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Introduction

In this article, I'll share why, as a complete music beginner, I decided to buy a musical instrument despite never having touched one in my life. I'll also explain why I specifically chose the kalimba and how it has been owning one for the past six months.

What is a Kalimba?

First, most people do not know what a kalimba is. A kalimba (also called an mbira or thumb piano) is a musical instrument believed to have originated in Zimbabwe, in Southern Africa. It consists of a wooden board with metal tines that are plucked with the thumbs to produce melodic sounds.

Why I Wanted to Buy a Musical Instrument

1. Developing My Creative Side

I’ve always leaned toward pragmatism and logic, but I felt like I was lacking creativity. For a long time, I wanted to explore my creative side more. Although I had tried photography and writing, I believed that music might help me connect more deeply with my creative self and better express myself.

2. Mental Stimulation and Flow State

One of my main motivations was achieving the "flow state"—that mental zone where you're fully immersed in an activity, losing track of time. Musicians often report experiencing flow during practice sessions, and I wanted that mental stimulation in my life.

3. Fun and Enjoyment

I thought that learning to play an instrument would be an enjoyable and fun process, and it turned out to be just that! The satisfaction of memorizing and playing melodies makes the entire journey worthwhile.

4. Becoming More Interesting

Though this wasn’t my primary reason, I believed that playing an instrument might make me a more interesting person. While there are many activities that could achieve this, I was drawn to the unique experience of learning an instrument.

Why I Bought a Kalimba Specifically

So why did I choose the kalimba? The main reasons were its sound and appearance. The first time I came across the kalimba was while watching a cover of the Game of Thrones theme. As a big GoT fan, I loved the melody, and the unique shape of the instrument caught my eye. I thought, "Why don’t I know more about this?"

1. Sound and Aesthetics

The kalimba produces a sweet, melodic sound, and its appearance—especially the wooden versions—feels both unique and majestic. I’m generally drawn to non-conventional things, and the kalimba checked all the boxes for me.

2. Small and Portable

One of the great things about the kalimba is its portability. It fits in the palm of your hand, making it easy to carry around, whether to the park, beach, or a casual hangout with friends. Unlike a guitar or violin, it’s not imposing, and you can play it almost anywhere.

3. Affordability

Affordable Kalimbas are relatively cheap compared to other instruments. You can get one for as low as $12 on Amazon, with good models priced between $25 and $50. I personally bought the LingTing K17A, which costs $40 and comes with some cool extras.

4. Easy to Learn

Even as a complete beginner, I found the kalimba relatively easy to learn. Without needing to understand much music theory, you can follow basic tutorials or music tabs (instructions on where to place your fingers) and start playing music right away.

5. Plenty of Learning Resources

While not as abundant as resources for piano or guitar, there are enough resources to help you make significant progress with the kalimba. For Arabic speakers like me, I found tabs for popular Arabic songs in addition to English ones.

Also, since the kalimba shares a similar note layout with the piano, it is possible to play piano music on it. You just need to map the piano notes to the corresponding kalimba tines, which opens up a larger library of songs you can play.

Conclusion

If you're a complete music beginner and even a little bit interested in starting your music journey, I encourage you to do some research on what instrument suits you best (keeping the kalimba in mind, of course). Then, take the plunge. Buy the instrument. Play the instrument. And let me know how it goes.

If you enjoyed reading this, feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts. Thank you for reading, and have a great day!