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Songs / Kalimba by numbers #29

Au Clair de la Lune — easy kalimba tab

French folk song · 17-key kalimba in C · 44 notes · easy

Origin: French folk song
Kalimba: 17-key C
Notes: 44
Words: With the original French words (“Au clair de la lune”)
Range: some dotted notes (the next octave)
Tempo: 70 bpm, then 100 bpm

▶ Watch the video, then play line 1.

Au Clair de la Lune kalimba tab

Read left to right, one line at a time. The number is the tine; the word is sung on it; L or R is the thumb. The words are the original French ones.

Line 1: 1 highAuL–(hold 1)1 highclairL–(hold 1)1 highdeL–(hold 1)2 highlaR–(hold 1)3 highlu-L–––(hold 3)2 highne,R–––(hold 3)
Line 2: 1 highmonL–(hold 1)3 higha-L–(hold 1)2 highmiR–(hold 1)2 highPier-R–(hold 1)1 highrot,L–––○○○○(hold 3, rest 4)
Line 3: 1 highprê-L–(hold 1)1 highte-L–(hold 1)1 highmoiL–(hold 1)2 hightaR–(hold 1)3 highplu-L–––(hold 3)2 highmeR–––(hold 3)
Line 4: 1 highpourL–(hold 1)3 highé-L–(hold 1)2 highcrireR–(hold 1)2 highunR–(hold 1)1 highmot.L–––○○○○(hold 3, rest 4)
Line 5: 2 highMaR–(hold 1)2 highchan-R–(hold 1)2 highdel-R–(hold 1)2 highle estR–(hold 1)6mor-L–––(hold 3)6te,L–––(hold 3)
Line 6: 2 highjeR–(hold 1)1 highn'aiL–(hold 1)7plusR–(hold 1)6deL–(hold 1)5feu.R–––○○○○(hold 3, rest 4)
Line 7: 1 highOu-L–(hold 1)1 highvre-L–(hold 1)1 highmoiL–(hold 1)2 hightaR–(hold 1)3 highpor-L–––(hold 3)2 highteR–––(hold 3)
Line 8: 1 highpourL–(hold 1)3 highl'a-L–(hold 1)2 highmourR–(hold 1)2 highdeR–(hold 1)1 highDieu.L–––(hold 3)

– hold an eighth○ rest an eighth• dot above = octave upL / R = thumb

Printable PDF

The tab as plain text

1̇– 1̇– 1̇– 2̇– 3̇––– 2̇–––
Au clair de la lu- ne,

1̇– 3̇– 2̇– 2̇– 1̇–––○○○○
mon a- mi Pier- rot,

1̇– 1̇– 1̇– 2̇– 3̇––– 2̇–––
prê- te- moi ta plu- me

1̇– 3̇– 2̇– 2̇– 1̇–––○○○○
pour é- crire un mot.

2̇– 2̇– 2̇– 2̇– 6––– 6–––
Ma chan- del- le est mor- te,

2̇– 1̇– 7– 6– 5–––○○○○
je n'ai plus de feu.

1̇– 1̇– 1̇– 2̇– 3̇––– 2̇–––
Ou- vre- moi ta por- te

1̇– 3̇– 2̇– 2̇– 1̇–––
pour l'a- mour de Dieu.

The tines you need

The 17 tines from left to right, as you look at your kalimba. The ones this song does not use are dimmed.

27531642135724613

← left thumbright thumb →

How to play Au Clair de la Lune on kalimba

Watch the video once: it plays the tune slowly (70 beats a minute) with each number falling onto its tine, then at tempo (100 beats a minute). Then play the first line alone until it sounds right, and add a line at a time. Sing or hum the words: they tell you the rhythm. New to the numbers? How to read kalimba numbers.

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