List of Major African Instruments and How to Play Them

List of African Instruments, Links, and How to Play them

Most Significant African Instruments

http://answersafrica.com/african-musical-instruments.html

Kora

Explanation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kora_(instrument)

http://www.thekoraworkshop.co.uk/about-us/faq/

http://www.coraconnection.com/pages/TuningKora.html

http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1670&context=isp_collection

How to Play

http://koralessons.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig91Z0-rBfo

Djembe

Explanation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djembe

https://www.drumconnection.com/africa-connections/history-of-the-djembe/

https://www.djembedirect.com

How to Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YEInwHvZPw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo8wrW2Mr9k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-HTsRkhRAQ

Kalimba

Explanation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbira

http://www.kalimbamagic.com/newsletters/newsletter4.02/newsletter4.02_assets/KalimbaHistoryII.pdf

http://www.kalimba.co.za/old/kalimba.htm

How to Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mowJ9OZGZRc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfIV6yyjtxI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br6Wveirppk

Udu

Explanation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udu

http://www.african-music-safari.com/udu-drums.html

https://www.x8drums.com/v/blog/2009/05/udu-drum-history-and-playing.asp

How to Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VxCubXODmg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZUZaKUBs1M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEyArdeOoqs

Talking Drum

Explanation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_drum

http://resources.primarysource.org/content.php?pid=144239&sid=1226877

http://africaimports.com/talkingdrum.asp

How to Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZtH1Tc1D2U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nySuyy4v0Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZtH1Tc1D2U

Marimba

Explanation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marimba

http://www.nancyzeltsman.com/about-the-marimba.html

http://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=clmusic_facpub

How to Play

http://www.wikihow.com/Play-the-Marimba

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KtZOhjDaog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE55S2Slw8A (Not the best sound quality)

Balafon

Explanation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balafon

http://streamafrica.com/culture/the-balafon/

https://www.gambia.co.uk/blog/the-story-of-the-balafon-an-ancient-west-african-musical-instrument

How to Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOJ25DHLLok

http://www.duoantwerp.com/A-Practical-Guide-on-Balafon-EN.pdf

http://jokosworld.com/apps/balafon/

Mbira

Explanation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbira

http://www.mbira.org/instrument.html

https://www.kalimbamagic.com/blog/item/kalimba-kalimba-or-mbira (This one is great, explains difference of kalimba, karimba, and mbira)

How to Play

http://www.mbira.org/PointersforMbiraStudents.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faZpUnCyhBc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ake8mEAebok

Shekere

Explanation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekere

https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Shekere

http://worldmusic.about.com/od/instruments/g/Shekere.htm

How to Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnE50Ho7RYM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-gIR8SMQZo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQKzNIGphL8 (Herbie Hancock is a beast!)

Algaita

Explanation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algaita

http://www.exoticinstrument.com/algaita-instrument/

http://answersafrica.com/african-musical-instruments.html/2

How to Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB44JHu55Zs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVH7q_OUrTs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9SOZ3Y50pg