The Kalimba, often called a thumb piano, is a magical little instrument. Its soothing, bell-like tones are instantly captivating, and the best part? It's incredibly easy to learn, even for complete beginners! If you've just got your hands on a 17-key Kalimba (typically tuned to C major) and are wondering where to start, you're in the right place.
Children's songs and nursery rhymes are the perfect gateway to playing the Kalimba. They have simple, memorable melodies and a gentle rhythm that's easy to follow. Plus, they're tunes most of us already know and love! Playing them on the Kalimba can be a wonderful way to relax, entertain little ones, or simply bring a smile to your face.
Why Kalimba for Children's Songs?
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Simplicity: The numbered tines on most Kalimbas correspond directly to musical notes, making it easy to follow "tablature" (tabs).
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Portability: Take your music anywhere!
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Engaging Sound: The Kalimba's unique sound adds a whimsical touch to these classic tunes.
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Bonding Opportunity: Playing for or with children can be a delightful shared experience.
Understanding Our Kalimba Tabs:
The tabs below use a simple number system:
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1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7: Correspond to Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si in C major.
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1°, 2°, etc.: A dot above the number (°) means it's a higher octave note.
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Rhythm: For these simple songs, listen to the melody in your head (or find a recording) to get the rhythm. Each number generally corresponds to one syllable or beat.
Let's Play! Our Collection of Easy Kalimba Children's Songs:
Here are some beloved American children's songs with their Kalimba tabs. Feel free to screenshot these for easy reference!
1. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
A timeless classic that shares its melody with the "ABC Song" and "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep."
// Kalimba Tab (C Major - Numbers)
Twin-kle Twin-kle Lit-tle Star
1 1 5 5 6 6 5
How I Won-der What You Are
4 4 3 3 2 2 1
Up A-bove The World So High
5 5 4 4 3 3 2
Like A Dia-mond In The Sky
5 5 4 4 3 3 2
Twin-kle Twin-kle Lit-tle Star
1 1 5 5 6 6 5
How I Won-der What You Are
4 4 3 3 2 2 12. Mary Had A Little Lamb
A sweet and simple tune about Mary and her fluffy companion.
// Kalimba Tab (C Major - Numbers)
Ma-ry Had A Lit-tle Lamb
3 2 1 2 3 3 3
Lit-tle Lamb, Lit-tle Lamb
2 2 2, 3 5 5
Ma-ry Had A Lit-tle Lamb
3 2 1 2 3 3 3
Its Fleece Was White As Snow
3 2 2 3 2 13. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Often sung as a round, this song has a lovely, flowing melody.
// Kalimba Tab (C Major - Numbers)
Row, Row, Row Your Boat,
1 1 1 2 3
Gent-ly Down The Stream.
3 2 3 4 5
Mer-ri-ly, Mer-ri-ly, Mer-ri-ly, Mer-ri-ly,
1° 1° 1°, 5 5 5, 3 3 3, 1 1 1
Life Is But A Dream.
5 4 3 2 14. Happy Birthday
A must-know for any celebration!
// Kalimba Tab (C Major - Numbers)
Hap-py Birth-day To You
5 5 6 5 1° 7
Hap-py Birth-day To You
5 5 6 5 2° 1°
Hap-py Birth-day Dear [Name]
5 5 5° 3° 1° 7 6
Hap-py Birth-day To You
4° 4° 3° 1° 2° 1°5. Itsy Bitsy Spider
This adventurous spider's tale is a favorite for finger plays and song.
// Kalimba Tab (C Major - Numbers)
The It-sy Bit-sy Spi-der Went Up The Wa-ter Spout
5 1° 1° 1° 7 6 7 1° 5 5 6 7 1°
Down Came The Rain And Washed The Spi-der Out
5° 5° 3° 3° 1° 1° 7 6 5 6 7 1°
Out Came The Sun And Dried Up All The Rain
5 5 1° 1° 1° 7 6 7 1° 5 5 6 7 1°
And The It-sy Bit-sy Spi-der Went Up The Spout A-gain
5 1° 1° 1° 7 6 7 1° 5 5 6 7 1°6. The Wheels on the Bus
A repetitive and fun song that kids love to sing along to.
// Kalimba Tab (C Major - Numbers)
The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round
1 3 5 5 5 3 1 5 3 1
Round and Round, Round and Round
5 3 1, 5 3 1
The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round
1 3 5 5 5 3 1 5 3 1
All Through The Town
6 5 4 3 2 17. Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Perfect for practicing different sounds (though your Kalimba will stick to the melody!).
// Kalimba Tab (C Major - Numbers)
Old Mac-Don-ald Had A Farm, Ee-Aye-Ee-Aye-Oh
5 5 5 2 3 3 2, 1 1 7 7 5 (low 7, use high 7 if easier)
And On That Farm He Had Some [Chicks], Ee-Aye-Ee-Aye-Oh
5 5 5 2 3 3 2 , 1 1 7 7 5
With A Chick Chick Here And A Chick Chick There
1 1 5 5 1 1 1 5 5 1
Here A Chick, There A Chick, Ev-ery-where A Chick Chick
1 1 5, 1 1 5, 1 1 1 1 1 1 5
Old Mac-Don-ald Had A Farm, Ee-Aye-Ee-Aye-Oh
5 5 5 2 3 3 2, 1 1 7 7 5(Note: For "Ee-Aye-Ee-Aye-Oh", the '7' is ideally a low B. If your 17-key starts at C (1), you might play a high B (7) instead, or simplify the phrase.) -> The tab provided above already uses a more accessible version.
8. If You're Happy and You Know It
An interactive song that encourages movement and joy. For the "Clap Your Hands" part, you can simply pause or gently tap your Kalimba.
// Kalimba Tab (C Major - Numbers)
If You're Hap-py And You Know It, Clap Your Hands
1 1 5 5 6 6 5 (pause/tap)
If You're Hap-py And You Know It, Clap Your Hands
4 4 3 3 2 2 1 (pause/tap)
If You're Hap-py And You Know It, Then Your Face Will Sure-ly Show It
1 1 5 5 6 6 5 5 6 5 4 3 2 1
If You're Hap-py And You Know It, Clap Your Hands
4 4 3 3 2 2 1 (pause/tap)Tips for Playing:
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Start Slow: Don't rush. Get comfortable with finding the tines.
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Listen First: If you're unsure of a melody, listen to the song a few times.
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Practice Regularly: Even 10-15 minutes a day can make a big difference.
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Have Fun! That's the most important part. Don't worry about perfection, just enjoy the process of making music.
We hope this collection helps you embark on a joyful musical journey with your Kalimba. These simple songs are just the beginning. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be surprised at how quickly you can pick up new tunes!
Happy playing! What other children's songs would you like to learn on the Kalimba? Let us know in the comments below!