I took a craft class in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma a few years ago and purchased and painted a Thumb Piano. It only has 8 keys and the board is solid wood, not four sides with sound opening. Very simple in design. I have searched trying to find how to order more but all I see are made from either coconut shells, or four sided wood, etc. The design painted in the class was a lighthouse scene. I am being specific in these details in the hopes that some one out there has information on where I can order more of these Thumb Pianos. The board is plain, solid and unpainted. I love the creativity of others I have seen online but for simplicity purposes at this time prefer this particular design. A Crafter who taught the classes in Oklahoma City at Tole Country Show also had these for purchase. Thank you! jrebel7

Clough

Where I live, there are over 1,000 thumb pianos that I have made with kids in schools as well as churches where I have been the music person. I made all of the kits and the kids put them together. No kid has ever had to pay for one. Most of them have twelve notes and are tuned diatonically, which means that you can actually play real, western world melodies on them, unlike those that originated in Africa. The resonating chambers of these thumb pianos were small boxes rather than the board used for resonating like the ones you are talking about.

There are now many sources for thumb pianos online. All you would need to do is put thumb piano kits into a Google search. Thumb Piano Kits - Google Search

Are you wanting to purchase completed instruments or make them yourself? From what you have posted, it sounds like you want to purchase completed instruments and then decorate them.

If you want to know how to make the one that you are describing, then I can definitely help you with that. Making them is not hard to do. Anyone can do it.

Please let me know. Thank you!

jrebel7

Thank you so much for your reply. I searched Google several different times and found a lot of links but not one that showed where I could order what I was looking for. I appreciate your response. I think if I could just find the hardware, I could make the kind I am looking for. Would you be able to assist me in this venture? I would appreciate any help you could give me, directions, instructions, where to order hardware or if you have some available for purchase, if I could view the product and see a price. As I said, any help would be much appreciated. Thanks! jrebel7

Clough

Do you have a picture of the kind of thumb piano you are talking about that you could post? That would give me a better idea as to exactly what you mean.

In addition to wood, I use 1" wide oak molding for the main bridge. I cut a dado in it in order to accommodate an hold in a 1/8" round steel bar over which the metal tangents (notes) will rest on. The reason for the round steel is because if the notes are just resting on the oak wood, then there will be a rather nasty rattle. Although, in the African instruments, the more noise, the better.

I then affix the notes with screws through another piece of oak trim which I have chamfered on both of the bottom sides in order to allow for the notes to vibrate as well as to facilitate the tuning of the instrument.

Wood for the body and other parts of the instruments are of course easy to obtain, as are screws. Round steel rods can be found at most hardware stores. The notes on my instruments are made out of flat, blue, tempered spring steel. That is something that must be special ordered and then cut and ground to shape. I get mine from McMaster-Carr which is located in the Chicago area.

Do you have any wood working equipment such as a table saw?

If I could see a picture of yours, then I could tell you what the parts are that you need and maybe where to find them as well as how to make them, if necessary.

Thank you!

Clough

Is the thumb piano anything like the one on the following link:

Musical Instruments

The body of it appears to be just a piece of wood and not a box.

jrebel7

Thank you for your prompt response. Actually, I did find one on the link you sent that was the closest to what I have been searching for. That was a tremendous help. I was looking for one a little less in price but the one I saw is a beautiful piece. I am needing one that I can make as gifts so would not be able to spend quite that much if I was purchasing several but am so appreciative of your response. Thanks again! jrebel7

jrebel7

Clough, I am new to this forum and it has taken me a little while to figure out how to get a photo to you of the Thumb Piano I have. I scanned photo then uploaded it but I don't see it on this message. If it does not come to you, I will try again later. Thank you! jrebel7

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Clough

The picture that you have posted came through loud and clear. Although, a little slow because I am on a dial-up connection. Perhaps you are on dial-up also? I have saved the image to my computer so that I can edit it in various ways and will get back to you soon! Am working on something for a customer now and decided to just pop in here for a minute.

jrebel7

Thanks for letting me know you received photo. As soon as I hit "Post", I saw it and was delightfully surprised. I liked the sort of oval shaped Thumb Piano that I saw on the link you sent. Just needing this smaller version I think. I appreciate you getting back to me so quickly. I bounce in and out where my computer is and was delighted to see a response again so quickly. I am anxious to learn more about this forum.

Clough

Which link was that, please? Google or the other one?