How to play Mbira (Tutorial #01)

[@monicarocabado3868]

great video! very informative!!

[@ScentxLove]

This man did the wrk of God with this video!!

[@simonrichards2804]

I stumbled onto your site this morning and am filled with joy. Thank you for your wonderful work, you are very good at articulating complex information and making it accessible. Bless you.

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Thank you.

[@MariaCalfaDePaul]

I am so glad I found your channel. I could listen to you teach and play all day long. Thank you so much. I am now a happy subscriber !!

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Best comment ever! Thanks a lot!

[@MariaCalfaDePaul]

@@RhythmInAfrica awe. I'm glad. It's true. 😊

[@trynesschikowe1832]

@@RhythmInAfrica hi I want to learn mbira nyunga nyunga I have it now, hope you are still playing 😭

[@lovemusic751]

you started this series on my birthday!. Love your style. Very informative

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Lol Happy very belated birthday... Thanks a lot!

[@juliahbhosha8952]

Love it

[@tatendamapisire1597]

Yoh mybru! Love the accuracy in your content. Comment from a jazz trumpeter lol.

[@cathytai]

Do you also teach 35 key mbira? iI just got my first mbira from Zimbabwe and would love to, first, check or correct tuning (if needed after shipping) and then begin your lessons if you teach 35 key mbira. Thank you so much!

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Please send a picture of the mbira to [e-mail] and I'll see if I can help. I know 24 keys max.

[@akhurareiki7939]

I saw this after I posted about my 37 note Mbira, I appreciate any suggestions for tuning

[@vadim_adi_novikov]

Hello thanks for you tutorials, great work. Can i ask from 3:06 what slides (pics) you use their. Is it some screenshot from book? Does it possible to buy somewhere or you can share it may be?

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Yes they are pics from a book called Zimbabwean mbira music by Keith Howard.

[@vadim_adi_novikov]

@@RhythmInAfrica thank you.

[@MazvitaNgorosha]

Hi, I love this! I already know how to play nyunga nyunga mbira and I would like to learn some more songs, I would love to connect with you!

[@RhythmInAfrica]

That's great thanks a lot! I'm hoping it's possible for you to get your hands on the Mbira Dzavadzimu which you can do much more songs on. There's a lot to talk about, we can connect anywhere like whatsapp, zoom etc except twitter, so lemme know your preferred thing and I'll send you my number/details.

[@MazvitaNgorosha]

@@RhythmInAfrica Sure that would be awesome.

[@MazvitaNgorosha]

@@RhythmInAfrica I have a Facebook and LinkedIn; they are just my name

[@MazvitaNgorosha]

@@RhythmInAfrica I can send you my contact information if you add me on there! :)

[@naightspeed]

Hey, I have a type of mbira where all 17 keys are in one line, one layer. What’s this type called and is the way to play the same as these videos?

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Hey, I'm afraid not. I believe the one you have is called the Kalimba and I've got no idea how it works. I just know they are kinda similar 😅

[@naightspeed]

@@RhythmInAfrica I read up about it and the kalimba was designed specifically for western music, so different scale and layout. Watched this whole series anyway, you’re a great teacher! Thanks for sharing with us ❤️

[@cathytai]

My first Mbira is a 35 key, which just arrived yesterday. If you have a video link for tuning this beautiful instrument, I'd live to start there as I begin your lessons, thank you!

[@trynesschikowe1832]

Great video and please I want to learn I have nyunga nyunga mbira now

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Yes, there are a bunch of videos on the channel that'll help you with Nyunganyunga... Enjoy!

[@trynesschikowe1832]

@@RhythmInAfrica okay thanks so much

[@akhurareiki7939]

Greetings to you. I have recently purchased an Njari Mbira with 37 notes, any instructions on tuning it. I appreciate you in advance

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Hi, I'm afraid I've got no idea how Njari is tuned.

[@sarahbrown2613]

Hi! Thank you for making these videos, I've learned so much about the mbira and chimurenga music. I have been looking into getting a mbira but im not sure if I should get a nyunga nyunga mbira or the mbira dzavadzimu. I have been trained on classical piano and I know some acoustic guitar so these instruments would be very new to me but I do have some experience with instruments generally. I read that the mbira dzavadzimu is sacred to the Shona people? I was also wondering if it would be strange for a foreigner to try and play one. I don't want to disrespect anyone's religion. Thanks!

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Hi Sarah, Thanks a lot! I would suggest the Mbira Dzavadzimu because it gives you a wider range of possibilities compared to the Nyunganyunga. It'll more challenging but great for someone with an instrument BG. It'd be such an honor if a foreigner plays one because it's the dream to make sure these instruments don't go extinct. The Mbira is sacred to humanity not only to the Shona, so it's for everyone.

[@vadim_adi_novikov]

I like how African people friendly to the foreigners who want to play some of their instruments. It's very good way of music. And we as foreign people need to be respectful for their music traditions and culture and try to learn as much as possible. It's true that u say the any sacred ethnic instruments is the heritage of mankind. Well said, respect to your words and videos, keep going wish you all the best.

[@pianosongsandgames3824]

I want to know more about tuning! Maybe is more about harmony than rhythm, but I really want to understand the scales and arpegios that you use on a mbira

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Thanks! Please check the other Mbira episodes as I explain about arpeggios and scales in more detail.

[@Mr4Strings]

Hey, what happened to the Marimba Tutorials??? Just 2??????

[@RhythmInAfrica]

I've been posting them on Tiktok because I get more views there. If you don't have TikTok I'll post them here tomorrow. But it's true that I also need to make more.

[@cathytai]

I use KZbin, I would love the tutorials to be here or at least reposted here on KZbin, if possible, thank you

[@devashreekale4281]

dude , where can I buy it ? ❣️ I love it

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Great news! Lemme know where you are and I'll try to connect you to mbira builders near you.

[@selenapistoresi4689]

@@RhythmInAfrica Hi, thank you so much for your videos! I am in San Jose, California (near San Francisco). If you know of any mbira builders around here, I would love to buy one from them! I have a classical piano background and am a music teacher so I would like to try a Mbira Dzavadzimu thanks to your advice :)

[@RhythmInAfrica]

I'm sorry I've got no idea how you can find it from that side.@@selenapistoresi4689

[@jambadonmusic]

Nice channel. But as a westerner and an Mbira player I would count that as 4 bars of 12/8. That would be more accurate since the strong pulse is on 4 imho. There are 12 bar cycles to, but it's not divided up in the same way as the blues.

[@RhythmInAfrica]

You might be right but if I teach it that way it'll get too complicated for the average person. 12 Chord changes, 12 bars, simpler. Learner won't have to memorize more than 1 number.

[@jambadonmusic]

@@RhythmInAfrica Yes I understand. But if you would write it in western notation you would have to write longer bars otherwise the people can't read it. Just a tip! 12/8 means there are three chord changes per measure and you get the full polyrhythm. Anyway, good luck!

[@RhythmInAfrica]

@@jambadonmusic Please watch the rest of the mbira episodes as I explain my use of the time signature in more detail. I'm sure it'll shed more light. But if you did, oh well, thanks for the feedback. Pretty cool content on your channel 🔥🔥🔥

[@justiceayikwao3085]

How many types of mbira do we have?

[@RhythmInAfrica]

Eish I'm not sure man but there are so many types mainly coz the players make their own versions on their own. But will find out.

[@justiceayikwao3085]

@@RhythmInAfrica thank you very much, i really appreciate you, i need it for a presentation i will be doing abut the instrument at school

[@msla7623]

LOVE

[@athanasiusawasom379]

Hello Alan, I enjoy your KZbin lessons on African music. I like to buy the instruments, particularly the big brother mbira with all the tunes shown in lesson 6 and the wooden marimba instruments. How much will the big brother mbira and the marimba wood instrument cost? I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks Athanasius Awasom Longcha [e-mail]

[@turtle3341]

not chords but arpeggios, another rythmic part i suppose!

[@MrNicofrog]

all tallk

[@RhythmInAfrica]

If it's working don't fix it.