Learn palm mutes on the kalimba - The best songs to have fun and perform better during rehearsals

Palm mutes are one of the most important and interesting techniques you can learn when playing the kalimba. If you learn to master them, it will help you play better and give greater depth and dynamism to your songs. Learning this kind of technique can be daunting, and you'll probably need a lot of hours and rehearsal to get the hang of it. Playing songs that make use of palm mutes can therefore be very useful for making faster progress.

What is a palm mute?

A palm mute is a playing technique that involves pressing the neck of the kalimba with the palm of your hand to reduce the amplitude of the string vibrations. This can be done in a number of ways, but the most commonly used is to place your hand close to the bridge and keep your thumb and fingers where they belong. Then simply begin to gently pluck the kalimba neck with your palm to hear the sound of the palm mute.

The best songs for learning palm mutes on the kalimba

Here's a list of the best songs for learning palm mute on the kalimba. These songs offer a good mix of strong strokes and palm mutes, and are perfect for beginners who want to progress quickly on this technique.

  • "MIMI" by Mark Kilianski
  • "Can't Help Falling in Love" from the album "The Kondoo Kondoo Project" by Peter Kavaldeyt
  • "Dreams in Colour" from the album "The Kondoo Kondoo Project" by Peter Kavaldeyt
  • "The Lady of Shalott" by Noé Soirée
  • "Tara's Theme" by Sarah Buxton
  • "Ravel's Bolero" by Richard Galliano
  • "Do-re-mi" from the album "Around the World in 80 Kalimbas" by Tom McEwan
  • "Kaze no Torimichi" by Angelic Acres
  • "Over the Rainbow" by Maija Sofia
  • "Time's Up" from the album "Time's Up" by SyncopatedStereo

Best practices for learning palm mute on the kalimba

Of course, learning palm mutes is a difficult undertaking, and even veteran players can sometimes find it difficult. However, here are a few tips to help you learn faster and master it well:

  • Find songs that feature this type of technique to get used to the sound and feel of palm mutes. These songs can provide a good foundation and can help you learn this technique more easily.
  • Practice regularly. You need to do repetitions every day to improve your playing and get used to palm mutes.
  • Ask a more experienced musician or teacher for advice. An experienced mentor can help you to progress more quickly and to better understand and master this technique.
  • Learn to play with metronomes. Metronomes are a great way to learn to play accurately and develop your sense of rhythm.
  • Take breaks. It may seem counter-intuitive, but it can really help you learn faster and memorize this type of technique better.

Palm mutes are one of the most interesting techniques you can learn when playing the kalimba. The songs mentioned above are a great way to familiarize yourself with this technique and have fun at the same time. Once you've understood this type of technique, you can start using it in your own songs and add depth to your interpretations. Practice regularly and don't forget to have fun!