Kalimba Easy

This Old Man Kalimba Tabs

Number tabs and letters for kalimba, with the words under each note. Starts 2° 7 2° 2° 7 2°.

Key
G major
Range
G4–E5
Length
30 notes
Melody
1923, public domain

The notes and words

Key: G major, white keys only, so every note is on a kalimba tuned to C.

2°DThis7Bold2°Dman,2°Dhe7Bplayed2°Done,

3°EHe2°Dplayed1°Cnick-7Bnack6Aon7Bmy1°Cdrum.

2°DNick-5Gnack,5Gpad-5Gdy-5Gwhack,5Ggive6Aa7Bdog1°Ca2°Dbone,

2°DThis6Aold6Aman1°Ccame7Broll-6Aing5Ghome.

Tines: 1 = C, 2 = D … 7 = B; each ° is one octave higher (the middle tine is 1).
  • 5G4
  • 6A4
  • 7B4
  • 1°C5
  • 2°D5
  • 3°E5
70%

Staff notation

Play-along guide: the melody played by your browser’s kalimba sound. The lit note follows the music. Print large notes

8-key kalimba

Key: C major, white keys only, so every note is on a kalimba tuned to C. The melody fits the 8 tines, 1 to 1°.

5GThis3Eold5Gman,5Ghe3Eplayed5Gone,

6AHe5Gplayed4Fnick-3Enack2Don3Emy4Fdrum.

5GNick-1Cnack,1Cpad-1Cdy-1Cwhack,1Cgive2Da3Edog4Fa5Gbone,

5GThis2Dold2Dman4Fcame3Eroll-2Ding1Chome.

About this song

Melody
Traditional English folk song, 1923
Words
Traditional, 1923 (first verse shown)
Public domain
Melody 1923, words 1923: first published before 1931.
Source
A Kindergarten Book of Folk-Songs (E. C. Schirmer, 1923), No. 53, pp. 46–47, “This old man” (1923)

More kids’ songs on kalimba

  1. Hot Cross BunsG major, G4–B4 · “Hot cross buns, One a pen-…”Easy
  2. Mary Had a Little LambF major, F4–C5 · “Mary had a little…”Easy
  3. London BridgeG major, G4–E5 · “London bridge is falling…”Easy
  4. Baa, Baa, Black SheepC major, C4–A4 · “Baa! Baa! Black sheep, have you…”Easy
  5. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little StarG major, G4–E5 · “Twinkle, twinkle, little…”Easy
  6. Up on the HousetopC major, C4–A4 · “Up on the housetop…”Easy

All 15 kids’ songs on kalimba