Karimba without Resonator

The karimba (15 lamellae), also known as nyunga nyunga, is a type of mbira specific to the Shona People of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia). The playing technique involves plucking the lower row of keys with the thumb nails of both hands while the upper row of keys is plucked with the index finger on the right side and the thumb on the left side. These karimba were made by Chaka Chawasarira. The middle instrument is a bass karimba tuned one octave below the instrument above.

The third instrument down is a rare 19-lamellae karimba, also made by Chaka Chawasarira. Chaka is the inventor of this type of karimba, which has an extended range and a few pitches not found on the more traditional 15-lamellae karimba.

The bottom instrument is a Hugh Tracey 17-lamellae karimba, which is not traditional to Zimbabwe.