Super Mario Kalimba Sheet Music

Want to learn how to play the famous melody of the mustachioed plumber on your kalimba? After playing this song for over 5 years, I’m going to share my Super Mario kalimba sheet music and tablature. Follow them step by step, add a little practice, and you’ll soon be able to play the main theme from the Mushroom Kingdom!

Let’s jump right in.

Tips before playing the Super Mario song on the finger piano

Before you start learning any melody on kalimba, the first thing to do is make sure your African musical instrument is properly tuned. If it isn’t, or if you’re not sure, check out our complete guide to tuning your kalimba.

Finally, if you’re having trouble learning this song, discover how to read sheet music and tablature for thumb piano.

Super Mario melody on a 17-tine kalimba

Here’s what you’ll be able to play by following the sheet music or tablature step by step:

And for reference, here is the original melody of the main theme from Super Mario, also known as the "Overworld Theme":

Numbered sheet music for the Italian plumber's sanza

Sheet music with letters for mbira for Nintendo's mascot

If you prefer the letter-notation version, here it is:

Tablature for thumb piano for the video game hero

If you prefer tablature, it’s available right here. Keep in mind it’s read from bottom to top. So, just below, you’re looking at the end of the tablature.

Super Mario sheet music and tablature in PDF format

Want to save the files so you can play them later? No problem—simply download the Super Mario kalimba sheet music or tablature in PDF format.

Who is Super Mario?

The famous Mario is a video game hero and mascot of the international company Nintendo. He first appeared in 1981 in the video game Donkey Kong, created by Gunpei Yokoi and Shigeru Miyamoto. His mission was to rescue a princess named Lady from a gorilla who was blocking his path by throwing barrels at him. In this game, Mario wasn't really the hero. But he charmed his creators and the public so much that his image was quickly used in several other video games.

In 1985, Mario became the star of a game that would revolutionize the platform genre with "Super Mario Bros." He was accompanied by his brother Luigi to rescue Princess Peach from the infamous Bowser in the Mushroom Kingdom. From the very beginning of the game, the Super Mario Overworld theme music rings out for players, which played a big role in making it so widely popular.

Since then, Mario’s popularity has only continued to grow. Today, he’s a universally recognized video game icon who returns in new adventures every year, delighting players and collectors alike.

Who composed the music for Super Mario?

The soundtrack for Super Mario Bros. was composed by musician Koji Kondo. Kondo is an artist who spent most of his career at Nintendo, composing many of the video-game melodies that have become part of popular culture, such as themes from The Legend of Zelda.

Koji Kondo was genuinely surprised by the track’s success and has explained in multiple talks how he composed the game’s different pieces. According to him, video game music rests on three pillars: rhythm, interactivity, and balance. He wrote the main theme by drawing inspiration from the movements Mario could make on screen, as well as when the music was meant to play—namely, in the outdoor levels.

After reworking the melody many times, he finally came up with the piece, without ever imagining it would become so popular.

Play Super Mario on a high-quality 17-key kalimba!

You now have everything you need to play the Super Mario theme on your kalimba. All that’s left is to head off to the Mushroom Kingdom through this cheerful melody.

But it can be frustrating to play a tablature perfectly and still get sounds that don’t feel harmonious. This can happen with a low-quality mbira. To truly enjoy this song, you’ll want a well-made instrument that produces beautiful, resonant tones. Instruments du Monde invites you to discover a sanza with exceptional acoustic properties and refined craftsmanship.

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Learn other melodies! Board the Hogwarts Express and step into the world of wizards and magic to relive the best moments of the saga with our Harry Potter movie kalimba sheet music, or explore our full selection of sheet music for 17-tine thumb pianos. Dozens of songs are available.