Skip to content

Songs / Kalimba by numbers #15

Danny Boy — easy kalimba tab

Irish tune, the Londonderry Air (published 1855) · 17-key kalimba in C · 44 notes · easy

Origin: Irish tune, the Londonderry Air (published 1855)
Kalimba: 17-key C
Notes: 44
Words: Numbers only (words not shown)
Range: some dotted notes (the next octave)
Tempo: 54 bpm, then 72 bpm

▶ Watch the video, then play line 1.

Danny Boy kalimba tab

Read left to right, one line at a time. The number is the tine; L or R is the thumb.

Line 1: 7 R1 high L2 high R3 high L––(hold 2)
Line 2: 2 high R3 high L6 high R5 high L3 high L2 high R1 high L6 L–○(hold 1, rest 1)
Line 3: 1 high L3 high L4 high R5 high L––(hold 2)
Line 4: 6 high R5 high L3 high L1 high L3 high L2 high R–––○(hold 3, rest 1)
Line 5: 7 R1 high L2 high R3 high L––(hold 2)
Line 6: 2 high R3 high L6 high R5 high L3 high L2 high R1 high L6 L–○(hold 1, rest 1)
Line 7: 7 R1 high L2 high R3 high L––(hold 2)
Line 8: 4 high R3 high L2 high R1 high L2 high R1 high L–––(hold 3)

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

Printable PDF

The tab as plain text

7 1̇ 2̇ 3̇––

2̇ 3̇ 6̇ 5̇ 3̇ 2̇ 1̇ 6–○

1̇ 3̇ 4̇ 5̇––

6̇ 5̇ 3̇ 1̇ 3̇ 2̇–––○

7 1̇ 2̇ 3̇––

2̇ 3̇ 6̇ 5̇ 3̇ 2̇ 1̇ 6–○

7 1̇ 2̇ 3̇––

4̇ 3̇ 2̇ 1̇ 2̇ 1̇–––

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 Danny Boy on kalimba

Watch the video once: it plays the tune slowly (54 beats a minute) with each number falling onto its tine, then at tempo (72 beats a minute). Then play the first line alone until it sounds right, and add a line at a time. Hum the tune as you go: it tells you the rhythm. New to the numbers? How to read kalimba numbers.

New tabs by email

One email when new songs are added, about once a month. No spam; to stop, follow the link in any email and press one button.

We first send you one email to confirm. Children under 16: ask a parent. Privacy