Mbira dza Vadzimu

mbira of the ancestors is a lamellaphone used by the Shona in Zimbabwe and parts of Mozambique. It's made out of a block of hardwood (Pterocarpus angolensis) where metal reeds forged by hand are fixed and disposed in three different keyboards with a range of three octaves. The tuning varies; the most common, called nyamaropa is close to the diatonic major scale. The playing technique involves both thumbs and one index finger plucking the metal keys. To amplify the sound, the instrument is placed inside a large gourd with rattles that vibrate in sympathy.