Instrument Archives - Gandanga Mbira

This video covers an mbira I made in 2012.

[@beverleymandibvira2755]

Thumbs up Mr Eric....you one of a kind

[@esaumadzura]

Of all the non-Shona mbira players, even including some Shona mbira players, your hand is mystically magical. I don't know how you got to play this good, not many will achieve a quarter of this! Our ancestors sit on your 3 fingers!! Let me say, We Love You!

[@woodsmith_1]

Thank you for your comment, Esau. Funny you say this because I think my playing is never very good in videos. Something about knowing it is being recorded makes me prone to error, I find. Same with delivering speech. (lol) I'm humbled though; thank you for your kind words.

[@esaumadzura]

My only advice; keep beating at your craft, you are on to something!

[@rodgersmakaza]

Esau Madzura He was taught by his master. He also has natural talent. I hope he has citizenship of his great country of Zimbabwe.

[@woodsmith_1]

@@rodgersmakaza haha, thank you. I remain a single-nation citizen for now. I was never taught to play, just learned through listening, mostly to Thomas Mapfumo's classics. At one point I had dreams of mbira where tunes would be made clear in the dream. That is how I stumbled across the song marehwarehwa, for example... first in a dream, then I heard Thomas' version, and they were the same song. It was kinda crazy!

[@ignatiusgines1476]

@@woodsmith_1 u r very talented man ... i wish i could have my own mbira and play it like the way you do it .lol. u r the best

[@metdreadzinange8873]

captivating indeed makombwe hoyeeeeeee big up eric

[@darlingtontonderaitanganyi8476]

i can not stop listening to this. nice thanks for sharing.

[@pedrogorosviba1271]

i never get enough of this video

[@woodsmith_1]

Appreciate you watching, Pedro!

[@gombwevemakombwe1995]

Took me a while to stumble across this but eventually got there, that’s the mystic powers of this instrument coupled with those gifted enough to serenade us, it becomes a complete journey, tinotenda gwenyambira!

[@Accou25]

I always wondered how do they attach it to the pumpkin, mystery solved. Great playing.

[@argonagui]

Hi Eric, You made my day man! What a beautiful song. Thanks for playing it for us, my kids are amazed for such a virtuous performance and so am I. bye and keep the fire burning

[@woodsmith_1]

Hi, thank you so much for your kind comment. I am glad you guys found some enjoyment in this. :) Best to you!

[@robsonruzvidzo3086]

Eric. You deserve to called Zimbabwean. That’s wonderful.

[@woodsmith_1]

Thanks... cheers Robson

[@JohannBrehmer]

Very good!! This tuning is very cool!! nice playing!

[@dundirambira]

beautiful! thanks. i listen chipembere. :)

[@robsonruzvidzo3086]

Eric, this is beyond talent. You are exceptional. I am from Zim .

[@woodsmith_1]

Thanks for your kind words.

[@pedrogorosviba1271]

This guy IS talented!

[@phillipgriffin4133]

That was wonderful. You've set a new bar, and given me a goal to rise to. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@travelwithcamera]

This is excellent. are you in africa?

[@woodsmith_1]

Thank you. I live in Oregon.

[@JOE-lp6zm]

supper

[@drawnbydragons]

I was thinking to try making one with the eyebolts like this, I found out that the flat eyebolts they use in Zim are called chain adjusters, used on bmx bikes and motorcycles I found them cheap on ebay $1 each. Thanks for the great videos

[@woodsmith_1]

drawnbydragons cool tip, thanks! If I were building another mbira I'd probably just flatten one end of a threaded rod and put a hole through it. These eye bolts aren't great; not welded at the joint.

[@woodsmith_1]

drawnbydragons thanks for checking out these vids.

[@drawnbydragons]

I tried that out once too it kind of worked, the stainless ones are usually welded it`s hard to find thin ones but they are out there. I`m about to start my first journeys into marimba making here in Australia your work is very inspiring. I had some Marimbas from Zim once with round end keys I saw your ends are flat is there any difference sound wise between the two? Is there a good learning source you recommend for making them?

[@woodsmith_1]

Hey cool, glad to hear it. All else equal, there is a difference in the amount of air the two shapes can move; rounded ends are quieter in theory. One should probably use relatively longer bars in the event of rounding key ends significantly. The problem with rounded keys is not just the decreased functional area, but the fact that the reduction occurs right at 2 of the 3 'anti-nodes' (when considering the fundamental mode) in a bar, so the material reduction has a significant acoustic effect. Naturally the nodes will shift inward in response to the removal of the material, thus stretching out the 'zone' and alleviating some of the negative effect, but this is not enough to combat the fact that X square centimeters of rather important material is now gone. Personally I like a bit of rounding at the ends but never go full (semi) circle. :) I can't point you in a direction for learning how to do it, other than just doing it. Although I have been considering making a video series on the subject for a while...

[@drawnbydragons]

I`d love if you could make a vid on how to make them, thankyou for the excellent info I will go square ends . I know a few tricks like how to tune the resonators with water in a pool or something but i`m sure there is a lot to learn on how to make ones that aren`t just average. One day I hope to be playing in an ocean of marimba chips too

[@patrickbodenham6879]

What's the difference between gandanga and nyamapora etc? I like this sound

[@woodsmith_1]

Hey thanks. 'Nyamaropa' is more or less the standard big mbira tuning arrangement and key layout. Such an instrument can be in essentially any key, as the name speaks more to the relationship between notes (their intervals) than any particular pitch/scale. A 'gandanga' instrument looks basically the same as a nyamaropa, but the tonic is shifted over to another set of keys. Such that if you play a song (in let's say C maj.) on nyamaropa, and then play the exact same song/pattern on a corresponding gandanga, you'll be playing in A minor. To actually duplicate the part and retain the tuning, you need to shift up by two steps on the gandanga.

[@paulosmangena3887]

Can we have the basics for this song, I and my son are learning how to play the instrument. We have bought 2 mbiras

[@woodsmith_1]

that's excellent news... I doubt I'll get around to making a tutorial for this one, but you can try slowing it down and copying the notes... lemme know how it goes.

[@percytrigava5854]

thumbs up bro thats gud

[@darlingtontonderaitanganyi8476]

great sound thank u .

[@woodsmith_1]

Thanks for listening

[@woodsmith_1]

Thanks for your time in listening. The song is just improvisation of a melody that is stuck in my head; I'm not sure what it is. Chipembere seems a good guess.

[@jugglerseth]

Chipembere with a Bembero twist, spiked with a song beyond words :) Good playing as always Eric :)

[@mbiraside]

Sounds good. What song are you playing, reminds me of chipembere.. The style is reminiscent of Garikai. Thanks.

[@woodsmith_1]

Quite the compliment- thank you

[@thebandminanzi2368]

i would like to play with you i wonder where did you get my hand ...that song its makombwe

[@woodsmith_1]

Thanks and likewise. Makombwe, eh? I wonder, what is the story behind that name?

[@thebandminanzi2368]

hook me up on fb Dan Kusaya .. we can chart where are you based are you in the usa

[@woodsmith_1]

Dan, I am in Oregon. I've a fb page called Padauk Dust Marimbas; pages can't initiate message threads with people but I can reply if you send one first.

[@tupatutupatu]

Beautiful! I want to make one... what do i need?

[@woodsmith_1]

Thank you! You'll need at least a hammer, anvil (or improvise - railroad track?), steel and suitable lumber. A chisel and saw and a drill of sorts will help with the woodwork. Earplugs while smithing the keys. :) Let me know if you need any help.

[@josephfelice601]

Can regular Tines be flattened like this? And does the flattening remove unpleasant overtones? Thanks

[@woodsmith_1]

These particular keys started as round profile steel rod. By regular tines I imagine you mean the 'standard' kalimba, flat keys? You can flatten their ends, if there is enough thickness. Yes, it can change the fundamental/harmonics relationship, depending on how you do it.

[@briannyandoro6505]

Sounds like Hwahwa by Thomas Mapfumo, it's good tho

[@robsonruzvidzo3086]

How much is this one? The Gandanga tuning you made?

[@woodsmith_1]

I gave this instrument away a few years back.

[@robsonruzvidzo3086]

Thank you for your reply. I lost.

[@brushstrokemedallion]

do you make these to sell by any chance? I'm looking for a mbira in gandanga tuning.

[@woodsmith_1]

I make them occasionally but it is hard to find the time between music and making marimbas. I can let you know if I ever make another gandanga.

[@mosad81]

ERIC this is awesome , where are you based man, i need a similar Gandanga tune

[@woodsmith_1]

Hi Colin, Thank you for your kind words. Based in Portland Oregon currently. I am not sure when I'll have time to make another mbira... But if you decide you want make your own and want some guidance, I am happy to help.

[@mosad81]

Hi Eric, this has become my morning sound man, can you send me tutorial notes on this one if possible on [e-mail], thanks in advance

[@woodsmith_1]

+Collen Mosad I will keep your request in mind and hopefully have something for you soon. You know how life can be! :) I think most likely would be a video tutorial as those are easier to make than transcribing a piece to mbira notation (whatever that is) for me.

[@mosad81]

Thanks eric, will be looking forward for that

[@kashi2012]

A Mahororo, I'd think, Bill