Gourd Thumb Piano Blankets a thing to hit (i

a thing to hit (i

but there is more of a knack to playing them

The photos here are for illustrative purposes only

Frame drums are also perfect for the performance side of shamanism

Gourd Thumb Piano Blankets a thing to hit (iThis thumb piano has seven metal keys or tines set onto a beautifully hand carved piano board. This is then attached to a coconut half shell which acts as a resonating chamber. As the player strikes a tine with their thumb the vibration produced in turn causes the tine's neighbours to vibrate resulting in a wonderfully complex set of tones. The tines can also be tuned by loosening the screws and changing the length of the metal. Traditionally, African