An mbira makes melodies from rows of metal tongues — ChillScroll

A wooden mbira with many curved metal tongues and three small jingling disks

An mbira makes melodies from rows of metal tongues

An mbira can carry dozens of tuned metal tongues on a wooden board. Plucking the tongues makes the notes, while small disks on the instrument can add a light jingle to the sound.

It keeps a whole little keyboard where two thumbs can reach it.

Source · The Metropolitan Museum of Art ↗