QUOKKA TUNES Kalimba Thumb Piano 17 Key - Unique Cool Cute Design Mbira Portable Music Maker Interesting Professional Wood Musical Instrument Tuning Hammer Songbook Hard Case Stand; Gifts Adults Kids

The media could not be loaded.  I loved this Kalimba the moment I touched it. It is smooth and beautifully crafted. It replaced my Unikko Kalimba instantly, due to the bright resonance of the higher tines and the feel of it in my hands. All materials used are of higher quality. The metal is finished more elegantly and and it and the wood are smoother to the touch. As a beginner, I appreciate the complete package including the sturdy case, which I had to purchase separately for my previous Kalimba. It is deeper and sturdier but just as light. The set also includes a cleaning cloth (not pictured because I misplaced it) and brown color stickers. The tines are curved and more flexible. The engraved letters are larger and more readable but I ended up getting letter/number stickers to help me see them better at night while I learn. I'm 55 and getting older, so my eyesight is not getting any better. The booklet too, is much more encompassing compared to the Unikko Kalimba, including beginning music reading instruction. I just wish the letters were more distinguishable in the notes, but I plan to enlarge them in a copier to help me learn faster. I definitely recommend this Kalimba. It is a pleasure to play and always makes me look forward to my next practice session! The video is a comparison between the Quokka Tunes and Unikko Kalimbas, tuned to C major. I'm glad I got to experience both and made a very well informed decision to keep the Quokka Tunes Kalimba instead. As an added bonus to the world, a new tree is planted with each Kalimba purchased. You can't go wrong with this purchase.

Ich bin absolut begeistert von dieser Kalimba! Von Anfang an hat sie mich mit ihrem wunderschönen, beruhigenden Klang verzaubert. Sie ist nicht nur ein Musikinstrument, sondern ein kleines Stück Magie in meinen Händen :)Die Kalimba von Quokka wurde in einer hochwertigen Verarbeitung geliefert, und die Tasten sind präzise gestimmt. Die Handwerkskunst und die Materialien, die bei ihrer Herstellung verwendet wurden, sind offensichtlich von hoher Qualität und liegen echt super in der Hand und Ich hab ziemlich kleine Hände.Die Töne, die diese Kalimba erzeugt, sind kristallklar und harmonisch. Es macht so viel Spaß, damit zu spielen und eigene Melodien zu improvisieren. Selbst als Anfänger habe ich mich in kürzester Zeit in dieses Instrument verliebt, und es hat mir so sehr geholfen, meine musikalische Kreativität zu entfalten. :)

It makes great sounds and elegant design. Bought as a gift.

This is a beautiful kalimba. I thought I would learn how to play the kalimba this summer, and I tried several different models. This was my absolute favorite of the ones I tried. It is a hollow, lightweight kalimba with tines that are slightly larger than some I had seen elsewhere. The engraved note names are easier for nearsighted people like me to see. The tines felt great to play, and the highest E tine actually worked! (The highest D was a little stiff, but not as bad as on others, and it still sounded). The kalimba also arrived in tune--I didn't have to do anything to it! For the short time that I played, this was my go-to kalimba.Sadly, I ended up returning it because maintaining long thumbnails was very difficult for me. I know some people play kalimba with the skin of their thumbs or they use the rubber thumb protectors, but that didn't work out for me--it had to be the nails, or nothing. I also had trouble tuning (not this kalimba, but another--same process for any kalimba). Hammering the tines with a metal hammer, with a tuner app on my phone next to me to help, was not fun, and took a long time. That's just how you have to do it, and after the first time, I never wanted to do it again! Kalimbas do go out of tune and need to be tuned, though.Also, if you haven't read any other reviews or are not familiar with the kalimba, be aware that it is a limited instrument, but it has options to customize if you are patient. It can only play in a simple C major scale the way it is laid out--no sharps or flats (AKA "accidentals")--you can't just decide to change it up in a song or improv and suddenly play a note that is not part of that C major scale (like an E flat) unless you custom tune it. You could retune it to be in C minor without a lot of work, or change the tuning on a few tines to give you that sharp or flat that you want for a specific song, but then you will have to remember where it is. You could even retune the whole thing to be in another key entirely, as long or short as the tines will go! You just have to be willing to mess with it, which I am not. -_-So, I learned this summer that this instrument is not for me, but I'm glad I tried it! If you are going to try the kalimba, start with THIS one! The seller is excellent, and sent me messages throughout the buying and returning process. I would encourage you to support this company--they plant a tree when you buy a kalimba. Happy playing, everyone!

I love this product. I've been obssessed with it and practice every morning while I have my coffee. I've been wanting a kalimba for years. This was a highly recommended product from a YouTube video I watched. The product came fast and safe. It comes with the hard case, soft bag, tuning hammer, tine stickers, a stand, and a cleaning brush and cloth. This is the most accessories I've seen available to purchase with the kalimba itself. I think it's well worth the money.This is my first kalimba so I'm by no means an expert. The instrument wasn't in tune when I received it. I spent about 15-30 mins tuning it with the hammer. It was a little hard to tune at first, but I got the hang of it and can do it a lot faster now. It's been a few weeks and I've only had to do small tuning adjustments.I love the way it looks and I think it sounds lovely. The only issue I have is with the second octave F. It doesn't resonate like the rest of the notes do. However, I read in the pamphlet that sometimes the tines take a little breaking in. It still sounds a little dull but is far more resonant now then when I first received it.Finally, as for learning it, I took to it relatively easily. I am a flutist and music educator, so I expected it to be a little easier. I love that the tines have both letter names and number engraved on them. I prefer to look at and follow tabs that have printed letter names, but I imagine that having the numbers may make reading the tabs easier for some people. There are lots of resources out there for learning to play different tunes. There's easy tunes listed in the pamphlet as well.Overall, I really enjoy this kalimba and am so happy I got it!