RE: building an mbira

> I would like to have a double-level style like those found in Zimbabwe
> (do we say Rhodesia?) but probably a second tier on either side. I
> don't know why they usually are only double-tiered on the left. I am
> also wondering if a fine-tuning mechanism could be devised, better
> than just wiggling the tongues back and forth while hoping for the
> best.

I use a little hammer to tick the tongues back and forth gently, it
works ok. I never finished the one I started to build, so I can't give
any building advice, but I have a "real" one from Zimbabwe.
I thought about replacing the bottlecaps with seashells, but couldn't
drill a hole in a shell so I gave that up.
The keys on the right hand side on my mbira are pretty close together,
and not flattened to such a great width that having two tiers is
necessary. I think that would make playing more difficult.
You will need a big gourd for it too of course, as a soundboard.

Manuel Op de Coul coul@ezh.nl

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Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 10:25:31 -0800
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