Mbira
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The Mbira, found in many parts of Africa, is a lamellaphone : an instrument whose sound is produced by the vibration of thin tongues, or lamellas. When plucked, each lamella produces a mellow, twanging sound. The mbira is used in many contexts : for solos, vocal accompaniments, small groups, and religious ceremonies.
| Family |
| Percussions |
| Pitch range |
| Varies according to the number of tongues. |
| Material |
| Metal tongues on a wooden board. |
| Size |
| About 9 in (23 cm) long. |
| Origins |
| Plucked lamellaphones are found in many forms and with a variety of names in many parts of Africa. |
| Classification |
| Idiophone: an instrument that produces its sound through the use of the material from which it is made, without needing strings or a stretched skin. |
| And also... |
| In Africa, mbiras have the same purpose as xylophones, but because they are portable they are also played on long journeys. |
