Virtual kalimba: play the thumb piano online
Play the kalimba, the soothing African thumb piano, in your browser. Tines are on your number keys, so a kalimba tab like 1-1-5-5-6-6-5 is easy to follow.
Nine kalimbas to choose from: standard, electric, bass, chromatic and African kalimbas, plus a traditional mbira, crystal, coconut and bamboo kalimba with a pentatonic layout.
How to play the kalimba with your computer keyboard
- Number keys 1–8 play the tines of the standard, electric, bass, chromatic and African kalimbas.
- Keys 1–9 play the tines of the mbira and the crystal, coconut and bamboo kalimbas.
- Click or tap a tine to play it.
- Follow the Twinkle Twinkle guide to play your first kalimba tune.
What you can do on the virtual kalimba
- Standard, electric, bass, chromatic and African kalimbas
- Traditional mbira, crystal, coconut and bamboo kalimbas
- Pentatonic layout that always sounds good
- Playing-technique tips: tremolo, glissando and dampening
- Record your playing
- Can be played in live music rooms with friends
9 kalimba types to choose from
- Standard Kalimba: The classic thumb piano in C, with its tines on the number keys 1 to 8.
- Electric Kalimba: A kalimba with an amplified, brighter edge for playing over a band or a beat.
- Bass Kalimba: Sounds an octave lower than the standard kalimba, for deep, warm bass lines.
- Chromatic Kalimba: Adds the sharps, so you can play melodies in any key.
- African Kalimba: A traditional African tuning that starts on G instead of C.
- Traditional Mbira: The classic African mbira with warm, mellow tones, the ancestor of the kalimba.
- Crystal Kalimba: A modern crystal kalimba with bright, clear, glassy tones.
- Coconut Kalimba: A handcrafted kalimba with a natural coconut-shell resonator.
- Bamboo Kalimba: A light bamboo kalimba with sweet, airy tones.
Frequently asked questions
How do I play kalimba on a computer keyboard?
Press the number keys: each one is a tine. Kalimba number tabs map directly to the keys.
Is the virtual kalimba free?
Yes. The kalimba is free to play in your browser with no download and no sign-up. You can record and save favourites without an account; a free sign-in adds music rooms and Google Drive backup.
Is a kalimba the same as a mbira?
They are close relatives. The mbira is the traditional Zimbabwean instrument; the kalimba is the modern, often 17-key, version. Both are called thumb pianos.