Jingle Bells Kalimba Tab — Letter Notes & Numbered Tabs
The full Jingle Bells 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
G4 – G5
Tempo
120 BPM
Jingle Bells works beautifully on kalimba — the fast repeated notes sound like actual jingling bells, which is exactly what the song is about. This arrangement keeps the famous chorus intact and stays between G4 and G5, right in the heart of a 17-key kalimba.
Below you get the full tab in both letter notes and numbered notation. Whether you are playing for a classroom, a family gathering, or just want something seasonal to practice in December, this is one of the most rewarding easy songs you can pick.
Jingle Bells 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.
| E5 E5 E5 E5 | E5 E5 E5 G5 | | C5 D5 E5 - | F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 | | E5 E5 E5 E5 D5 | D5 E5 D5 G4 - | | E5 E5 E5 E5 | E5 E5 E5 G5 | | C5 D5 E5 - | F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 | | E5 E5 E5 E5 D5 | D5 E5 D5 G4 - |
Jingle Bells 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.
| 3 3 3 3 | 3 3 3 5 | | 1 2 3 - | 4 4 4 4 4 | | 3 3 3 3 2 | 2 3 2 5° - | | 3 3 3 3 | 3 3 3 5 | | 1 2 3 - | 4 4 4 4 4 | | 3 3 3 3 2 | 2 3 2 5° - |
Prefer to hear it first? Open Jingle Bells in the interactive player and follow along while it plays.
How hard is Jingle Bells on kalimba?
We rate this arrangement Beginner. Rated easy, with one honest caveat: Jingle Bells moves quickly. The melody itself is simple and stepwise, but the opening run of repeated E5 notes tests your timing at 120 BPM. If the fast parts feel messy, slow them down — they sound better steady than rushed.
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.
Opening — “Jingle bells, jingle bells”
E5 E5 E5, E5 E5 E5, E5, then the climb G4 C5 D5 E5. The repeated notes are the hook of the whole song. Keep them light and even rather than loud.
“Jingle all the way”
F5 F5 F5 F5 F5, E5 E5 E5 E5, D5 D5 E5 D5, G4. This line walks down step by step and is the most singable part, so keep it smooth.
The chorus climb
G4 C5 D5 E5 appears once in each half and is where the melody jumps from low to high. Get your left thumb ready on the low G4 before you need it, and the climb takes care of itself.
Playing tips
- The song opens with seven E5s in a row. Do not play them as one blob — give each one its own small pluck and count them: three short, three short, one held.
- Decide which thumb plays which note and stick to it. Most players use the right thumb for the repeated E5s and the left thumb for the lower notes in between.
- Practice the “G4 C5 D5 E5” climb on its own. It is the fastest movement in the song, and drilling it separately is what makes the chorus feel smooth instead of stressful.
- The arrangement ends on a held G4, the lowest note in the tab. Let it ring fully — it gives the whole piece a clean, bell-like finish.
Jingle Bells kalimba FAQ
Why do the repeated notes sound uneven when I speed up?
Almost always because one thumb is taking over. Alternate thumbs on the repeated E5s, or consciously relax your hand. Uneven repeated notes are usually a tension problem more than a timing problem.
Can I play this on a 10-key kalimba?
This arrangement needs G4 up to G5, which a 10-key C-major kalimba does not fully cover. The tab here is written for the standard 17-key layout.
Does the tab include the verses?
This arrangement is the famous chorus, played through twice — the part everyone recognizes and sings along with. It works as a standalone performance, and the repetition makes it quick to memorize.
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