God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen Kalimba Tabs (17-Key)

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen kalimba tabs

For a 17-key kalimba tuned to C major. This tab is the whole tune with the refrain: 67 notes on 9 tines, from G4 up to A5.

newellabs.com/play/kalimba/tabs/godrest/

Number tab

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

Letter notes

A₄A₄E₅E₅D₅C₅B₄A₄G₄A₄B₄C₅D₅E₅A₄A₄E₅E₅D₅C₅B₄A₄G₄A₄B₄C₅D₅E₅E₅F₅D₅E₅F₅G₅A₅E₅D₅C₅A₄B₄C₅D₅C₅D₅E₅F₅E₅E₅D₅C₅B₄A₄C₅B₄A₄D₅C₅D₅E₅F₅G₅A₅E₅D₅C₅B₄A₄

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 6 6 3̇ 3̇ 2̇ 1̇ 7 6 (A4 A4 E5 E5 D5 C5 B4 A4).
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 English carol. It is in a minor key, so on a kalimba in C it is built around A instead of C. The melody is in the public domain.

About this tab

What it covers. Whole tune with the “O tidings of comfort and joy” refrain.
Key. A minor (engraved in E minor; moved up a fourth).
Source. Transcribed from Wikipedia score of the traditional London tune (soprano line, repeats written out).