Attached Resonator

Lamellophones are various kinds of plucked idiophones and are sometimes referred to as thumb pianos from Africa.  The word, ‘lamellophone’ means plate or tongue sound.  They have existed in Africa for thousands of years. The tines (lamella) were originally made of bamboo but over the years metal keys have been developed. 

Below are examples of the those lamellophones that are attached to a resonator, such as a sanza, mbira, kalimba or ilimba.