Essential Guide to Choosing and Buying Your First Mbira - Instruments for Sale

Avoid the common pitfalls and find an instrument that you'll love to play for years to come.
Mbira for sale, get more mbira buying advice, see different instruments/tunings and meet trusted makers at: www.mbiramagic.com
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#mbira #buymbira #mbiraforsale

[@fowlerad]

Free Mbira Maker Pack: gumroad.com/l/mbira-essentials [contains makers, contact details, instrument styles, photos and dozens of other handy mbira bonuses]

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Great job man I'm glad I found this channel! I'm also teaching Mbira on my channel (NyungaNyunga for now) and I'm not sure where to send people across the world who would like to buy the Mbira. If possible please help me with an online store that sells Mbiras, preferebly the Nyunganyunga. Thanks.

[@fowlerad]

Thanks 🙌 - I’m rebuilding www.mbiramagic.com right now, but I’m already showcasing a few mbira makers there. They all make both styles. - I’m pushing for folk to buy direct from trusted makers rather than resellers. It works out cheaper, and it’s more empowering and profitable for the maker. Cheers.

[@YeboahGodfred-lf5jm]

What metal can I use to make the kalimba keys

[@fowlerad]

Hey 👋 If you search ‘metal keys for kalimba’ on google there are 100’s of pre-made packs of keys available. I think most of those are stainless steel which is hard and brittle, but these are a great choice for building something quickly, with a clear and bright sound. They’re not good for re-shaping though. Mbira makers choose from different grades of steel based on a number of factors including: key size and thickness, and whether they are hot or cold forging (sprung/spring steel, brass, mild steel, and some even work with stainless steel but that’s very time consuming work) In summary.. if you’re building a kalimba grab a pack of keys online. If you’re building mbira, let me know which maker’s style you like and I’ll try and put you in touch for more specific advice. Good luck 👍

[@fowlerad]

Also, I put together a playlist of mbira making videos you might find useful: kzbin.info/aero/PLq03gdM3UeATEs1NsvZvvvSf2XKbmLHoi&si=IvHwF4rAT-xYrOmC

[@YOUSIRrapudgypenguin]

What is the name of the song that you play at 9:03? Does is have a name? It's magically soothing, and whenever I replay that part of the video, it instantly transports my mind to somewhere beautiful.😍 I'd love to be able to play it myself on a similarly-tuned mbira

[@YOUSIRrapudgypenguin]

It might sound strange, but it's one of the few things that really helps with my depression

[@fowlerad]

Hey Ashley! Great to hear from you. 👋 It’s such a beautiful and special variation I made a more analytical video going deeper into it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKK8pHltgcighMk - there’s different names for the song, already discussed in the comments on this thread. Take a look, and keep in touch with me about your mbira journey. Depression can feel so inescapable - I wish you all the best on that front - chase your passions, keep active, stay open to change, and take time every day to love yourself. 🤗

[@RudoMoto]

Awesome. Whats the name of the demo tune that you played? Nhemamusasa yepasi?

[@fowlerad]

Thanks! 😊 I’ve heard it called that before, with folk saying it gets the ‘yepasi’ (from the ground/earth) name because of the movement of the left thumb (from low to high notes). I know this one as Nhemamusasa Yematare, and Nhemamusasa Yepasi as a different song (where the chord structure is transposed one step higher). Forward Kwenda says that song gets its name from being a more ancient version - played by the ancestors (who are now buried in the earth). As with all things mbira, it’s difficult to pin anything down with any certainty! Thanks for your encouragement!

[@sherelhayes4234]

I wish I’d visit your video before I bought the one I have.

[@fowlerad]

😢 Oh no! How bad is it? Are you still playing, or holding out for a replacement?

[@jeromechapman3358]

I was introduced to this instrument through Smilin Billy suite part 2. Is that a traditional tuning or a special one?

[@fowlerad]

I just took a listen. Sounds like a modern Kalimba to me (I might be wrong). In the 1950s a guy called Hugh Tracey was so inspired by traditional mbira instruments he started making Western tuned ones, calling them ‘kalimba’, and today they’re everywhere. The original tunings are a bit ‘slippery’ - so many nuances, and so hard to pin down any ‘standards’ - and the music is endlessly fascinating.

[@robsonruzvidzo3086]

Hello Tari C. I am from Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 as well living in Cambridge. Are you able to sell one of your nhare mbira to me.?

[@juliusblankson1694]

Can we purchase an Mbira from you?

[@fowlerad]

HI Julius - Thanks for chasing me here. I'll include you in my next mbira buying email. For anyone else looking for instruments, grab this free pack for photos and contact info for my favourite mbira makers (and loads of other 'essential' mbira goodies) - when you download it, you'll be added to my mailing list and invited into other great offers. Cheers 🙌 gum.co/mbira-essentials

[@tarirai]

Are you in England, of so, where. I'm in Hampshire and Zimbabwean and own 3 three and have absolutely no clue how to play..

[@fowlerad]

Yes! Usually somewhere between Stroud and Reading. Did you try out the free ‘Discover Mbira’ pack at www.mbiramagic.com - it’s full of beginners parts and some fascinating info about the music.

[@tarirai]

@@fowlerad Hi Andy, do you do face to face lessons at all? I'm originally from Zimbabwe but cannot play at all. I have 3 Mbira, one Nyunga Nyunga and the others with about 27 keys? Do you have any students face to face. I'm down the road in Southampton

[@fowlerad]

@@tarirai Yes and 1:1 on video. Mail me at [e-mail] and let’s make a plan. Cheers 🙌

[@Rosenkaefer7]

Where can i buy the first one?

[@fowlerad]

Mail me at [e-mail] and I can advise 🙌

[@JoelLaviolette]

Andy, my friend-I can't handle how you pronounce Nyamaropa :-) It's not Ni (like "hi"), It's Ni like "knee". (Knee-ah-mah). Ropa (Rope - ah) :-)

[@fowlerad]

Thanks Joel - yes it’s a bit cringey! So many Zimbabweans are too polite to correct me. Hope you’re fab! 🙌

[@JoelLaviolette]

@@fowlerad ❤️ I should say for anyone else that comes along that in my example above I used the letters “Ni” but in Shona is Nyamaropa. Andy, pronunciation in the Shona language is actually 100% straightforward, so once you learn it, you won’t have to rely on impolite people to correct you 😁. Unlike English, a letter will always have the same sound.