My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean Kalimba Tabs (17-Key)

My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean kalimba tabs

For a 17-key kalimba tuned to C major. This tab is the verse and the chorus: 58 notes on 7 tines, from E4 up to E5.

newellabs.com/play/kalimba/tabs/bonnie/

Number tab

The number tab read aloud, one sentence per group. “High” stands for one dot above the number and “very high” for two. 5. high 3, high 2, high 1. high 2, high 1, 6. 5, 3, 5. high 3, high 2, high 1. high 1, 7, high 1. high 2, 5. high 3, high 2, high 1. high 2, high 1, 6. 5, 3, 5. 6, high 2, high 1. 7, 6, 7. high 1. 5. high 1. 6. high 2. 7, 7, 7. 7, 6, 7. high 1, high 2. high 3. 5. high 1. 6. high 2. 7, 7, 7. 7, 6, 7. high 1.

Letter notes

G₄E₅D₅C₅D₅C₅A₄G₄E₄G₄E₅D₅C₅C₅B₄C₅D₅G₄E₅D₅C₅D₅C₅A₄G₄E₄G₄A₄D₅C₅B₄A₄B₄C₅G₄C₅A₄D₅B₄B₄B₄B₄A₄B₄C₅D₅E₅G₄C₅A₄D₅B₄B₄B₄B₄A₄B₄C₅

Tines you need

The long tine in the middle is 1 (C4). Notes climb outward, alternating left and right, so neighbours on the same side are two steps apart.

How to read this tab

Numbers are steps of the scale. 1 is C, 2 is D, up to 7 for B. A dot above a number means one octave higher; two dots, two octaves higher. The song starts 5 3̇ 2̇ 1̇ 2̇ 1̇ 6 5 (G4 E5 D5 C5 D5 C5 A4 G4).
Gaps mark bars. Each group is one bar of music. The tab shows which tine to play, not how long to hold it; press Listen on the play-along page to hear the rhythm.
Other kalimbas. On an 8-, 10- or 21-key kalimba in C the numbers mean the same notes, as long as the tines you need are there.

About the song

A traditional Scottish song, published in 1881. The melody is in the public domain.

About this tab

What it covers. Verse and the “Bring back, bring back” chorus.
Key. C major (engraved in G major).
Source. Transcribed from Wikipedia score (melody).