Musical instrument in your hand - Thumb Piano
The sound producing part of a thumb piano is a flexible metal bar of different lengths on top to produce different wavelengths of sound, and a resonating box of wood or gourd underneath. In the past, these strips were made of metal melted in ore, but now they are made of higher quality steel. Thumb pianos come in many different shapes, and the number of steel bars varies. The Zimbabwean kalimba, for example, has 22 to 28 steel bars arranged in two rows in a wooden round case. It is said that the music played by this instrument not only drives away evil spirits from the sick, but also serves as a prayer for rain, making it one of the much-loved instruments in Zimbabwe.Soprano Ukulele
The thumb piano is used to accompany singing and is played by holding the body of the instrument in both hands and then playing it with both thumbs. When the thumbs are pressed and then released, a mechanical wave is generated by the steel piece and the sound is produced. Some thumb pianos are fitted with objects such as shells or soda bottle caps to make some additional sounds at the same time when playing, or they can be half cocked and shaken on the table, which will give an echo like reverberation effect or like the effect when ice cubes are shaken to make the playing effect richer. The thumb piano is often used for playing, and when the sun sets at dusk, people gather in a circle and use it for singing or storytelling accompaniment, and some natives also carry it to spend time along the way when they walk long distances. And ah, the thumb piano is characterized by its unique musical effect and its cold water-like sound, similar to the sound of an octave box, but colder.
