Play the kalimba online
Pluck 17 real, recorded tines with a tap, a click or your keyboard.
Tap a tine or press any letter to start
How to play the kalimba with your keyboard
The bottom letter row plays the notes 1 to 7, the row above it plays the dotted notes an octave higher, and Q, W and E play the three highest tines.
- Tap or click a tine, or press its key. Use two fingers to pluck two tines at once, like two thumbs.
- Z to M play 1 to 7 from the centre tine up. The number keys 1 to 7 do the same.
- A to J play the dotted 1 to 7 an octave higher, and Q, W and E play the double-dotted 1, 2 and 3.
- Choose a sound above the kalimba. You can switch sounds while you play.
The number keys 1 to 7 play the same notes as the bottom row.
Easy kalimba tabs
Kalimba tabs write each note as a number: 1 is C, 2 is D and so on up to 7. A dot above a number means the tine an octave higher. Set the labels to Numbers and play along.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
1155665
4433221
5544332
5544332
1155665
4433221
Ode to Joy
33455432
1123322
33455432
1123211
Jingle Bells
333333
35123
4444433
3322325
333333
35123
4444433
355421
Happy Birthday
55651'7
55652'1'
555'3'1'76
4'4'3'1'2'1'
Four real thumb pianos
Every note is a recording of a real kalimba or mbira, tuned to standard pitch. Pick one here or above the kalimba.
Kalimba
A Tanzanian kalimba with a bright, clear ring. It reaches every tine, from the low centre to the top E.
Kenyan kalimba
A Kenyan kalimba with a soft, woody pluck and a long ring. Its range stops one tine short of the top E.
Mbira dzavadzimu
The large mbira of Zimbabwe, warm and resonant. It plays an octave lower than the kalimba, where the real instrument sits.
Mavembe mbira
A Zimbabwean mavembe mbira, darker and rounder than the kalimbas. It also plays an octave lower.
A kalimba in C with 17 tines
This online kalimba is laid out like the most common real one: 17 steel tines in C, the lowest in the middle and the notes alternating left and right as they rise. There is nothing to install and no account to make: open the page and play.
Use it to learn songs from kalimba tabs before you buy one, practise a tune on the way to school, or let children find melodies by ear. Multi-touch lets you pluck with two thumbs on a phone or tablet, and a MIDI keyboard can play it too.
The kalimba belongs to the family of thumb pianos from Africa, where the mbira of Zimbabwe has been played for centuries. Every sound here was recorded from a real instrument and tuned to standard pitch, so it plays in tune with a piano or a guitar.
Questions about the online kalimba
Is this online kalimba free?
Yes. It is free to use, with no sign-up and no download. It runs in any modern browser.
How do I play the kalimba with my computer keyboard?
Z, X, C, V, B, N and M play 1 to 7 from the centre tine up, and so do the number keys 1 to 7. A to J play the dotted notes an octave higher, and Q, W and E play the top three tines.
Can I play on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Tap the tines, and use two fingers to pluck two at once. On a phone the kalimba lies on its side, so every tine is big enough to tap. On an iPhone, turn off silent mode if you hear nothing.
Can I connect a MIDI keyboard?
Yes, in Chrome, Edge and Opera. Press MIDI and allow access. Each key plays its own pitch, and the matching tine lights up.
Can I change the sound while I play?
Yes. Pick another sound at any time. Notes that are still ringing finish on the old sound, and new notes use the new one as soon as it has loaded.
How do I read kalimba tabs?
Each number is a tine: 1 is C, 2 is D, 3 is E and so on up to 7 for B. One dot above a number means an octave higher, two dots two octaves higher. Set the labels to Numbers and the tines show the same marks.