Brahms’ Lullaby Kalimba Tabs (17-Key)

Brahms’ Lullaby kalimba tabs

For a 17-key kalimba tuned to C major. This tab is the whole melody: 51 notes on 8 tines, from C4 up to C5.

newellabs.com/play/kalimba/tabs/brahms/

Number tab

The number tab read aloud, one sentence per group. “High” stands for one dot above the number and “very high” for two. 3, 3. 5, 3, 3. 5, 3, 5. high 1, 7, 6. 6, 5, 2, 3. 4, 2, 2, 3. 4, 2, 4. 7, 6, 5, 7. high 1, 1, 1. high 1, 6, 4. 5, 3, 1. 4, 5, 6. 5, 1, 1. high 1, 6, 4. 5, 3, 1. 4, 3, 2. 1.

Letter notes

E₄E₄G₄E₄E₄G₄E₄G₄C₅B₄A₄A₄G₄D₄E₄F₄D₄D₄E₄F₄D₄F₄B₄A₄G₄B₄C₅C₄C₄C₅A₄F₄G₄E₄C₄F₄G₄A₄G₄C₄C₄C₅A₄F₄G₄E₄C₄F₄E₄D₄C₄

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 3 3 5 3 3 5 3 5 (E4 E4 G4 E4 E4 G4 E4 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

Johannes Brahms’s “Wiegenlied” (cradle song), Op. 49 No. 4, published in 1868. The melody is in the public domain.

About this tab

What it covers. The whole song melody (one verse).
Key. C major (the original is in E-flat major).
Simplified. Two short grace notes are left out.
Source. Transcribed from Mutopia Project “Wiegenlied” Op. 49 No. 4, voice part.