The Entertainer Kalimba Tabs (17-Key)

The Entertainer kalimba tabs

For a 17-key kalimba tuned to C major. This tab is the opening of the first strain: 33 notes on 10 tines, from D4 up to E6.

newellabs.com/play/kalimba/tabs/entertainer/

Number tab

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

Letter notes

D₄E₄C₅E₄C₅E₄C₅C₆D₆E₆C₆D₆E₆B₅D₆C₆D₄E₄C₅E₄C₅E₄C₅A₅G₅F₅A₅C₆E₆D₆C₆A₅D₆

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 2 3 1̇ 3 1̇ 3 1̇ 1̈ (D4 E4 C5 E4 C5 E4 C5 C6).
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 piano rag by Scott Joplin, published in 1902. The melody is in the public domain.

About this tab

What it covers. The opening of the first strain (bars 4-12), top notes of the right hand; tied notes are held.
Key. C major (as written).
Simplified. Joplin’s chromatic passing notes (D sharp, and F sharp in bar 11) have no tines: the D sharps are left out and the F sharp is played as F.
Source. Transcribed from Mutopia Project “The Entertainer”, right hand; Mutopia’s source: reproduction of the original 1902 edition.