While there are several varieties of thumb pianos, the mbira stands out in design, tuning, and musical arrangements. Few instruments in the world are as permanently intertwined with a culture as the mbira is with Zimbabwean life.
Making an Mbira
An mbira starts with a single piece of wood, usually square or slightly rectangular in shape. Up to 28 flat metal prongs are mounted onto the board in three rows.
Each row is graduated in size, similar to the xylophone. Typically, there are two rows on the left, one above the other, that descend in pitch from the outside to the center. A third row of smaller keys on the right, usually about an octave higher than the others, ascend in pitch from the center to the right edge.
Bottle caps, shells, or wire-strung metal beads are fixed to the bottom of the soundboard, providing a buzz when the instrument is played. Players often hold the mbira inside a gourd, which acts as a resonator, amplifying the sound.
Mbira Tuning
There are several types of mbira tunings, and choosing one is a matter of individual taste. The most common tuning is Nyamaropa, which is known in Western music as the Mixolydian mode (a major scale with a flat seventh).
The Mavembe, or Gandanga, tuning resembles Phrygian mode (natural minor with a flat second), and, according to mbira.org, is known as "the one so beautiful it leaves you speechless". Other tuning styles include Dambatsoko (Ionian mode), Katsanzaira (Dorian mode), Dongonda (similar to Nyamaropa), and Saungweme (whole tone scale).
There is no right or wrong style of tuning, so long as each mbira in a group performance are tuned together. However, this does not necessarily mean each mbira must be tuned to the same scale; sometimes a few different scales, carefully selected, can complement each other harmonically.
How to Play an Mbira
The mbira can be held comfortably in two hands, with both thumbs and the right forefinger poised over the keys. The two rows of lower keys on the left are played with the left thumb plucking downward. The smaller keys on the right are played by the right thumb plucking down and the right forefinger plucking up from underneath the prongs.
Slightly longer fingernails on the thumbs and right forefinger are vital to producing a clear, audible sound from the keys.
Mbira in Shona Culture
The music of the mbira plays a crucial role in the lives of the Shona people of Zimbabwe and parts of Mozambique. Mbira music is deeply spiritual in nature, and is used as a way to contact and connect with spirits of deceased ancestors and leaders. The mbira is present in nearly all aspects of Shona life, from ceremonies and celebrations to curing illnesses and controlling the weather.
Unsurprisingly, the mbira is considered the national instrument of Zimbabwe. Studying the mbira requires not only a knowledge of the music, but a deep respect and understanding of its role in Shona culture and in the everyday lives of the native people.
How to Buy an Mbira
A well-made mbira can be difficult to find outside of Africa, but the instrument is slowly gaining popularity and respect around the world. For prices on various mbiras, as well as more information on the instrument, visit mbira.org.
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