tunings
Have you been playing your Kalimba or Sansula for a while now and are wondering what other possibilities the instrument offers you? Don't let it gather dust in the closet. By retuning your Kalimba or Sansula you can immerse yourself in new worlds of sound. We'll show you how to go about tuning your Kalimba or Sansula.
Kalimba and Sansula: thanks to tuning, there is no boredom
Whether you're a professional or an amateur, many sansula or kalimba players ask themselves at some point whether they can get more out of the instrument. Rest assured: your instrument will give you unimagined joy!
Give your 9-tone sansula or B9 kalimba a new, different tuning with the Tune-O-Gram. This diagram shows the pitches and lengths of the individual reeds graphically. This makes the necessary tuning steps easy to understand. This system is specially adapted to the tuning of kalimbas and sansulas. We will explain how it works and what you should pay attention to.
What are the benefits of tuning my Sansula or Kalimba?
When tuning the 9-tone sansula or B9 kalimba, each reed is individually adjusted to the exact pitch needed to create a different tuning. With the changed tones, you can try out many new pieces and accompany different instruments.
But tuning the Sansula or Kalimba is also important to maintain the original tuning. If you play a lot, the reeds can become out of place, meaning their sound is no longer completely pure. Your ear may just hear that something is no longer quite right. So it's never a bad idea to check it regularly with a tuner. And if your instrument has been lying around for a long time and has perhaps been exposed to fluctuations in temperature or humidity, it's also a good idea to check the tuning.
Who does Kalimba and Sansula tuning?
Similar to players of string instruments, you can also learn how to retune or re-tune your Kalimba or Sansula. This way you can enjoy your instrument for a long time and always have full control over the sound. You can tune your Sansula or Kalimba yourself. All you need is a few tools and a little patience.
Tuning for Kalimba and Sansulas: How it works
aids
To tune your Sansula or Kalimba, you will need an electronic tuner and a light hammer (50 grams). We recommend using a tuning iron as an aid. This reduces the risk of damaging the instrument by hitting the wrong hammer.
Select target mood
Decide which new tuning you want your Sansula or your B9 Kalimba to get through tuning. Possible options are
- A major
- Ake Bono (A)
- Hijaz
- minor 7
- Pygmy
Proceed
Turn on the tuner and first make sure that the display shows "440Hz". If not, set this beforehand. Now pluck the tongue number 1 on the far left. The needle of the tuner will strike and show "0". The note name "A" will appear on the display.
Please note: In the factory tuning (A minor), the identical note A is played twice (tongues 1 and 4). Therefore, dampen the other reed by gently holding your finger on it while you pluck the actual reed. Otherwise, the tuner will be irritated.
Now use the Tune-O-Gram you have chosen as a guide. The new tuning is visually recorded on it so that you can easily copy it. The target tuning is shown at the top, and the factory default tuning is shown below. Below this, the respective jumps that you have to make with the hammer and tuning iron are noted. Tune each individual reed with careful hammer blows until the desired note is displayed on the tuner. If you hit it from the plucked side, the note will be higher. If you hit it from above, from the bridge side, the note will be lower.
Danger:
Even if it is tempting, do not loosen the screws on the retaining bar! Only work with gentle hammer blows.
Once you have worked your way through all the metal slats, your Kalimba or Sansula has been successfully retuned. Enjoy the new creative possibilities!