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Easy Kalimba

Overview

Sheet music in our Easy Kalimba series includes melodies, lyrics, and chord symbols with kalimba tablature. The music is arranged for a standard 17-key kalimba in C major.

What Is Included

Music in our Easy 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 C major. Most 17-key kalimbas are in C major. However, you should check the specifications for your kalimba to verify yours is 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 a standard 17-key kalimba is the pitch C. A 1 with a dot above it is a C 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 these numbers. If yours doesn't include engraved numbers and dots, you may have received stickers you can place on the instrument. 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 C as long as they use the same layout. You will just be playing in a different key than what is notated.

Our kalimba ebooks include a brief guide to reading tablature for kalimba along with a chart of where the numbers are located on the kalimba.

Keys and Pitches

Most music is in the key of C major (or A minor if the music is in a minor key.) However, some music may be put in a closely related key like F or G major if it doesn't include certain notes (B-flat in F major or F-sharp in G major). We do this to allow the music to be pitched lower so the more resonant tines are used as much as possible.

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.

Instrument Size

All of the music in the Easy Kalimba series has been arranged for a 17-key kalimba. The music may work on other kalimbas, but please note the following before purchasing music from this series if you aren't using a 17-key kalimba:

  • 8-key kalimbas - Most music won't work on this size. Many melodies exceed this range, so music in this series won't be playable with the exception of a small number of titles. Most titles that do work will be simple children's songs like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.
  • 10-key kalimbas - Some music will work on an instrument of this size, but many titles still exceed this range.
  • 15-key alto kalimbas - Much of the tablature will work on a 15-key kalimba in G, but you will be playing different in a different key than shown in the notation. This is fine if you play by yourself since the relations between the notes will be the same. If you play with other instruments, those players would need to transpose the chords and melody in the notation to play with you. Please also note that some titles still won't work on this instrument because it has 2 fewer tines than a 17-key model.
  • 21-key kalimbas - All music should work on an instrument at this size as long as it has a standard layout. A standard layout will include all of the range of a 17-key kalimba plus several additional tines.