Page 102 - Music

(d) Use of water: In hot places, ngoma tuning is done by spraying water or placing
a slightly moist cloth on the ngoma membrane so as to lower the tone. Figure
6.19 shows how ngoma can be tuned using a moist cloth.

Figure 6.19: Tuning ngoma using a moist cloth

Note that, you need to be patient when tuning your ngoma. It normally takes time
to adjust the tone of ngoma.

Activity 6.12

Play a ngoma to identify whether the tone is low or high pitched. Use any of
the methods you have learned to adjust the tone of your ngoma by lowering
or raising it.

Techniques of playing ngoma
Ngoma playing can be done in various ways, either by using bare hands, sticks or
both. The way of playing ngoma is determined by several factors, including the
customs and traditions of a particular society. Figures 6.20 and 6.21 show how

ngoma can be played by using either sticks or bare hands.

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