Tembo: A New Musical Instrument for Playful Music Making
Tembo is a playful intuitive instrument for your creative and musical home. Start by creating and learn through play.
Category: Technology
Funding Campaigns
Tembo is one of those rare Kickstarter finds that feels genuinely inventive: a magnetic instrument that makes music creation playful, tactile, and accessible to everyone from kids to Grammy-winning musicians.
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This is Musical Beings' first Kickstarter project, but don't let that fool you. The team left careers at Google, Waves Audio, and Wix, bringing serious experience shipping hardware, software, and consumer products used by millions. They've already earned an Abbey Road Studios certification and glowing endorsements from legends like Victor Wooten and OK Go's Damian Kulash. That's not beginner energy, that's "we know exactly what we're doing" energy.
Tembo is a screen-free, magnetic step sequencer and sampler that turns music-making into a tactile, hands-on experience. Place, flip, and stack magnetic beats to create rhythms, then sample your own sounds, add effects, and connect to your DAW via USB MIDI. It's beautifully crafted from natural materials, looks like a piece of art on your desk, and grows with you from total beginner to seasoned producer.
The team emphasizes building a product that's crafted to last, with durable construction and thoughtful design meant for years of hands-on play. They're transparent about shipping logistics, taxes, and international fulfillment, and they plan a summer beta testing round with hundreds of testers before mass production. No formal environmental commitments section on the page, but the focus on longevity and quality over disposability is a solid start.
The Super Early Bird tier gets you a Tembo for $369 (MSRP $550), a 33% savings. The Early Bird comes in at $389, and there's an Everything Bundle at $549 (MSRP $802) that includes a carrying case, extra magnet pack, and branded gear. For a completely original musical instrument with this level of polish and professional backing, the pricing feels justified and the early bird discounts are generous.
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