KORA

21 STRING AFRICAN HARP

Like Gentle Desert Rain

A beautiful & fascinating African instrument, the Kora is hard to classify. With 21 strings and a cow-hide resonator, it's a type of bridge harp, but with some lute or guitar DNA in the mix. Originally from Gambia, it is widely played in Mali, Senegal and across Africa.

Sonically it is similar to the harp, but when played in the traditional style it also bears resemblance to a guitar played using the flamenco or Delta blues technique of plucking polyrhythmic patterns with both hands.

Soniccouture's virtual instrument is designed to be very playable and versatile, featuring a MIDI pattern player for authentic accompaniment and micro-tuning for authentic scales if desired

Hear The Audio Demos

The kora is made from a gourd, which is cut in half and covered with cow hide. This forms the resonator of the instrument. There are 21 strings, suspended by a double notched bridge - 10 on one side, 11 on the other. This is typical of a double harp and it is classified as such. However, because the strings originate from a 'neck' and cross a bridge into a resonator, this also makes it a lute.

Kumbengo

MIDI PATTERN PLAYER

Kora is played with two hands, one each side of the bridge - 10 strings on one side, 11 on the other. The thumbs of both hands play the 'kumbego' - the bassline accompaniment.

Soniccouture Kora features a custom pattern player to provide this accompaniment. Featuring 20 authentic base patterns which can be tweaked and shaped: speed, velocity, swing.

Your final MIDI can then be easily drag'n'dropped into your DAW.