Amazing Grace Kalimba Tab — Letter Notes & Numbered Tabs
The full Amazing Grace arrangement for a 17-key kalimba in C major, written out in both letter notes and numbered notation — with an honest difficulty note and practice tips for the parts that need them.
Difficulty
Beginner
Key
C Major (17-key)
Range
E4 – A5
Tempo
90 BPM
Amazing Grace is one of the most-loved melodies ever written, and it happens to suit the kalimba perfectly. The tune is slow, the phrases breathe, and the held notes let the instrument's long, bell-like sustain do the work for you.
This arrangement is in C major for a standard 17-key kalimba and stays between E4 and A5. You get the full letter-note tab and the numbered version below, plus a difficulty guide and tips for the parts that need extra care.
Amazing Grace Kalimba Tabs — Letter Notes
How to read the letter tabs: each note shows the letter and the octave, like C4 or G5. On a 17-key kalimba in C, the lowest tine is C4 and the highest is E6, so the octave number tells you which side of the instrument to play on — smaller numbers are the longer, lower tines. A dash after a note (C4 -) means let it ring.
| G4 C5 E5 C5 E5 | C5 A4 G4 E4 | | G4 C5 E5 C5 E5 | A5 G5 E5 C5 | | E5 C5 A4 G4 | E4 G4 C5 E5 | | C5 A4 G4 |
Amazing Grace Kalimba Tabs — Numbered Notation
How to read the numbered tabs: numbers 1–7 are the scale notes (1 = C, 2 = D, and so on). 1° is the low octave tine, plain 1 is the middle one, and 1′ is the high one — the same markings you see next to the numbers on your kalimba. Notes in parentheses ( ) play together, and a dash after a number means let it ring.
| 5° 1 3 1 3 | 1 6° 5° 3° | | 5° 1 3 1 3 | 6 5 3 1 | | 3 1 6° 5° | 3° 5° 1 3 | | 1 6° 5° |
Prefer to hear it first? Open Amazing Grace in the interactive player and follow along while it plays.
How hard is Amazing Grace on kalimba?
We rate this arrangement Beginner. Beginner level, with one musical idea worth learning: the song is in three-beat time. Most beginner tabs sit in a steady 4/4, so the gentle waltz feel of Amazing Grace takes a little getting used to. The notes themselves are easy — only A5 sits noticeably high on the instrument.
Learning path: phrase by phrase
Work through these phrases in order. Each one is short enough to master in a few minutes, and together they cover the whole song.
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound”
G4 (pickup) C5 E5 C5 E5, C5 A4 G4, E4 G4. The melody rises, leans on E5, then settles downward. Let the low E4 breathe before you continue.
“That saved a wretch like me”
C5 E5 C5 E5 A5 G5. The climb to A5 is the emotional peak of the song. Ease off the tempo slightly into it and land the G5 softly.
“I once was lost, but now am found”
E5 C5 E5 C5 A4 G4. A mirror of the opening phrase, descending this time. If you learned the first phrase well, this one already feels familiar.
Playing tips
- Count in three: ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three. Tap your foot on the first beat of each group and the rhythm falls into place.
- The song opens with a pickup — two notes (G4 C5) that lead into the strong first beat. Keep them light; they are an approach, not the destination.
- The highest note, A5, arrives in the second half. Practice reaching it from E5 and C5 so the jump feels planned rather than surprising.
- Hold the long notes fully. This is the one song in our popular collection where letting a note ring to its natural end matters more than moving on quickly.
Amazing Grace kalimba FAQ
Is Amazing Grace hard to play on kalimba?
No — the notes are beginner-friendly. The only new idea is the three-beat rhythm, and the slow 90 BPM tempo gives you plenty of time to think between notes.
Why does the melody start with two quiet notes?
That is the pickup, a pair of notes leading into the first strong beat. It gives the song its singing, floating quality — play them gently and let the next note land right on the beat.
Can I play this for an audience?
Absolutely. Amazing Grace is one of the most requested songs at gatherings, and the kalimba's sustain fills the space between notes beautifully. Keep the tempo slow and let the long notes ring.
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