To buy African kora at artisan’s shop

This model has all the deep bass note octaves that a standard kora does not have by default. These Full-Bass koras have 24 notes, while standard models have 21 or 22.

This kora is very interesting for giving a deeper feel to any piece (whether traditional or new compositions), because the complete bass line adds "more colors to the palette... to paint new landscapes."

If you are accustomed to standard koras and want to "travel further," these Full-Bass models are a real game-changer... I always say that I would definitely choose a FULL-BASS model before opting for a SEMITONES model, because it makes a really big difference.

The strings are configured in the same way as on a 21 or 22-string kora, so everything you have learned before is not affected. Only 3 or 2 extra bass notes are added at the beginning of the bridge.

Taking a 21-string kora as a reference, with a FULL-BASS model you have the deepest octave of your kora: the 2F... then 2G, 2A, 2B come as added bass notes, which close the gap up to 3C... and the rest of the strings are as usual up to 5A.

This line of koras, which became known as "chromatic koras" (*), features a system of levers installed on the arch (the long neck). When operated, they press on each string, changing its length. This shifts the desired string up by a semitone.

This is interesting for musicians who frequently need to change the pitch (the repertoire) quickly, smoothly, easily, and, very importantly, stably, since the strings do not go out of tune in the process.

Therefore, they are particularly well suited for live concerts.

Koras with a semitone lever system allow switching between traditional Manding styles typical of the kora and other styles that are further away from the usual repertoire. This is interesting for advanced players, "jazz souls," composers...

The semitone koras are heavier than the standard models because they carry more metal (levers and pins in addition to the tuning pegs) on the arch... and they require special attention to avoid damaging their mechanism (from impacts).

(*) Chromatic means 12 notes ready to be played/combined at any time (like on a piano), and this is never the case with a semitone kora. You can change the notes as often as you like, before and during playing (if you are practiced), but you always only have 7 notes ready to play (a diatonic scale). "Chromatic" is therefore not a correct name for this type of kora, but it "went viral years ago" and many people call it that nowadays.

Koras specifically designed for those who do not wish to enjoy a musical instrument made with animal skin... which is why they are sometimes also called "vegan koras." Therefore, in this model, the entire kora is made 100% of wood.

The sound of the bass notes is not as warm as with instruments using skin (as that warmth is only achieved with skin), but they still have an absolute kora sound, and those basses remain interesting because I have worked hard to find the best result... while the mid and high octaves sound quite similar to other koras.

If you prefer not to use animal skin in your instrument, I can tell you that the sound on this model is also beautiful. You will enjoy it and even forget whether it was made from wood or animal skin.

By exchanging animal skin for wood, the instrument's soundboard is more stable against changes in humidity and temperature, which means it detunes less easily.

This model is a compilation of subtle improvements that, in sum, make a difference... and it is also the result of a long-term analysis of how the instrument configuration and the playing dynamics interact and influence the playing.

The result is an instrument that "not only wants to pull in the same direction as the player but even helps him/her with the execution"...

Contact me to learn more about this or other models.