The Easiest Kalimba World Song Book: 54 Simple Songs without Musical Notes. Just Follow the Circles

Through music, we are brought together and we can gain a better understanding of people from all corners of the Earth.
I call this series “I Don’t Read Music” since I am targeting beginners of all ages: children, teens, parents, and grandparents.

This e-book includes 54 popular, rhythmic, and easy-to-play folk songs and melodies from all over the world. Since this e-book is aimed at the absolute beginner without any knowledge of reading music, I do not use the classical music staff and do not show the note duration. Each song here is written without classic musical notation but only with circles and numbered notes inside. First of all, I recommend following the QR-code which you will find on each page, listening to the song on YouTube, and then trying to repeat what is heard in the recordings. It will help to understand the rhythm pattern and duration.

Keep in mind that folk music traditionally is not learned from sheet music or notes. Instead, it is learned by repetition and through being passed from generation to generation. I believe in this method of teaching, which is easier and more enjoyable. For learning purposes, all songs have been simplified and adapted especially for kalimba. Most songs have been transposed for one octave.

So you can use an 8-note kalimba, but if you want to play all 54 songs, you should have a 10- or 17-note kalimba.

Getting to know music from around the world can be one of the most exciting and appealing ways to be introduced to new and different cultures. Music is a universal language, meaning that it transcends borders and opens up an entirely new way of thinking.

Table of contents

North America
Alice the Camel
Ani Couni Chaouani
Aura Lee
Chicken on a Fance Post
Bim Bum Biddy
Buckeye Jim
Li’l Liza Jane
The Farmer in the Dell
Kum-Ba-Yah
Peace like a River
Land of the Silver Birch
My Paddle

Latin America
Brinca la Tablita
Cucaracha
DoDo Petit PoPo
Tingalayo
Cumpleanos Feliz
Lost my Gold Ring

Africa
Banuwa
Che Che Koolay
Do-Do-Ki-Do
Funga Alafia
Kanzenzenze
Labe-igi-Orombo
Obwisana
Sansa Kroma
Shosholoza
Siyanibingelela
Welcome Song

Europe
Five Little Duck
Five Little Monkeys
Hush Little Baby
Old Mother Hubbard
This Old Man
See-Saw Margery Daw
Donde estan las Llaves
Au Clair de la Lune
Pirouette Cacahuete
Frere Jacques (Are You Sleeping?)
Un Petit Cochon
Vous Diraije Maman (Twinkle Little Star)
Giro-Giro-Tondo
Mein Hut (My Hat)
O, Tannenbaum

Asia
Kalinka
Ekmek Buldum
Kum Bachur Atzel
Anile, Anile
Gayatri Mantra
Maha Mrityundjaya Mantra
Zhao Peng You
Hotaru Koi

Australia and Oceania
Epo-i-Tai-Tai-e
Kangaroo, Skippy Roo