Discover easy nursery rhymes that you can play on the kalimba. Our simple tabs will have you playing some songs in no time.
1. Soft Kitty (kalimba tab)
Soft kitty is a kids song that was popularised by characters sheldon and penny in the american sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Originally known as "warm kitty" the song was written by Edith Newling. Heirs of Edith Newlin's filed a copyright lawsuit in December 2015 against various companies associated with The Big Bang Theory.
The song is featured in Season 1 episode: The Pancake Batter Anomaly, where sheldon is feeling unwell and asks penny to sing him the song that his mother used to sing to him when he was sick as a child. In 1937, the song was published in a book called Songs for The Nursery School and it went on to sell over 10,000 copies. This is probably the easiest song to play on the kalimba, see the tab below.
NOTES & LYRICS:
D B B C A A G A B C D
Soft Kit-ty, warm kit-ty, lit-tle ball of fur
D D B B C C A A G A G
Hap-py kit-ty, slee-py kit-ty, purr purr purr.
2. Frère Jacques (kalimba tab)
Frère Jacques is a very well known kid's French nursery rhyme, it was originally written by Rameau. The English lyrics translate to: Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping? Brother John, brother john. The morning bells are ringing. The morning bells are ringing. Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong.
First sung in the late 17th century, there have been many versions of the song throughout history. The first printed version of the melody actually dates back to 1780 and therefore the exact original lyrics aren’t actually known.
However, we do know that the song was extremely popular and has been translated around the world from Afrikaans to Xhosa through Japanese. Although never being a ‘chart song’ it was recorded by The Beatles and has remained an important part of British culture, being sung in primary schools throughout the country.
It’s a fantastic song to start off with for several reasons. Firstly, it’s relatively easy to play. Once you understand the melody, you’ll gain a strong grasp of the song and soon learn the lyrics that accompany the music. It can be taught at all ages and therefore is a great song to teach your children from a very early age. Being extremely versatile, they can also play it on different instruments should they pick up others in the future!
NOTES & LYRICS
C D E C C D E C E F G E F G
Fre-re Jac-ques, Fre-re Jac-ques. Dor-mez vous, dor-mez vous.
G A G F E C G A G F E C
Son-nez les ma-ti-nes, Son-nez les ma-ti-nes
C G C C G C
Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong
3. Rain Rain Go Away (kalimba tab)
"Rain Rain Go Away" is a song that was written in 1533 and dates back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Despite the time it was written, it wasn't commercially released until 1962 by Bobby Vinton. The song tells the story that is set at the carnival in which the weather is sunny at the beginning and towards the end the rain comes.
Since its first release it has been released as a childrens nursery rhyme in 2014. The rain for some people is associated with negativity but hopefully this super easy kalimba tab will cheer you up!
NOTES & LYRICS
G E G G E G G E A G G E
Rain rain go a-way come a-gain a-noth-er day
F F D D F F D G F E D E C C
Lit-tle child-ren want to play. Rain rain go a way.
4. Mary Had a Little Lamb (kalimba tab)
Mary had a little lamb is a common kids’ nursery rhyme by composer Lowell Martin. The song is based on a real-life incident involving Mary Elizabeth Sawyer. Mary was born in 1806 on a farm in Scotland and she had a pet lamb that she absolutely loved. The song is commonly taught very early on in school, being both very relaxing and enjoyable for children to sing along to. The simple melody is very easy to pick up, which makes it one of the best options when it comes to introducing your child to music.
When played on the kalimba, the instrument adds further to the relaxing tune which can be used to help both you and your little ones unwind after a long day. This kalimba tab is suitable for any beginner and one you learn to play the first two lines, it is then repeated. Once you've got used to the changes, you will be able to sing along. Kids love a good nursery rhyme before bed, and when it's played on the kalimba it has a dramatic calming effect.
NOTES & LYRICS
E D C D E E E D D D E E E
Ma-ry had a lit-tle lamb, lit-tle lamb, lit-tle lamb.
E D C D E E E E D D E D C
Ma-ry had a lit-tle lamb, Its fleece was white as snow.
E D C D E E E D D D E E E
Every-where that Ma-ry went, Ma-ry went, Ma-ry went.
E D C D E E E E D D E D C
Every-where that Ma-ry went, the lamb was sure to go.
5. Old MacDonald Had a Farm (kalimba tab)
Old MacDonald had A farm is a popular nursery rhyme and animal song for children. It was recorded in the united states. Its first publication was approximately 1917. It is believed that the song was inspired by an American tune named “Ohio” (Old Macdougal Had a Farm) which was first published in Tommy’s Tune collection. This collection was a WWI era of tunes published in 1917. However, the history of this song dates back even further. In 1908, the song “Workhouse Marylebone” a rest home in London” was discovered in England.
This song was originally sung by an old lady named Mrs. Goodey and was eventually published in Cecil Sharp’s Collection of English Folk Songs. No matter when the original was first discovered, this song is a timeless classic and one that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike.
NOTES & LYRICS
C C C G A A G E E D DC
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.
G C C C G A A G E E D DC
And on his farm, he had some chicks, E-I-E-I-O.
G G C C C G G C C C
With a chick, chick here, and a chick, chick there.
C C C C C C C C C C C C
Here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick, chick,
C C C G A A G E E D DC
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.
6. Incy Wincy Spider (kalimba tab)
Incy wincy spider is a popular modern nursery rhyme, according to various internet sources it started off as a song for adults that was called Camp and Camino’ with the main words being ‘blooming, bloody instead of ‘Itsy Bitsy’. The song itself was first published in 1920 and variations of the lyrics are still being used today in various regions. The idea of the song is very positive and it aims to inspire children to never give up. For example, when the rain brings you down, keep going because the sun will come out and you can try again. As a kalimba tab, the song works really well because of the instruments lullaby type sound and is sure to help your little one sleep like a baby.
On top of that it is one of the easiest songs to play on the thumb piano and is suitable for any beginner. Teaching your child this song at home will help to reinforce what they’re learning in school and also provide them with a great musical foundation to build upon. Due to the ease of learning the song, your little one can begin learning very early, which may encourage them to pick up additional instruments as they proceed throughout the school curriculum.
NOTES & LYRICS
G C C C D E E. E D C D E C
The Incy wincy spider climbed up the water spout.
E E F G G F E F G E
Down came the rain, and washed the spider out
C C D E E D C D E C
Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain.
G G C C C D E E E D C D E C
And the incy wincy spider climbed up the spout again.
7. Here we go round the mulberry bush
Letter notes
F F F A C° C° A F F
F F F A C° C° A F F
G G C C F F
F F F A C° C° A F F
F F F A C° C° C° A F F
F F F A C° C° A F F
G G C C F F
F F F A C° C° A F F
F F F A C° C° A F
F F F A C° C° A F F
G G C C F F
F F F A C° C° A F F F
F F F A C° C° C° A F
F F F A C° C° A F F F
G G C C F F
Number notes
4 4 4 6 1º 1º 6 4 4
4 4 4 6 1º 1º 6 4 4
5 5 1 1 4 4
4 4 4 6 1º 1º 6 4 4
4 4 4 6 1º 1º 1º 6 4 4
4 4 4 6 1º 1º 6 4 4
5 5 1 1 4 4
4 4 4 6 1º 1º 6 4 4
4 4 4 6 1º 1º 6 4
4 4 4 6 1º 1º 6 4 4
5 5 1 1 4 4
4 4 4 6 1º 1º 6 4 4 4
4 4 4 6 1º 1º 1º 6 4
4 4 4 6 1º 1º 6 4 4 4
5 5 1 1 4 4
8. The wheels on the bus
Lettered notation
G (C°E) C° C° (C°G) E° (G°E) E° (C°G)
(D°F) B G
(G°E) E° (C°G) G (C°E)
C° C° (C°G)
E° (G°E) E° (C°G)
(D°F)
G G (C°E)
9. London Bridge is falling down
Letter notes
G A G F E F G
D E F E F G
G A G F E F G
D G E C
10. Heads, shoulders, knees and toes
Tab and lyrics
C° D° C° B C° A
Head, shoul-ders, knees and toes,
C° C° C°
knees and toes,
C° D° C° B C° A
Head, shoul-ders, knees and toes,
C° C° C°
knees and toes.
A G F A C°
A-and eyes and, ears
F° G° F° E° F° D°
And, mou-outh a -and nose
E° E° C° D° E° F°
Head, shoul-ders, knees and toes,
F F F
knees and toes.
11. Row, row row your boat
C C C D E
Row row row your boat
E D E F G
Gent-ly down the stream;
C° C° C° G G G
Mer-ri-ly, Mer-ri-ly
E E E C C C
Mer-ri-ly, Mer-ri-ly
G F E D C
Life is but a dream!
12. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
E G F A G A B C°
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;
E G F A G F E D
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
E E G F F A G A B C°
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
E° E° C° F° F° E° D C° B C°
13. I love you (Barney song)
G E G G E G
A G F E D E F
E F G C C C C C D E F G
G D D F E D C
G E G G E G
A G F E D E F
E F G C C C C C D E F G
14. Bingo was his name-o
There was a farmer who had a dog,
C F F C C D D C
And Bingo was his name-o.
C F F G G A F
B-I-N-G-O
A A B B B
B-I-N-G-O
G G A A A
B-I-N-G-O
F F G G G
And Bingo was his name-o.
F E C D E F F
15. Rock a bye baby
Rock-a-bye, baby,
C E A G F
in the tree top
C C F E
When the wind blows
F D B A
the cradle will rock
G G F D C
When the bough breaks
C E A G
the cradle will fall
F C C F E
Down will come baby,
F D B A F
cradle and all
G D E F
16. The lion sleeps tonight
G A B A, B C° B A G, A B D D D D
G A B A, B C° B A G, A B D D D D
G A B A, B C° B A G, A B A G B A
D° B A B, D° C° B A G, A B A G B A
D D° C° D° C° B D D D D
D D° C° D° C° B D D D D
G A B A, B C° B A G, A B A G B A
D° B A B, D° C° B A G, A B A G B A
D D° C° D° C° B D D D D
D D° C° D° C° B D D D D
D D° C° D° C° B D D B A
17. Hickory dickory dock
E F G F E D E E
E G F D E E
E E G G F F A
G A G F E D C
18. Jack and Jill went up the hill
G G G G C° C° C° C°
D° D° D° D° E° C°
G G G G A A A A
G F E D C C
19. I can sing a rainbow
C D E D C
E G G A F D G E C
D E F G C B° A
G C G F E G E D C
20. Ring-a-ring-a-roses
Ring-a-ring-a-roses
G B B A C B G
A pocket full of posies
G B B A C B G
A tissue, a tissue
B D° G B D° G
We all fall down
B D° D G
The king has sent his daughter
G B B A C B G
To fetch a pail of water
G B B A C B G
A tissue, a tissue
B D° G B D° G
We all fall down
B D° D G
The robin on the steeple
G B B A C B G
Is singing to the people
G B B A C B G
A tissue, a tissue
B D° G B D° G
We all fall down
B D° D G
The wedding bells are ringing
G B B A C B G
The boys and girls are singing
G B B A C B G
A tissue, a tissue
B D° G B D° G
We all fall down
B D° D G
21. If your happy and you know it
CC FFFFFF EFG
CC GGGGGG FGA
AA BBBB DD BB AA A
GFF AA GGG FEEDEF
22. Pop goes the weasel
G C° C° D°
D° E° G° E° C°
G C° C° D°
F° E° C°
G C° C° D°
D° E° G° E° C°
A° D° F° E° C°
G C° C° D°
D° E ° G° E° C°
G C° C° D°
F° E° C°
G C° C° D°
D° E° G° E° C°
G C° C° D°
F° E° C°
G C° C° D°
D° E° G° E° C°
A° D° F° E° C°
