How to play the Chord Magnets on the Hokema B17 Kalimba

Peter Hokema, founder of Hokema Kalimbas, made a charming video on a snowy day in Germany demonstrating how to use the chord magnets on the B17 Kalimba — showing how to mark groups of tines to more easily find and play chords when accompanying melodies. We translated Peter's instructions into English and shot our own version to share with you here.

The Hokema B17 Kalimba

Kalimbas are metal-tined instruments originating in southern Africa, found there in countless variations. The Hokema B17 Kalimba in C-Major is meticulously hand-crafted from solid American black cherry wood, treated and polished with natural oils and waxes. The B17 is ideal for improvisation and intuitive playing.

The B17 comes with a collection of small colored magnets designed to be placed at the top of the instrument to mark different chords — making it easy to quickly visualize where chords begin and end. Place the magnets wherever makes sense for the song you're playing.

• 17 tines precisely tuned to C-Major — suitable for playing countless popular tunes
• Ideal for improvisation and intuitive playing
• Solid resonance body of American cherry wood
• A large number of well-known songs can be played
• Ergonomically formed tines for easy thumb playing
• Size: 6.9" x 7" x 1.6"

Scale C-Major: c d e f g a b C D E F G A B C

A C-Major scale consists of 7 notes. The 17-tine kalimba covers 2 full octaves of C plus one additional C an octave higher.

Want the versatility of 17 notes but prefer a different key? Use the Hokema kalimba tuning tool to retune the B17 to any scale you want.

Protect Your B17 — The Hokema Softbag

We recommend the Hokema B17 Softbag to protect your instrument when storing or traveling.

• Reinforced with fiberglass
• Fully padded on the inside
• Adjustable shoulder strap
• Protects your instrument securely
• Lightweight and durable

Shop all Hokema Kalimbas →