and just to play around. She is in singing lessons now and plays the piano. It’s really pretty too!
julesofdew –
Beautiful little instrument. Unexpectedly nice, especially for the price.
Great value. Not a toy. A really nice little instrument. Came well tuned, with instructions for tuning it in the future. Beautiful wood. Good packaging.
BambooPandaBambooPanda –
Beautiful music
Arrived fast. The instrument is simple and beautiful. Can easily produce a peaceful music like a piano. Had tools to adjust the pieces.
Debbie S. –
Great purchase
Came across this item while I was looking for a gift for my 16 year old nephew. He loves to play the piano and was thrilled to receive this item. I love that he can play it anywhere.
yikes –
Great sound on this kalimba. But nowhere does it identify it as a newlam brand??
I like the sound of this kalimba! The far right key is kind of dead maybe but all the others have a lovely sound.This says that it is Newlam, but the instrument- nor the box identifies it as any brand. There is a white piece of paper that says newlam – but it is only a quick guide for a little song. The pictures on the Amazon site looks like what I received. But I have real doubts that it is a Newlam kalimba.I bought 7 different kalimbas this Christmas, and every one has the brand on the kalimba, the box and the user guide. But overall. I like this one. Even if it is a generic knockoff. It has superior sound to several other ones that I bought. But I am no expert! It is just my opinion. I am happy with it! FYI: There is no hard shell case, just the slip-in bag.
8 people found this helpful
Jordan Young –
Incredible value!
Was very surprised with how nice it is, and also the whole setup as well as packaging.
Bill CorsinBill Corsin –
Soothing!
This is a finely crafted instrument with a lovely melodic sound. It looks beautiful and gets lots of compliments. My wife is the one with the musical talent and just loves it! I enjoy plinking on it.There are many versions and sellers of this Kalimba on Amazon and I’m glad we chose this one.
One person found this helpful
Lilkurty –
Gift for 7 year old grand daughter
I sent this to my 7 year old grand daughter for her birthday. It’s a unique gift and will be fun for her to take on camping trips
Kelly Johnson –
So cool!!
Bought this for my 12 year old for Christmas. The whole family loves to play it. It’s small & makes the coolest sounds. Would make a fun gift, as well!
DDEffShopping –
A Beautiful Instrument
This exceeded my expectations. It also was opened & the kalimba removed. It is perfectly tuned, (such a nice surprise). Im so excited to learn how to play it on I did buy a Christmas songbook, hopefully be playing a tune or 2 before Christmas. I highly suggest this product & the seller. Everything was well packaged & delivered in perfect condition
Mark L. Horvath –
Much more than I expected
I just received my 17 key Kalimba. I play guitar so I had some interest in this unique instrument. I figured it was one of those items I could place on the coffee table as a conversation piece or something to idle play with. I saw the videos and half expected the actual item to be unfinished or certainly not as nice as the one shown. I figured that must be the deluxe model and the actual 25 dollar model would fall short. I was amazingly surprised. The Kalimba I received was nicely finished (same as the photos). Rather than a toy it is actually playable (I checked the tuning with my guitar tuner). It came nicely packed and included a tuning hammer (with instructions), nice storage bag (to keep it in), a couple finger covers (for those lengthy practice sessions), some key decals, some paper shims (should a key develop and buzz) and an instruction book with how to play some simple tunes. I’m pleasantly surprised and impressed… best impulsive $25 dollar buy I’ve ever made. I’m looking forward to learning a bit about this instrument and how to play some fun tunes to impress my friends… hell… I might even include it in some of my guitar recordings. Pick one of these up… it will look cool on your coffee table and, should you pick it up, you will finding it intriguing and fun to play (or at least trying to)!
One person found this helpful
Tammy Spencer –
Beautiful Little Instrument
I bought this for my husband for Christmas and he loves it. He’s a guitar player by profession and picked it up really quick. The sound is beautiful and the craftsmanship is beautiful. I’m very happy with this purchase.
KMKM –
Beautiful instrument, kids love it, and the noise is pleasing, even when they’re learning.
This is a wonderful & affordable instrument. My grandson (9) wanted to learn to play music, so I got this for myself, so he wouldn’t be tempted to take it home & drive his parents nuts with the noise.No worries, this plays a lovely sound (almost like a Harp), & depending on how hard you strum it, it can be very quiet, too, while learning.He fell in LOVE with it, & asked repeatedly for one for his birthday. I actually liked it a lot, too, so I did get him one for his birthday, later this month. I know he’s gonna love it, & this is the kind of thing that can grow with him. If he learns to actually play it, he can keep using it for life, vs one of those awful flute things they give kids, that drive every dog in the neighborhood insane, as well as the people.It comes very well packaged, had a hammer included to tune it, & some stickers to help you tell what note each key is supposed to be. The keys are embossed with their notes, but it’s very hard to see, unless you hold it just so in the light. I put the stickers on mine, until I get the hang of it.It also includes 2 thumb guards for you to start. It’s played with thumbs only, so you’ll want to use those, at least until you can grow out your thumbnails. I’m nearly there growing mine out, and it’s a lot easier to play with natural nails, instead of silicone guards or thumb picks. The keys are tightly packed, easy to accidentally bump the next key while you play a note, but once my nails grow out a bit more, I expect that to get a lot better.Tuning was pretty easy, as there are online sites that listen to you play the note, & tell you when you have it right. The site I found showed you if the note was high or low, so you just use the hammer to tap it up or down til you get the right pitch. Very gently tap it up if the note is too low, & visa versa. Keep checking with the online tuner, as you can actually end up with a different note, if you tap too much.The box it came with is perfect, so I decorated both boxes. Pictures shown, because these Kalimbas are lovely, but fragile if dropped. Keeping the box, & making it pretty, ensures it will be put away, each time, not left knocking around the bedroom.Both mine were in perfect condition upon arrival, & easily tuned. I love them.
53 people found this helpful
Sabrina –
Love the ethereal kalimba sounds
I enjoyed the sounds of the kalimba and decided to try this one. I have been so happy being able to play this beautiful instrument. It is very well made and the wood is beautiful. I love the relaxing ethereal sound of the kalimba. It is fun to play whenever, finding the notes and learning new songs. It comes with an instruction booklet with songs and notes for upkeep and care as well as tuning.
HeidiandPaul –
Amazing instrument, amazing seller
Super happy with this Kalimba, received without the tuning hammer, but seller made right quickly. Will recommend 100%. Plays beautiful melodies and is easy to pick up (clarinet background)
Ileana I –
Great quality and beautiful sound
Beautiful wood used. Appears well constructed. Really a sweet sounding instrument. After buying first one, ordered 2 more as gifts. Great value and quality for price. All 3 purchased were given to musicians in the family. All really enjoyed playing with it.
One person found this helpful
Miss CCMiss CC –
Gorgeous, beautiful sound, great price
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Off the bat, I’m going to be reviewing this kalimba as a Starter/beginner kalimba and not as an extremely professional, high-end piece. I’ve been playing kalimba for a very short amount of time on my partner’s much more expensive alto kalimba and loving it. But the alto has fewer keys and the keys are set up opposite of a usual 17 key and finding tabs for the alto was very difficult. I’m someone who gets into hobbies and then drops them a few months, even weeks, later so I didn’t want to purchase a pricey kalimba if I wasn’t invested.That’s where this kalimba comes in. For a little over $20, I figured I could mess around with it, see if I enjoyed the instrument before purchasing an expensive kalimba. I was extremely surprised by my initial impressions of this kalimba. The look of the instrument is absolutely stunning and the sound right out of the box is lovely. I believe I may need to tune the furthest keys as they are a little buzzy but, overall, you get a pretty solid piece for next to nothing cost-wise.Pros- Very inexpensive- Beautiful appearance- Classic, “music-box” sound- Tune correctly out of the box (two keys are any exception)- Lots of goodies (tuning hammer, manual and music tabs book, stickers for the keys, black bag for storage)- Ergonomic shape with the side dents for your thumb to rest- Like most kalimbas, learning the basic mechanics of how to play is very easy- Engraved keys (the listing and many Q&As answered by the seller say the keys are not engraved but mine did come engraved and I think it is absolutely beautiful plus helpful)Cons- Multiple reviewers experienced the same damage from a crack starting at the soundhole and running to the base after a month+ of owning (I have not experienced this but will update if this happens)- Tuning hammer feels it is made of cheap material (will see if this is a problem later on)- No real paper trail on where this instrument was manufactured (may not be a con or even a care for many but knowing where your piece was made and exactly by who can be important for some)- Does not include a pickup (this might be a moot point for many but, higher-end kalimbas, such as the alto kalimba from Kalimba Magic I first started playing on, have an electronic pickup for amps)- No ability to request non-standard tuning (the vast majority of people want a kalimba tuned in Standard G. However, if you want a different tuning [aren’t confident you could do that yourself], you won’t be able to ask with any of the kalimbas found on Amazon for a different tuning like you can with other manufacturers like Kalimba Magic)Pro/Con/Neutral- Small (great for children and folks with small hands like me but might be annoying for someone with larger hands)- Lightweight (again, great for children and small-handed folks but could be frustrating for someone who wants a hefty instrument)- While gorgeous, I do question the quality of materials used. The craftsmanship is beautiful but, without knowing the specific source of all the material, it is difficult to provide feedback on the quality.I’ve included a few pictures and a (poorly focused) video of the kalimba being played. You may be able to hear the “buzzy” or “fuzzy” end keys in the video but, overall, this was tuned wonderfully. Additionally, I have not tuned or done anything to the kalimba besides play it a few times. This is the sound out of the box.I think this piece does the job for anyone test-running if they want a kalimba or not. It is very cheap which makes it easier to jump into; no pressure if you don’t enjoy it and decide to give it away, donate, or just leave it on your shelf to mess about with once every few months. For a starter kalimba (barring any sudden and random damage as other reviewers have experienced with this specific piece) I rate this 5/5. It has everything a starter kalimba should have at a price point that is very difficult to beat. Compared to other, high-end and professional kalimbas, it absolutely lacks in multiple areas but, if you’re just test-running this interesting and wonderful instrument, this little piece will help you explore. And, when you’re ready to upgrade to a professional kalimba, you won’t feel as though you wasted any money or time with this little cheapy buddy!
187 people found this helpful
Kathy –
Newlam Kalimba 17 Key
I LOVE the sound of this Kalimba. I’ve been playing around with it for a little while, but like any other instrument, it will take time to play this without looking at my hands. For someone new to the Kalimba, I’m so glad it came with all the accessories I will need. I did purchase a case for this after having it for a little while. I didn’t want to take a chance of damaging it since this only comes with a cloth bag to store it in.
One person found this helpful
The Watcher –
I want one for me!
Got this for my daughter’s birthday present, but before I wrapped it up, I decided to check it out. Perfect to hold in my hands and the sound is better than I thought it would be. Now I want to get one for myself, but it will have to wait till after Christmas. Shoot, I want to get each of my grandkids one of these too. Makes a nice little gift for anyone.
One person found this helpful
War2en –
Great kalimba at a great price! Delivered in tune!
Unbeatable value for a quality instrument anyone can play.
L.J. –
beautiful music
I don’t know how to read music, but this seems to be great to learn on, and the music is beautiful.
Ella –
Sounds and looks pretty
Got this as a gift for my cousin, it sounds nice and it wasn’t annoying or twangy! Not to mention the quality of it made is wonderful!
Jonathan Hernandez –
Awesome Instrument
As a beginner to the instrument, I was easily drawn to its beautiful design and affordable price. It sounds amazing and please to hear. Extremely satisfied with my purchase. Highly recommend.
Randy w. –
Beautiful instrument
Don’t overlook this instrument as some toy. Produces beautiful sounds and comes with a book to teach you different songs you can learn to play
Billy Ray Carmack –
Works Great!
Got it for my wife, she seems to really enjoy it.
Michelle Hale –
Beautiful
This is made very well and easy to learn even for younger children. The little song book helps alot as well! Very sturdy and a beautiful little instrument!
Caro –
I LOVE IT
I love it! It’s perfect. It was tuned when it arrived and I was able to start playing immediately. It’s a great and affordable kalimba for a beginner. The material feels light but sturdy and this allows me to play without feelings my hands and arms getting tired. 100% recommend it.
Amber Molinaro –
The hit in our white elephant gift exchange.
This shipped on time. Is very well made. It comes with easy instructions. This was the item everyone wanted in our gift exchange. The sound is very nice. Perfect gift for a music lover.
margaret –
Nice instrument
Very pretty wood, and lovely sound from it. Easy to learn to play.
JACK A. LOPE –
Fun as all-get-out
Bought for my 9 yr old and she loved it.I wound up borrowing it when she put it down ,for a while.It has a lovely sound and is very easy to play. It comes with a nice little velvet bag and a tool for tuning it.I found playing it strangely hypnotic and relaxing. Like an intoxicating fidget toy. Very cool.
Susan S. –
Beautiful and Great Quality.
This is such a unique gift, and I was not disappointed when it arrived. The kalimba was very carefully packaged, and the sellers care about their product. This is a beautiful instrument, and is perfect for small spaces because the sound is not loud. Very nice sounding and good quality!
One person found this helpful
Kara –
Perfect gift!
Got this for my girls to share, aged 14 and 9, they’re both musicians and picked this up IMMEDIATELY and could play right away! The learning curve is very forgiving and you can find tabs for lots of songs online. Fun instrument and a nice break from electronics! The book it came with has a few basic songs in it as well to get started right away.
Frank Allen –
I have had this Instrument —
I have had this Instrument for 3 days and after 7hrs in the last 3 days I have learned 1 song well, and learning the second from Kalimba Beginning Instruction Book ( It has a yellow background with red bold red letters. I suggest if y. This books also have you have a hard time with piano, and or hard to read music. It’s great start !
2 people found this helpful
Andre –
Magical Sound instrument
I fell in love with the sound of the kalimba after 1st hearing it on many of my favorite Earth, Wind & Fire band’s tunes. I decided to order this one due to high ratings and the very affordable price. I am still in the 1st stage of learning how to play it but very excited as well. It arrived in perfect condition and the color of the wood is just beautiful and the sounds from the keys are mellow and bright. Will be a new hobby for me.
One person found this helpful
Tmd28 –
So cute
Got this as a gift for a musician and she loves it 🙂 I tried it out before gifting and it’s very enjoyable. Seems well made!
Lisa Evans –
Good quality, customer service
It’s lovely, and I am enjoying learning how to play. The quality is good. Customer service wrote me a message following delivery. The message included what were supposed to be song sheets. When I wrote them back to say the links were not working, they promptly replied with working links.
Bret –
Pretty sturdy, nice bag, great purchase.
I bought this thing to play around a campfire with my chums, and it performs pretty well.I cannot attest to beginner friendliness, as I have been playing piano for 13 years, so I probably have a head start in terms of learning these type of instruments, but I gave it to a less experience buddy and he was able to start playing some simple tunes in a few minutes, its super easy to get the hang of.The included mallet makes it easy to switch from major to minor to any scale you can find on Wikipedia and back again, just have a phone tuner.It makes a very pretty sound, but as you get higher the tines get a little less pretty and a little more tinny, but you can still make out notes, I assume this is a side effect for the price, but 90% of the time I’m not on the highest 4 notes, so it doesn’t make a difference to me.As an intro to a Kalimba, this is great, would I buy it again? Probably not, if you can fork out some more money go for something a little more expensive and curve the tine problems and get a nice design on it. If your budget is in this range though, I don’t think you can go wrong.
17 people found this helpful
ReviewGuru –
Surprisingly good!
I got this on a whim, not expecting much, but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised! It has great resonance, very good and rich sound for the most part (although the highest 3 or 4 keys sound very thin with little sustain), and keeps its tune pretty well (I have to tune after about every 3 hours of intense playing, or after maybe 5-8 total hours of less intense playing). Also it’s really beautiful wood. A bit bigger and heavier than I expected. Overall, this exceeded my expectations. I would definitely recommend this kalimba to a friend.
mk –
Great gift idea
Bought this for my 11 year son. He really enjoys it. He recently learned he’s got a gift for playing the piano.. so this is a great addition. Travels well, too.
Lori –
Fun!
We got this as a holiday gift and everyone from kids to grandparents have been playing it here and there. Solid quality, came well-packaged and perfect for a gift, definitely worth the price.
Syed Emad Khalid –
Amazing
Sounds heavenly. Comes perfectly tuned out of the box. You don’t need to know how to play it to buy it. Just get it and learn slowly. Just sounds too good.
Wanda B –
Very good gift
My son really love it
Marty C –
What fun!
I bought this for a gift and when it came I took it out of the box to see what it was like. I’ve ordered another as a replacement gift. So far I’ve composed a few dozen songs just by striking different random keyx. Who knew I was a genius on the thumb piano!Seriously, this is a lovely music maker. It has such sweet tones. Both of us will enjoy it for years to come!