Written by Ambre Montespan - Updated on May 8, 2026
Table of contents:
Is Twilight one of your favourite film franchises? Then chances are you love the famous song A Thousand Years by singer Christina Perri, which comes up throughout the adventures of Bella, Edward, and Jacob. In this article, you'll find the sheet music and tablature for this track, arranged for the kalimba. This will allow you to play A Thousand Years on your 17-key kalimba.
Let's take a closer look at this sheet music.
Adjust the tuning of your kalimba to play the Twilight melody
Chances are your instrument is currently tuned to C major. This is the tuning traditionally used on the vast majority of kalimbas when they are sold. However, the song A Thousand Years requires tuning to E minor. The good news is that itâs very easy to make this change. All you have to do is change all the F notes to F#. You will then have this configuration on your set of tines:
Donât know how to change those F notes to F#? No worriesâweâve put together a free guide that walks you through tuning your kalimba. Youâll only need minimal equipment, and once youâve got the technique down, it takes just a few minutes.
In addition, for new players who are just starting out on the finger piano, reading sheet music can feel challenging. Thatâs why we recommend this tutorial dedicated to reading all musical documents for the kalimba. Itâs best not to start learning a piece until you clearly understand what the notation is asking you to do.
View a preview of the sheet music for the song A Thousand Years
Kalimba sheet music is fairly easy to find online. Whatâs much rarer is a preview, so you can know what it should sound like when itâs played correctly. At Instruments du Monde, we always include an example of what youâll be able to produce if you follow the sheet music exactly. Watch the A Thousand Years preview in the video below:
And if this melody doesnât ring a bell, or you simply donât know it, you can find the original song written by Christina Perri and David Hodges just below:
The thumb piano sheet music with numbers for the song A Thousand Years
An excellent way to play a song without diving into music theory, here is the sheet music with numbers for the melody A Thousand Years adapted for the kalimba.
Consider a letter-note version of the mbira sheet music for Bella and Edward's theme
Donât like sheet music with numbers? We completely understand. Thatâs why, for each of our kalimba sheet music downloads on our site, youâll find both a number version and a letter version.
Improve your accuracy with the Twilight sanza tablature
The song A Thousand Years is a fairly challenging melody to grasp and isnât really recommended for beginners. If you want to study it in detail, the kalimba tablature is essential, as it will provide important information such as note duration.
Memorise A Thousand Years more easily with a PDF file
Iâve personally always found it easier to work from printed sheet music so I can add my own notes and markings. With the free PDF file of the sheet music and tablature for the Twilight melody A Thousand Years, you can print whatever you need to practise in the most effective way.
Who sings the song A Thousand Years?
The song A Thousand Years is performed by Christina Perri, an artist born on 19 August 1986, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She started making music, especially singing, at 16. In 2010, she released her first single, Jar of Hearts, which gained traction while she was also working as a waitress in a bar.
When the fourth film in the Twilight saga premiered on 16 November 2011, Christina Perri was contacted to contribute to the soundtrack. She co-wrote A Thousand Years with David Hodges and recorded it herself. The song became a major hit and resonated deeply with fans, largely because it plays during the romantic moments between Bella and Edward. It became so closely tied to the couple that it also appeared in the fifth and final Twilight film, released the following year. Since then, the singer has released two albums and a few singles, but she hasnât put out any new work since 2018 and has stayed relatively quiet in the music scene.
What is Twilight?
Twilight is a five-film franchise released between 2008 and 2012, mainly featuring Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart, and Edward Cullen, played by actor Robert Pattinson. The story is a film adaptation of four best-selling novels by author Stephenie Meyer.
Twilight takes place in the modern world, where Bella moves in with her father. She meets a mysterious boy her age named Edward, and she feels irresistibly drawn to him. Bella later learns that Edward is a vampire, which doesnât truly frighten her. At the same time, she meets Jacob, a boy who is a werewolf. The story then develops around this love triangle, along with the twists and dangers faced by the three main characters, especially as the vampire clan goes to war with the werewolves.
Play the Twilight melody with exceptional acoustics
Christina Perriâs gentle melody won over countless Twilight fans and became a symbol of the love between Bella and Edward. A Thousand Years is now firmly anchored in pop culture, and it sounds especially beautiful when played on a kalimba. Now that you have all the sheet music and tablature you need to recreate this piece, you can relive the sagaâs romantic moments through music.
However, playing this song on a low-quality instrument wonât do it justice. To get a truly satisfying sound, you need a kalimba with strong resonance and clear tone. Thatâs why Instruments du Monde recommends this model made from solid maple and acacia wood, which together create an enchanting soundâperfect for performing âA Thousand Years.â
Treat yourself to this kalimba now by clicking on the link below:
Learn a song that has become one of the classics of Japanese anime by playing Giorno's theme from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure on your kalimba. By learning it, youâre sure to delight many fans of Hirohiko Arakiâs manga. Alternatively, choose any piece from our selection of sheet music and tablature for 17-key kalimbas.
