Forward Kwenda: Taireva - Mbira Video Lessons
Learn how to play mbira with Forward Kwenda : Taireva video lessons
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Seven video tutorials to help you learn the traditional mbira song, Tadzungaira
Forward teaches basic Kushaura and Kutsinhira variations, combines them together, and demonstrates his unique style of improvisation
He plays in D nyamaropa tuning, close to the Western scale, D Mixolydian - This tuning by Gift Chigede includes an extra low note 2 in the Bass register
Forward’s Taireva note choices match best with mbira chord progression 3
🗺 Videos are followed by a ‘travel diaries’ post for extra interest/context
⭐️⭐️ 2.03 - 2.13, ⭐️⭐️ 4.36 - 4.46
⭐️⭐️ 2.29 - 2.41, ⭐️⭐️ 3.06 - 3.18
Tab pack users : Forward’s beat moves around in this Basic Kutsinhira video - Possible adjustment.
⭐️ 1.04 - 1.14, ⭐️ 3.46 - 3.55
⭐️ 3.34 - 3.42, ⭐️ 4.19 - 4.27, ⭐️ 4.37 - 4.45
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.48 - 4.57, ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10.13 - 10.20
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 11.52 - 12.08 (2 cycles)
Learn mbira online with video tutorials and Mbira Chord Tab
Use the ‘⭐️⭐️⭐️’ gradings beneath each video to help you choose variations at your preferred level
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Travel Diaries 🗺
These Taireva videos were filmed at Beatrice Motel at a time when we were recording quite heavily - Forward and I were in a groove.
We captured the first six back-to-back, driving Forward deeper into his Taireva repertoire, then suddenly some magic happened.
In our book ‘Learn to Play Mbira’, Forward recounts his initiation into mbira. He tells us that at around eight years old he met the mbira master, Murambiwa Maka. A man, who he says “played in a way that I still only dream about today”.
Coming from Forward that is a high accolade.
At their first meeting, upon hearing Gwenyambira Murambiwa’s playing, Forward entered a trance that his brothers couldn’t retrieve him from. The man called for him to sit at his side and played… Taireva.
Watch towards the end of video six, and you’ll see Forward unexpectedly finding himself playing his master’s variations - recalling them in the moment for the first time.
Its so overwhelming he has to stop playing.
Forward talks briefly about the powerful experience in our next video.
After this, we take a short break and record Guruswa (another progression 3 song, but played in Nemakonde tuning) - something Forward thinks might help reorient himself.
The final Taireva video was recorded the following morning when we were able to return, refreshed.