7 1° 2° 3° 1° 6 6 2° 4° 6° 5° 4°
3° 1° 3° 2° 1° 7 7 1° 2° 3° 1° 6
6 3° 7 1° 2° 3° 2° 1° 7 6 6 1°
3° 2° 1° 7 1° 2° 3° 1° 6 6 2° 4°
6° 5° 4° 3° 1° 3° 4° 3° 2° 1° 7 1°
2° 3° 1° 6 6 3° 1° 2° 7 1° 6 5
7 3° 1° 2° 7 1° 3° 6° 6° 5° 3° 7
1° 2° 1° 7 6 6 1° 3° 2° 1° 7 1°
2° 3° 1° 6 6 2° 4° 6° 5° 4° 3° 1°
3° 2° 1° 7 7 1° 2° 3° 1° 6 6 3°
7 1° 2° 3° 2° 1° 7 6 6 1° 3° 2°
1° 7 1° 2° 3° 1° 6 6 2° 4° 6° 5°
4° 3° 1° 3° 4° 3° 2° 1° 7 1° 2° 3°
1° 6 6 3° 1° 2° 7 1° 6 5 7 3°
1° 2° 7 1° 3° 6° 6° 5°
Kalimba Notes shares tabs for songs from anime, movies, games, and popular music. Each tab uses Jianpu, a simple numbered notation that shows which note to play by its position in the scale, so you don't need to read sheet music to follow along. This guide explains how the numbers, octave dots, and keys work, so you can start playing right away.
Which Kalimba
All tabs on this site are written for a 17-key kalimba tuned in C. That's the most common setup for beginners, and it matches the key layout shown in each post's image. If you're using a different kalimba, the numbers will still work, but you'll need to find the keys that match the layout.
How to Read Kalimba Notes
Every tab on this site is written in Jianpu, a numbered notation. The numbers 1 through 7 stand for the seven notes of the scale, and the key shown at the top of each tab decides which actual notes those numbers become.
Octave dots
Dots after a number tell you which octave to play in:
| Octave | Notation | Keys on the kalimba |
|---|---|---|
| Middle | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | 7 keys |
| One octave higher | 1° 2° 3° 4° 5° 6° 7° | 7 keys |
| Two octaves higher | 1°° 2°° 3°° | 3 keys |
A number with no dot is in the middle octave, and each dot adds one octave.
Kalimba layout
Reading the 17 keys from left to right:
2°° 7° 5° 3° 1° 6 4 2 1 3 5 7 2° 4° 6° 1°° 3°°
Playing along
Play the notes in the order they appear, and listen to the song while you follow the tab. The tab shows which notes to play, and the recording shows the timing.