Clair de Lune (Debussy) Kalimba Tabs (17-Key)

Clair de Lune (Debussy) kalimba tabs

For a 17-key kalimba tuned to C major. This tab is the opening theme: 36 notes on 7 tines, from A4 up to A5.

newellabs.com/play/kalimba/tabs/clairdelune/

Number tab

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

Letter notes

G₅E₅D₅E₅D₅C₅D₅C₅E₅C₅B₄C₅B₄G₅E₅D₅E₅D₅C₅D₅G₅E₅D₅E₅D₅C₅C₅D₅A₅G₅E₅D₅E₅D₅C₅A₄

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 5̇ 3̇ 2̇ 3̇ 2̇ 1̇ 2̇ 1̇ (G5 E5 D5 E5 D5 C5 D5 C5).
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

The third movement of Claude Debussy’s Suite bergamasque for piano, published in 1905. The title means “moonlight”. The melody is in the public domain.

Looking for the French folk song instead? See Au Clair de la Lune kalimba tabs.

About this tab

What it covers. The opening theme, top voice: bars 1-4 and 9-14 (the falling arpeggios of bars 5-8 go below the kalimba’s range and are left out).
Key. C major (the original is in D-flat major).
Simplified. The theme is shown as one line (Debussy writes it in thirds), the triplet rhythms are rounded, and bars 5-8 are left out.
Source. Transcribed from Mutopia Project Suite bergamasque: Clair de lune, upper staff; Mutopia’s source: E. Fromont (1905).