Top 5 compared
The best kalimbas
Simple tunes played with the thumbs, with a soft ringing sound and no lessons needed to start.
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The top 5 at a glance
A kalimba is played with the thumbs: you hold the wooden body in both hands and flick the steel tines, which ring a little like a music box, only warmer. The thumb piano sold today grew from Hugh Tracey’s adaptation of the African mbira. Seventeen keys is the usual size; 8- and 10-key minis are simpler still, while 21-key and chromatic models suit players who have outgrown their first.
Most 17-key kalimbas are tuned to C major, the white keys of a piano, so simple tunes come quickly even with no musical background. Every one here comes with a tuning hammer, since a tine can slip out of tune now and then, and all of them are acoustic, with no pickup for plugging into an amp.
What matters
- Note names engraved or embossed on the tines, not just stickers.
- A book of tabs, for playing without reading music.
- A case or bag for carrying it safely.
#1Newlam 17-Key Kalimba Thumb Piano (CA-17B)
$20–$30
Letters and note numbers are embossed into the 17 steel tines rather than printed on stickers, and a curved hand rest sets your thumbs at a comfortable angle, so it feels like an instrument rather than a toy. A tuning hammer, finger covers, a flannel bag and an instruction book come with it.
What owners say: Owners find it well made and easy to pick up, even for complete beginners, and like that it arrives already in tune, with the hammer there for touch-ups. They love the sound and enjoy playing it, and they see it as an affordable instrument.
A closer look: Start with the color stickers on the tines if you’re learning from numbered tabs, and peel them off once the layout sticks. At about 11.5 ounces and 7 inches long, it slips into its flannel bag and a tote for the park or a long car ride, and the cleaning cloth wipes thumbprints off the tines afterward.
- Notes embossed on the tines
- Curved hand rest
- Finger covers and color stickers
- Cleaning cloth included
Best for: First-time players of any age
- Keys
- 17
- Wood
- Air-dried wood
- Tuning hammer
- Yes
- Learning book
- Instruction book
- Case or bag
- Flannel bag
- Pickup (plug-in)
- No
#2UNOKKI 17-Key Mahogany Kalimba (Dark Brown)
$20–$30
A dark mahogany kalimba with curved keys and engraved note names, sold as a complete beginner’s kit: tuning hammer, instruction book, note stickers, thumb covers, a polishing cloth and a cloth bag. UNOKKI has kids and first-time players in mind, and it’s compact enough to pack for a trip.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to learn and play, and an affordable way in for beginners and children. They like how it looks and sounds, and it keeps people of all ages entertained for hours.
A closer look: The thumb covers help if plucking metal tines feels sharp at first, and they can come off once your thumbs get used to it. At 7.4 by 5.2 inches it rests comfortably in two hands, a child’s or an adult’s. Keep it in the cloth bag between sessions and give the tines a wipe with the polishing cloth now and then.
- Engraved note names
- Curved keys
- Thumb covers and note stickers
- Polishing cloth included
Best for: Kids starting with a full kit
- Keys
- 17
- Wood
- Mahogany
- Tuning hammer
- Yes
- Learning book
- Instruction book
- Case or bag
- Cloth bag
- Pickup (plug-in)
- No
#3GECKO K17M 17-Key Mahogany Kalimba with Hard Case
$30–$50
Built to travel: it comes in a hard EVA box that GECKO says keeps out moisture and scratches and guards against falls, so it can ride in a backpack or a suitcase. The mahogany body and steel keys come with a tuning hammer and a study booklet whose QR code links to the maker’s video lessons.
What owners say: Owners love its sound and say it’s simple to pick up, helped by the sample songs that come with it. Build, looks and price all get praise, and they like the carrying case.
A closer look: Put it back in its box after playing and it can ride in a backpack or a carry-on without the tines getting knocked. If you learn better by watching than by reading tabs, start with the videos and turn to the booklet to check a technique. It suits camping trips, music lessons and anyone who plays on the move.
- Box keeps out moisture, scratches
- Tuned to C major
- 365-day warranty
Best for: Playing on the go
- Keys
- 17
- Wood
- Mahogany
- Tuning hammer
- Yes
- Learning book
- Booklet and video lessons
- Case or bag
- EVA hard box
- Pickup (plug-in)
- No
#4YUNDIE 17-Key Kalimba Thumb Piano (A-001, Brown)
$10–$20
A wooden 17-key kalimba with letters and note numbers embossed on the tines and a curved hand rest, plus a tuning hammer and instructions. YUNDIE backs it with a one-year warranty and sells it for ages 14 and up.
What owners say: Owners describe it as well made, with a soothing tone that never turns harsh, and say it’s easy to use and great fun to play with children. Its looks and price both win praise.
Heads up: No bag or case is listed in the box, so add a soft pouch if it will travel in a backpack.
A closer look: At about 10.6 ounces it’s easy to keep on a side table and pick up for a few minutes while the TV is on or between calls. Set it down on its back, tines up, so nothing presses on the keys and pushes them out of tune. The embossed letters let you follow lettered tabs without stickers.
- Notes embossed on the tines
- Curved hand rest
- One-year warranty
Best for: Teens and adults playing in short bursts
- Keys
- 17
- Wood
- Wood (species not named)
- Tuning hammer
- Yes
- Learning book
- Instructions
- Case or bag
- None listed
- Pickup (plug-in)
- No
#5ORORA 17-Key Kalimba with 25-Song Songbook, Case and Stand
$30–$50
Set up for learning from day one: ORORA’s own songbook has 25 tunes written as tabs, so there’s no sheet music to decode, and the varnished mahogany kalimba comes with a waterproof protective case, a carrying bag, a tuning hammer, note stickers and a cloth. The stand lets it sit out on display between sessions.
What owners say: Buyers say it’s solidly made and simple to learn, and they’re happy with its sound and its price.
A closer look: Leaving it on its stand by a desk or bookshelf keeps it in sight, which makes a few minutes of practice each day more likely. The songbook is written for all levels, so it lasts well past the first few tunes, and the case keeps the kalimba safe on the way to a lesson.
- Songbook for all levels
- Waterproof case
- Note stickers and a cloth
Best for: Learning songs from a book
- Keys
- 17
- Wood
- Mahogany, varnished
- Tuning hammer
- Yes
- Learning book
- 25-song tab book
- Case or bag
- Case, bag and stand
- Pickup (plug-in)
- No
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Newlam | #2UNOKKI | #3GECKO K17M | #4YUNDIE | #5ORORA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | ||||
| Picked Rating | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.4 |
| Price | $20–$30 | $20–$30 | $30–$50 | $10–$20 | $30–$50 |
| Keys | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| Wood | Air-dried wood | Mahogany | Mahogany | Wood (species not named) | Mahogany, varnished |
| Tuning hammer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Learning book | Instruction book | Instruction book | Booklet and video lessons | Instructions | 25-song tab book |
| Case or bag | Flannel bag | Cloth bag | EVA hard box | None listed | Case, bag and stand |
| Pickup (plug-in) | No | No | No | No | No |
| Best for | First-time players of any age | Kids starting with a full kit | Playing on the go | Teens and adults playing in short bursts | Learning songs from a book |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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