Skip to content

Alto Kalimba

Overview

Sheet music in our Alto Kalimba series includes melodies, lyrics, and chord symbols with kalimba tablature. The music is arranged for a 15-key alto kalimba in G major.

What Is Included

Music in our Alto Kalimba series includes:

  • Melody in notation and kalimba tablature
  • Lyrics if the original music includes words
  • Chord symbols above the music

Required Skills

  • Ability to read kalimba tablature. You will also benefit from the ability to read notation to help with the rhythms.

Chords

Chord symbols are included above the music. The chords may be simplified slightly to make it easy for guitarists, pianists, or other musicians to accompany you.

Music Notation and Tablature

The music notation and chord symbols are for kalimba in G major. Most 15-key alto kalimbas are in this key.

Tablature for kalimba is included below the music. The tablature includes the following:

  • The numbers 1 to 7
  • Dots above the numbers - Some numbers will have no dots, while others may have one or two.

The numbers correspond to the keys (or tines) on the kalimba. The dots indicate a note in a higher octave. For example, a 1 on an alto kalimba is the pitch G. A 1 with a dot above it is a G one octave higher.

You can play music using the tablature by playing the tine that corresponds to the number or number with dots in the tablature. The tines on many kalimbas are engraved with numbers. If your kalimba doesn't include engraved numbers, it may have included stickers you can place on the tines. If your kalimba doesn't have either of these, you can either buy stickers or write numbers and dots on the tines yourself.

Note that the tablature will work for kalimbas in keys other than G as long as they have 15 notes and use the same layout for the tines. You will just be playing in a different key than what is notated.

Keys and Pitches

Most music is in the key of G major (or E minor if the music is in a minor key.)

Lyrics

We generally include one verse of lyrics within the music. Other lyrics are included as text at the end of the music. Some lyrics may be omitted, but this is usually done only when there are too many verses to easily include (e.g., songs that include dozens of verses).

Lyrics may vary from the version you know. A small number of songs include many variations in lyrics, none of which are standardized. It isn't always possible to create a version of these lyrics that is familiar to everyone.

Tempo

Tempos are editorial suggestions in most cases. Feel free to choose your own tempo.