Ed Sheeran “Perfect” Kalimba Sheet Music

Do you love Ed Sheeran and his song Perfect, the famous romantic ballad that hit No. 1 in more than 20 countries? Want to learn how to play it on your 17-tine kalimba? With the sheet music and tablature below, you’ll be able to learn this piece on the thumb piano.

Let's take a look at the sheet music for Perfect on kalimba.

First and foremost, learn how to read kalimba sheet music

This may seem obvious at first glance, but it’s not uncommon to meet musicians who try to play a melody without fully understanding how to read kalimba sheet music. That’s why we recommend this article that explains everything you need to know to read kalimba sheet music properly. You’ll give yourself the best chance of one day being able to play the song from start to finish.

Also, if you think your mbira might be playing wrong notes, or if you’re unsure, you absolutely need to check the tuning. It’s a simple step, but it’s often overlooked. If you follow the score with an out-of-tune kalimba, you won’t truly enjoy the melody, no matter how much effort you put into learning it. So take a look at this guide explaining how to tune a thumb piano. It’s an essential habit to do regularly.

Watch a tutorial showing you how to play Ed Sheeran's song Perfect

One of the most effective ways to learn a piece is to watch a video that shows you exactly when to play each tine. That’s what you’ll find in the video below for Ed Sheeran's song Perfect.

Given the global success of this song, we can’t resist sharing the official music video as well.

The song Perfect in a score for sanza in numerical notation

Numbered notation is a fast, beginner-friendly way to learn a piece. Find the numbered kalimba score for Ed Sheeran's hit song just below:

Use a lettered score for Ed Sheeran's song

Some musicians prefer sheet music that uses letters instead of numbers. To suit as many players as possible, here’s the letter notation version.

Play even more efficiently with the kalimba tablature for Perfect

Because “Perfect” is a fairly long piece, it’s easy to lose your place if you’re using numbered or lettered notation. A tablature is much easier to follow because it shows a kalimba diagram with the exact note positions to play. You will, however, need to pick up a few additional music-theory basics.

Download the Perfect sheet music in PDF format

Most musicians prefer to build their repertoire with printed sheet music. Here, you can download the sheet music for Perfect on the kalimba in a single PDF file. That way, you can print it and practice in the best possible conditions, even without an internet connection.

Who wrote the song Perfect?

The romantic ballad Perfect was written by Ed Sheeran himself. Born on February 17, 1991, in England, he was introduced to music by joining a choir as a child and later learning the cello. When his uncle gave him a guitar, he became interested in pop music. The real turning point came when Ed Sheeran attended a concert at age 11. From then on, he wanted to pursue a career in music. Two years later, he released an amateur album, then continued putting out new tracks, eventually leaving school at 16.

Starting in 2011, things moved very quickly for Ed Sheeran as he signed with a British label. A few months later, still in 2011, he released his first real album, which became an instant success, reaching No. 1 in the UK. His second album truly launched him worldwide with unforgettable tracks like "Thinking Out Loud" and "Photograph." Since then, he has released three more albums, and each one has been a major success with the public.

Why did Ed Sheeran write Perfect?

This song, the first he wrote for the album, is entirely dedicated to Cherry Seaborn, the woman he shares his life with. It’s no secret that Perfect is a love anthem that has captured the hearts of countless romantics. In fact, when Perfect was released in September 2017, Ed Sheeran wasn’t yet married to the love of his life. He announced his engagement to Cherry Seaborn a few months later, in January 2018.

So, did Ed Sheeran write Perfect specifically as a marriage proposal song? Some fans are convinced he did. However, he has never confirmed it, and the mystery remains, even though it’s clear the inspiration came from his relationship.

Get a brand-name kalimba to progress faster

Ed Sheeran is everywhere in pop culture thanks to the beautiful melodies he creates, so it’s only natural to want to play them on a kalimba for an extra-soft, intimate sound. Now you can learn Perfect using the sheet music and tablature in this blog post. Stay consistent and practice methodically, and you’ll get there.

That said, because the melody is fairly long and requires playing several notes quickly, it can become very difficult, even impossible, if you have a low-quality instrument. If you’re investing time and energy into learning songs, it’s worth choosing a brand-name kalimba with excellent craftsmanship and outstanding tone. With that in mind, Instruments du Monde presents a thumb piano from Seeds, a highly reputable brand that has been making exceptional kalimbas for several years.

Improve much faster by treating yourself to this Seeds kalimba.

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View the Seeds kalimba

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