Once in Royal David’s City Kalimba Tabs (17-Key)

Once in Royal David’s City kalimba tabs

For a 17-key kalimba tuned to C major. This tab is the whole tune: 54 notes on 8 tines, from G4 up to A5.

newellabs.com/play/kalimba/tabs/davids/

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, 7. high 1, high 1, high 1, 7, high 1, high 2. high 2, high 1, high 1, high 3. high 5, high 3, high 3, high 2, high 1, 7. high 1, 5, 7. high 1, high 1, high 1, 7, high 1, high 2. high 2, high 1, high 1, high 3. high 5, high 3, high 3, high 2, high 1, 7. high 1, high 6, high 6. high 5, high 1, high 4, high 4. high 3, high 6, high 6. high 5, high 3, high 3, high 2, high 1, 7. high 1.

Letter notes

G₄B₄C₅C₅C₅B₄C₅D₅D₅C₅C₅E₅G₅E₅E₅D₅C₅B₄C₅G₄B₄C₅C₅C₅B₄C₅D₅D₅C₅C₅E₅G₅E₅E₅D₅C₅B₄C₅A₅A₅G₅C₅F₅F₅E₅A₅A₅G₅E₅E₅D₅C₅B₄C₅

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 7 1̇ 1̇ 1̇ 7 1̇ 2̇ (G4 B4 C5 C5 C5 B4 C5 D5).
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

Cecil Frances Alexander’s words of 1848, set to Henry John Gauntlett’s tune “Irby” (1849). The melody is in the public domain.

About this tab

What it covers. Whole tune (H. J. Gauntlett’s IRBY).
Key. C major (printed in G and F major).
Source. Transcribed from Mutopia Project “Irby” (cyberhymnal transcription), soprano line.