Gymnopédie No. 1 Kalimba Tabs (17-Key)

Gymnopédie No. 1 kalimba tabs

For a 17-key kalimba tuned to C major. This tab is the first two phrases of the melody: 22 notes on 9 tines, from D4 up to G5.

newellabs.com/play/kalimba/tabs/gymnopedie/

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

Letter notes

E₅G₅F₅E₅B₄A₄B₄C₅G₄E₄E₅G₅F₅E₅B₄A₄B₄C₅G₄B₄E₅D₄

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 3̇ 5̇ 4̇ 3̇ 7 6 7 1̇ (E5 G5 F5 E5 B4 A4 B4 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 first of Erik Satie’s three Gymnopédies for piano, published in 1888. Play it slowly and let the long notes ring. The melody is in the public domain.

About this tab

What it covers. The melody of the first two phrases (bars 5-19); the long notes are held as written.
Key. C major (the Dover edition is in D major).
Source. Transcribed from Mutopia Project “Gymnopédie No. 1”, top voice; Mutopia’s source: Dover edition.