What a Wonderful World Kalimba Tab — Letter Notes & Numbered Tabs
The full What a Wonderful World 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
C4 – A5
Tempo
90 BPM
What a Wonderful World was written for Louis Armstrong in 1967 by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss, and it may be the warmest song ever recorded. Armstrong's gravelly voice turns simple lines — trees of green, red roses too — into something close to a blessing. More than fifty years later it is still played at weddings, in films, and anywhere people need a moment of calm.
On kalimba it sounds lovely, with one honest warning: this melody leaps. Where most beginner songs step from neighbor to neighbor, this one opens with a jump from C5 up to G5 and keeps making friendly little leaps throughout. The leaps are what give the song its open-hearted, wondering quality — and they are the one part that deserves patient practice.
This arrangement is in C major for a standard 17-key kalimba, from the low C4 up to A5. You get the full tab in letter notes and numbered notation below, plus a difficulty guide and tips for the phrase shapes.
Hear What a Wonderful World first
The official video of Armstrong's 1967 recording. Play the tab below alongside it and you will hear exactly where each phrase lands.
Video: What A Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong (Official Video) (YouTube). Want to test the fingerings as you listen? Open our virtual kalimba in a second tab and pluck along with the recording.
What a Wonderful World 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.
| C5 G5 E5 C5 C5 E5 G5 | G5 A5 G5 E5 C5 A4 G4 | | C5 E5 G5 A5 G5 E5 C5 | G4 A4 C5 E5 C5 A4 G4 | | G4 E5 C5 A4 A4 C5 G4 | E4 E4 G4 A4 C5 A4 G4 | | E4 G4 A4 C5 C5 E5 C5 A4 | G4 E4 C4 |
What a Wonderful World 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.
| 1 5 3 1 1 3 5 | 5 6 5 3 1 6° 5° | | 1 3 5 6 5 3 1 | 5° 6° 1 3 1 6° 5° | | 5° 3 1 6° 6° 1 5° | 3° 3° 5° 6° 1 6° 5° | | 3° 5° 6° 1 1 3 1 6° | 5° 3° 1° |
Prefer to hear it first? Open What a Wonderful World in the interactive player and follow along while it plays. For more songs in the same style, browse the free kalimba tabs hub.
How hard is What a Wonderful World on kalimba?
We rate this arrangement Beginner. The library rates this arrangement Beginner, and by note count it is: 53 notes, a comfortable 90 BPM, and plenty of repetition. We tell beginners the truth about the leaps, though — the constant jumps between low and high tines ask for more thumb travel than a typical first song. Take it slowly and it is absolutely achievable; it simply is not a first-week song.
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.
“I see trees of green”
C5 G5 E5 C5. The signature opening leap, then a stepwise settle. Four notes, and the whole mood of the song is established.
“Red roses too”
C5 E5 G5. A rising arpeggio answering the opening. Notice how the melody keeps outlining gentle chord shapes — that is why it sounds so warm on kalimba.
“And I think to myself, what a wonderful world”
A5 G5 E5 C5 A4 G4. The song's summit at A5, then the long, grateful walk home. This is the phrase people hum for days afterward.
Playing tips
- The opening leap C5 → G5 is the song's calling card. Practice nothing else until your thumb makes that jump smoothly. Aim before you pluck — eyes first, then thumb.
- Play the leaps quietly. It is tempting to pluck the high note hard after a jump; instead, keep both notes at the same gentle volume and the melody sounds like one continuous thought.
- The peak note A5 arrives in the 'and I think to myself' phrase. Approach it from G5, land it softly, and let it ring — that held moment is the emotional center of the arrangement.
- The song closes by sinking to the low tines, ending on C4. Move down early, play the last note quietly, and let it fade completely. This is a lullaby in disguise; end it like one.
What a Wonderful World kalimba FAQ
Is What a Wonderful World actually beginner-friendly?
With patience, yes. The notes are easy one at a time; the work is connecting the leaps smoothly. Practice each jump slowly on its own, then rebuild the phrases. Most players get a satisfying version within a couple of weeks of short sessions.
Why does it sound different from Armstrong's recording?
The original moves through several keys and rich jazz harmony; a solo kalimba plays one clear melodic line in C major. The tune is unchanged — the arrangement simply keeps only what a single instrument can sing.
Can I sing while playing?
Please do. The melody sits in a comfortable singing range, and the kalimba's sustain fills the space between your words. Start by humming; the full lyrics fit the phrase lengths naturally.
What should I learn next?
Stand By Me is easier and shares the same warm character, so it makes a good warm-up or follow-up. Can't Help Falling in Love is the natural step up from there, with the same slow tempo and more wide, singing phrases.
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Related tabs & guides
- Amazing Grace kalimba tabs — the other slow classic with wide, singing phrases; it pairs beautifully with this song at gatherings.
- 7 note kalimba songs — melodies that fit on small kalimbas, if you are playing on fewer than 17 tines.
- Kalimba tabs with numbers — more practice reading the numbered notation used in the tab above.
- 17-key kalimba tabs — arrangements written for the standard layout, including the high and low tines.