Deck the Halls — easy kalimba tab

Deck the Halls kalimba tab

Read left to right, one line at a time. The number (or letter) is the tine; the word is sung on it; L or R is the thumb.

5DeckL––4theR3hallsL–2withR–1boughsL–2ofR–3hol-L–1ly,L–

2faR3laL4laR2laR3la,L––2laR1laL–7laR–1la.L–––

5'TisL––4theR3sea-L–2sonR–1toL–2beR–3jol-L–1ly,L–

2faR3laL4laR2laR3la,L––2laR1laL–7laR–1la.L–––

2DonR––3weL4nowR–2ourR–3gayL––4ap-R5pa-L–2rel,R–

3faL4laR5la,L–6laR7laL1la,R–7laL–6laR–5la.L–––

5TrollL––4theR3an-L–2cientR–1Yule-L–2tideR–3ca-L–1rol,L–

6faR6laR6laR6laR5la,L––4laR3laL–2laR–1la.L–––

– hold an eighth○ rest an eighth1 dot above = octave upL / R = thumb

Printable PDF Copy the tab

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 →

Next easy song →Minuet in G

Deck the Halls kalimba letter notes

The same tab in letters, for a kalimba with letters on its tines. A dotted number is the same letter one octave up (in the tab, “Letters” shows the octave).

The tab as plain text

To copy or print as it is: each number above its syllable. Also at /deck-the-halls.txt.

Deck the Halls
kalimba tab, 17-key kalimba in C

Key:
1 to 7 = C D E F G A B (do re mi fa sol la ti)
1 = the long middle tine
1° = a dot above = one octave up
1°° = two dots = two octaves up
– = hold one eighth more · ○ = rest one eighth

5°––  4°   3°–    2°–   1°–     2°–  3°–   1°–
Deck  the  halls  with  boughs  of   hol-  ly,

2°  3°  4°  2°  3°––  2°  1°–  7–  1°–––
fa  la  la  la  la,   la  la   la  la.

5°––  4°   3°–   2°–  1°–  2°–  3°–   1°–
'Tis  the  sea-  son  to   be   jol-  ly,

2°  3°  4°  2°  3°––  2°  1°–  7–  1°–––
fa  la  la  la  la,   la  la   la  la.

2°––  3°  4°–  2°–  3°––  4°   5°–  2°–
Don   we  now  our  gay   ap-  pa-  rel,

3°  4°  5°–  6°  7°  1°°–  7°–  6°–  5°–––
fa  la  la,  la  la  la,   la   la   la.

5°––   4°   3°–  2°–    1°–    2°–   3°–  1°–
Troll  the  an-  cient  Yule-  tide  ca-  rol,

6°  6°  6°  6°  5°––  4°  3°–  2°–  1°–––
fa  la  la  la  la,   la  la   la   la.

How to play Deck the Halls on kalimba

Watch the video once: it plays the tune once to hear it, then slowly (70 beats a minute) with each number falling onto its tine, then at tempo (112 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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