Written by Ambre Montespan - Updated on May 8, 2026
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Are you a fan of the Japanese animation studio Ghibli, founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata in 1985, and especially of the feature film Spirited Away, released in 2001? Did you fall in love with the soundtrack and want to learn how to play it on your 17-note kalimba? Your wish is about to come true, because with the sheet music and tablature you'll get shortly, you'll be able to play the song Always With Me.
Let's take a closer look at these valuable musical documents.
Do you have everything you need to play Always With Me correctly on the kalimba?
To ensure that you learn Always With Me successfully, there are two things you should check before you start studying the sheet music. First, are you sure you know how to read kalimba music? If you have gaps in your knowledge, you won't be able to play a single melody on this instrument. Therefore, check out this article, which explains how to read thumb piano sheet music and tablature. It's worth taking a few minutes to make sure you're interpreting everything correctly.
Secondly, the biggest mistake beginners make is trying to play songs without checking that their mbira is properly tuned. This is not always the case, as the keys on this instrument can shift, which changes the sound. So, read this guide to make sure your kalimba is in tune. If you skip this step, there's no guarantee that the notes you play will be accurate, which will hurt the overall quality of your performance.
Learn Ghibli music with ease using a video
It's never easy to start learning a new melody, especially if you've never heard it before or you don't remember it very well. Thatâs where a video tutorial can really help by showing you which tines to play, in what order, and at the right tempo. Watch the video below for the song from Spirited Away.
For comparison purposes only, you can also watch the clip of the original melody featured in this animated feature film.
Learn the thumb piano score for Spirited Away
Without further ado, discover the numbered sheet music for the melody Always With Me from the animated film Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli.
Prefer lettered notation? Try this alternative with letter-based sheet music for mbira
Some players prefer letters in musical notation instead of numbers. Itâs simply a preference, and it wonât change the piece youâll be able to play on your kalimba.
Focus on the Spirited Away tablature for improved results
At first, beginners donât always love tablature because it can feel harder to understand. But little by little, many players change their minds once they realise how useful it becomes as soon as you know how to read it. Youâll find the tablature for Spirited Away just below:
Play the piece wherever you want with a PDF file
Want to save the sheet music or tablature you've just discovered so you can come back to it later? No problem. Simply download the PDF file containing the music from Spirited Away for kalimba, save it to your computer, and open it whenever youâre ready to practise again.
Who composed the music for Studio Ghibli?
Studio Ghibli regularly calls on the talents of Joe Hisaishi (born Mamoru Fujisawa) to compose the soundtracks for its animated feature films. More specifically, he is Hayao Miyazakiâs go-to composer, and Miyazaki has worked with him on the vast majority of his productions. Their collaboration began in the 1980s with the release of NausicaĂ€ of the Valley of the Wind in 1984, which marked Joe Hisaishi's first major success. It continued with other productions such as Castle in the Sky in 1986 and My Neighbor Totoro in 1988.
Joe Hisaishi also composed the soundtrack for Spirited Away. The filmâs music was especially well received by audiences, further boosting his reputation and opening the door to new opportunities. Before that, he was mainly associated with animation, but filmmakers such as Takeshi Kitano and YĆjirĆ Takita later trusted him to score their feature films as well.
What is the story of Spirited Away?
Spirited Away takes place in contemporary times and centres the story on Chihiro, a 10-year-old Japanese girl who moves from a big city to the countryside with her parents. As the three characters drive to their new home, they take a winding road that leads them to an abandoned amusement park. From that moment on, magical events begin to unfold before the young girl's eyes, such as her parents being transformed into pigs and the appearance of supernatural creatures like a dragon, spirits, and an evil witch named Yubaba.
Chihiro embarks on a series of adventures where she must learn to survive in this new, hostile, and dreamlike world while figuring out why she is there and how to return to her old life. A young boy named Haku takes it upon himself to help her, without revealing his reasons, at least at the beginning of the film. This animated film, which offers a moral message and a deeper interpretation, has been one of the biggest hits in Japanese cinema in recent years.
Perform feats with a high-quality kalimba
Particularly cherished by critics, Spirited Away is an animated film that left its mark with a compelling, emotional story. The score also conveys a wide range of feelings and has stayed with viewers for years. Now you can play the melody Always With Me on your 17-key kalimba using the free sheet music youâve just found.
However, only a good musical instrument will give you the headroom you need to play more complex melodies comfortably. Entry-level models are fine for discovering what a thumb piano can do, but they can be limiting as you progress. Thatâs why Instruments du Monde recommends a Lingting kalimba with a level of quality comparable to professional instruments. With it, youâll be set up to achieve real musical breakthroughs.
Purchase this kalimba now by clicking on the image below:
Learn one of the most famous recent classical music compositions by playing Yann Tiersen's Comptine d'un autre été on the kalimba. This song features in the film Amélie. Or learn even more songs by consulting our list of sheet music for 17-tine kalimbas. You're sure to find a piece that will give you hours of relaxation with your instrument.
