Kalimba songs for beginners

62 songs for kalimba, easiest first. Tabs are for a 17-key kalimba tuned to C: numbers are tines, ° marks the octave. Only songs that need no sharps or flats in some key are listed. Songs that fit tines 1 to 1° also get an 8-key tab.

How to read the tabs

Tines: 1 = C, 2 = D … 7 = B; each ° is one octave higher (the middle tine is 1).
  • 1C4
  • 2D4
  • 3E4
  • 4F4
  • 5G4
  • 6A4
  • 7B4
  • 1°C5
  • 2°D5
  • 3°E5
  • 4°F5
  • 5°G5
  • 6°A5
  • 7°B5
  • 1°°C6
  • 2°°D6
  • 3°°E6

All kalimba songs, easiest first

  1. Hot Cross BunsG major, G4–B4 · “Hot cross buns, One a pen-…”Easy
  2. When I Survey the Wondrous CrossC major, B4–F5 · “When I survey the…”Easy
  3. Mary Had a Little LambF major, F4–C5 · “Mary had a little…”Easy
  4. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little StarG major, G4–E5 · “Twinkle, twinkle, little…”Easy
  5. Our God, Our Help in Ages PastF major, A4–G5 · “Our God, our help in a-…”Easy
  6. Be Still, My SoulG major, G4–E5 · “Be still, my soul: the Lord…”Easy
  7. My Country, ’Tis of Thee (America)C major, B4–A5 · “My country, 'tis of thee,…”Easy
  8. I Need Thee Every HourC major, G4–F5 · “I need Thee ev'ry hour,…”Easy
  9. Oh! SusannaG major, G4–E5Medium
  10. Eine kleine NachtmusikC major, G4–G5Medium
  11. Aura LeeC major, C4–B4 · “As the blackbird in the…”Medium
  12. Happy Birthday to YouC major, G4–G5 · “Happy birthday to you,…”Medium
  13. From Heaven Above to Earth I ComeC major, C4–C5 · “From Heaven above to earth…”Medium
  14. Praise God From Whom All Blessings FlowC major, G4–G5 · “$1D$2 Praise God, from Whom all bles-…”Medium
  15. Amazing GraceG major, D4–D5 · “Amazing grace! How…”Medium
  16. Just as I Am Without One PleaC major, C4–C5 · “Just as I am,…”Medium
  17. Rock of AgesC major, E4–E5 · “Rock of Ages, cleft for…”Medium
  18. Away in a MangerC major, G4–G5 · “Away in a manger,…”Medium
  19. For the Beauty of the EarthC major, G4–G5 · “For the beauty of…”Medium
  20. Holy, Holy, HolyC major, C4–C5 · “Holy, holy, holy!…”Medium
  21. How Firm a FoundationG major, D4–D5 · “How firm a founda-…”Medium
  22. In the Bleak MidwinterC major, A4–A5 · “In the bleak midwin-…”Medium
  23. Gabriel's MessageC major, E4–E5 · “The angel Gabriel…”Medium
  24. Jolly Old Saint NicholasC major, E4–E5 · “Jolly old Saint Nicho-…”Medium
  25. Jesus Loves MeF major, F4–F5 · “Jesus loves me! This I…”Medium
  26. Brahms’ Lullaby (Wiegenlied)C major, C4–C5Medium
  27. Gentle Mary Laid Her ChildC major, G4–G5 · “Gentle Mary laid her…”Medium
  28. Good King WenceslasC major, G4–G5 · “Good King Wenceslas looked…”Medium
  29. See Amid the Winter's SnowC major, G4–G5 · “See amid the winter's…”Medium
  30. Joy to the WorldC major, C4–C5 · “Joy to the world, the Lord…”Medium
  31. All Creatures of Our God and KingC major, C4–C5 · “All creatures of our God…”Medium
  32. How Can I Keep From Singing?G major, D4–D5 · “My life flows on in end-…”Medium
  33. O Come, O Come, EmmanuelC major, G4–G5 · “O come, O come, Emman-…”Medium
  34. Come Thou Fount of Every BlessingF major, F4–F5 · “Come, Thou Fount of every…”Medium
  35. O Come, All Ye FaithfulC major, G4–G5 · “O come, all ye faithful,…”Medium
  36. Ode to JoyG major, D4–D5Medium
  37. Angels From the Realms of GloryC major, E4–F5 · “Angels from the realms of…”Medium
  38. The First NoelC major, C4–C5 · “The first No-…”Medium
  39. The Church's One FoundationC major, B4–C6 · “The Church's one founda-…”Medium
  40. The Lord's My ShepherdC major, B4–C6 · “The Lord's my shepherd I'll…”Medium
  41. Yankee DoodleC major, E4–F5 · “Fath'r and I went down…”Medium
  42. Blest Be the Tie That BindsC major, G4–A5 · “Blest be the tie…”Medium
  43. When the Roll Is Called Up YonderC major, G4–G5 · “When the trumpet of the…”Medium
  44. All My Heart This Night RejoicesC major, G4–A5 · “All my heart this night re-…”Medium
  45. Minuet in GC major, B4–C6Medium
  46. To God Be the GloryC major, G4–G5 · “To God be the glory,…”Medium
  47. Lo, How a Rose E'er BloomingC major, G4–A5 · “Lo, how a Rose e'er bloom-…”Medium
  48. Nearer, My God, to TheeF major, C4–D5 · “Nearer, my God, to Thee,…”Medium
  49. Praise to the Lord, the AlmightyC major, G4–A5 · “Praise to the Lord, the Al-…”Medium
  50. We Gather TogetherC major, C4–D5 · “We gather together…”Medium
  51. What Wondrous Love Is This?C major, C4–D5 · “What wondrous love is this;…”Medium
  52. Deck the HallsC major, G4–A5 · “Deck the hall with boughs of…”Medium
  53. God Rest Ye Merry GentlemenC major, G4–A5 · “God rest ye merry, gen-…”Medium
  54. Hark! The Herald Angels SingC major, G4–A5 · “Hark! The herald angels…”Medium
  55. He Leadeth MeC major, C4–D5 · “He leadeth me, O bless-…”Medium
  56. Angels We Have Heard on HighG major, D4–E5 · “Angels we have heard on…”Medium
  57. Jingle BellsC major, G4–A5 · “Dashing through the snow In…”Medium
  58. Silent NightC major, C4–F5 · “Silent night, ho-…”Harder
  59. Were You There?G major, D4–G5 · “Were you there when they cru-…”Harder
  60. Auld Lang SyneG major, D4–G5 · “Should auld acquaintance be…”Harder
  61. Of the Father's Love BegottenC major, G4–C6 · “Of the Father's love be-…”Harder
  62. Canon in DC major, A4–E6Harder