What a coincidence! I was just looking at Hugh Tracey chromatics from kalimba magic, went out on a walk, and came back and found your video in my feed. How do you like the instrument? Is it reasonably easy for a reasonably musical person to learn to play the chromatic tines blind? Thanks!
This particular instrument isn't chromatic, but I do have chromatic treble and alto Hugh Tracey kalimbas. I like them a lot, though I find I tend to forget about the chromatic tines on the back. That's just me, though. There are markers (little dots) on the alto kalimba to show you the approximate position of the tines on the back, which is helpful. It's very possible to play chromatically once you get used to the position of the back tines. Caveat: the alto is a pretty chunky instrument, so if you have small hands, reaching the back tines and the front tines simultaneously may be a bit of a stretch.
@@TheImprovyssey Thanks so much! Now I understand why there was so much made in the product descriptions at Kalimba Magic about hand size. (Where did you buy yours, if I may ask? Your HT Kalimba, I mean, not your hands.) And they have the solid-body chromatic Celeste alto model, which is easier for those with smaller hands to play. My hands are pretty large, with long fingers, so I don't really need the help, but like the solid bodies more than the hollow bodies. Having found your channel, I see that we both have a tendency to collect lots of instruments. Making your improvisations seems like a good way to excuse the mountain of musical stuff that results. I've been exploring the kantele, viola, classical kemence (Turkish), salterio cromatico (an in-line, Italian-made, chromatic hognose psaltery, concertina, cross-strung harp, and harmonica. Bravo to you for what you're doing!
So beautiful. So uplifting yet soothing at the same time.
What a coincidence! I was just looking at Hugh Tracey chromatics from kalimba magic, went out on a walk, and came back and found your video in my feed. How do you like the instrument? Is it reasonably easy for a reasonably musical person to learn to play the chromatic tines blind? Thanks!
This particular instrument isn't chromatic, but I do have chromatic treble and alto Hugh Tracey kalimbas. I like them a lot, though I find I tend to forget about the chromatic tines on the back. That's just me, though. There are markers (little dots) on the alto kalimba to show you the approximate position of the tines on the back, which is helpful. It's very possible to play chromatically once you get used to the position of the back tines. Caveat: the alto is a pretty chunky instrument, so if you have small hands, reaching the back tines and the front tines simultaneously may be a bit of a stretch.
@@TheImprovyssey Thanks so much! Now I understand why there was so much made in the product descriptions at Kalimba Magic about hand size. (Where did you buy yours, if I may ask? Your HT Kalimba, I mean, not your hands.) And they have the solid-body chromatic Celeste alto model, which is easier for those with smaller hands to play. My hands are pretty large, with long fingers, so I don't really need the help, but like the solid bodies more than the hollow bodies.
Having found your channel, I see that we both have a tendency to collect lots of instruments. Making your improvisations seems like a good way to excuse the mountain of musical stuff that results. I've been exploring the kantele, viola, classical kemence (Turkish), salterio cromatico (an in-line, Italian-made, chromatic hognose psaltery, concertina, cross-strung harp, and harmonica.
Bravo to you for what you're doing!
@@joanandbrandon I got mine from Kalimba Magic. And yeah, it's hard NOT to collect instruments. My apartment may be a wee bit cluttered.