Learning to play the Kalimba - List of Resources

Learning to play the Kalimba as someone with no musical sense. LOL. I consider this a #PersonalGrowth project/hobby and am just using this post to compile and share a list of resources I use while learning how to play the Kalimba. 🙂

I bought a 17 key Kalimba (brandless) online for less than RM100. It’s not professional obviously but good enough for learning. 🙂

Learning Resources:
https://www.kalimbamagic.com/info/how-to-play

Sources of FREE Kalimba tabs:

♥️ April Yang ♥️
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0A2VeScCoxiMhsA2kiIKw
Go to the Community tab of her YouTube channel to get some printable Kalimba tabs. April Yang also has 4 basic lessons on her YouTube page, she has 2 more video lessons in her WeChat page but without English subtitles.

I enjoy watching all her Kalimba videos, it’s a nice way to de-stress. 🙂

Her collection of Kalimba tabs are available via her WeChat group page.
WeChat: 拇指琴圈 (Mǔ zhǐ qín quān)

How to navigate WeChat for non-Chinese speakers:
1. Download and open the WeChat app. I believe you will have to set up an account (it’s in English, don’t worry. Update to add for account verification, you can try the methods listed here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Wechat/comments/ff8mwu/free_wechat_verification/), then you can search for 拇指琴圈 (Mǔ zhǐ qín quān)
2. Find the official page and “follow”
3. Menu is at the bottom, first button are for all the Kalimba tabs, second button for lessons (all in Chinese, no subtitles), third button is to go to her shop on TaoBao to buy a Kalimba.
She has a few types available in the list:
簡谱 Jiǎn pǔ – Notation style (the one with numbers)
专用谱 Zhuān yòng pǔ – Kalimba Tablature (the vertical one with notes)
弹唱谱 Tán chàng pǔ – I believe these are melody only music sheets? Reminds me of guitar music sheets with the keys written above the lyrics.
4. Click on the one you want, it will bring you to a separate page. Scroll down until you see the Tab or Music Sheet. Click on it, press and hold for the menu to pop up. You should see a “save image” button.
**I’ve added a gallery below with each step to help you navigate the WeChat group page. Kindly note that I use an iPhone so if you’re on Android it might be slightly different.

Update: The layout of April Yang’s WeChat group has changed quite a bit but overall the navigation shown here is still similar but the menu has changed. Just look for the first menu item and the choose the first option at the top of the pop-up menu to see the list of music sheets.

♥️ L C ♥️
YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcsD7-KXYko
Kalimba tabs of songs suitable for Kalimba beginners. ~~L C shares a google drive where you can download the tabs for free.~~ Oops, not anymore I think… but L C’s channel still has really good resources for learning how to play the Kalimba.

♥️ qoopkk 22 ♥️
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/0TVz/videos
Naver blog to get the printable Kalimba tabs: https://m.blog.naver.com/PostList.nhn?blogId=ssrwaikr_

♥️ Amalia Guo ♥️
She shares all her free kalimba tabs via her telegram group (pdf and ktb versions)
Kalimba Tabs Group (Telegram): https://t.me/kalimbatabs
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQKozbBby1yoCyfJezYbgJg

♥️ Easy Kalimba Tabs ♥️
This website compiles tutorial videos and kalimba tabs/notes from Youtube into one place.
Website: http://easykalimbatabs.com/

♥️ Silvita at Kalimba 比三呆弹吉他 ♥️
Found another person who shares their kalimba tabs (very similar to April Yang) and you don’t need WeChat to access the tabs! Mostly chinese songs but a few english ones as well. Just scroll down to see the list of songs available.
WeChat/ WeiXin Web version: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/738Esef0dGEsjlcr-0YkIQ
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6MsRxjcBCJaWnm6S3eYlmA

♥️