Written by Ambre Montespan - Updated on Jan 28, 2026
Table of contents:
Is the song "The Sound of Silence”—covered by countless artists—stuck in your head, and you want to learn how to play it on your kalimba? You’re in the right place! Here you’ll find all the sheet music and tablature you need to play this world-famous 1960s melody.
Let’s go over everything you need to know to play "The Sound of Silence" on your kalimba.
One thing to check before you start studying the sheet music
Before you dive into any new sheet music, it’s especially important to make sure your kalimba is properly tuned. If you’ve never done this or it’s been a while, take a few minutes to confirm that each tine on your thumb piano produces the note it’s supposed to. Over time, or after a bump, the tines can shift slightly on the bridge, which changes their pitch. As a result, even if you play the score perfectly, you may not actually be producing the right notes. That’s why we recommend checking your kalimba’s tuning first.
Next, if you have any difficulty understanding the sheet music or sanza tablature below, we have created a tutorial that will help you understand how to read them. It can be especially helpful to review it as a quick refresher and make sure everything is crystal clear.
Watch a tutorial to help you play "The Sound of Silence" on the kalimba
It’s much easier to follow sheet music or tablature when you can watch an example. That’s why we suggest you view the video below; it shows exactly when to press each tine.
It may also be a good idea to listen to the original song for motivation. Here it is:
The Sound of Silence on thumb piano in numbered notation
Widely used for its simplicity, numbered notation lets you play the melody without any knowledge of music theory.
The version with letters from the score of The Sound of Silence
If you prefer to play this piece using letter notation (A, B, C, etc.), you’ll find it below:
A tablature of The Sound of Silence especially for the Mbira
Intended for experienced players who want more precision in their playing, the tablature for the melody of The Sound of Silence is available below. Remember that it is read from bottom to top.
Save all documents in a free PDF
Want to play "The Sound of Silence" even without an internet connection? To make your life easier, we’re offering a free PDF with all the sheet music and tablature in one file. Share it with as many kalimba enthusiasts as possible.
In what year was the song The Sound of Silence released?
Strictly speaking, the first version, known as the acoustic version, written by Paul Simon and Arthur Garfunkel, was released in 1964. However, it was not this version that was successful, and the duo split up in the face of this failure. But a year later, in 1965, the producer of Simon and Garfunkel, who were still separated, decided to produce a folk-rock version in line with the musical trends of the time, without informing the two singers in any way.
Paradoxically, it was the folk-rock version that became a hit, quickly rising to the top of the American charts at the time. The success was such that it prompted Simon and Garfunkel to reform their now-legendary duo to record an album in 1966 that included the famous song "The Sound of Silence."
Who covered The Sound of Silence?
To say the least, this song has been covered many times. It appears that more than 350 covers have been recorded since the first recording in 1964, and the track continues to inspire musicians worldwide. Singers from all walks of life have lent themselves to the exercise, and not only in English.
Among the best known are the punk rock band The Dickies, the metal band Atrocity, the singer James Blake, and the band Disturbed, whose cover now has several hundred million views on YouTube and is certainly the band's best-known song at the moment. You can find the cover below:
Play all the sheet music with a high-quality kalimba for an exceptional sound
That’s it! You can now learn "The Sound of Silence" on your kalimba by following the sheet music and tablature we’ve just shared. It will take some practice to master all the chords, but it’s absolutely doable if you stick with it. Soon you’ll be making these famous, instantly recognizable notes ring out on your thumb piano.
However, to play this demanding piece, you’ll want a good-quality kalimba whose tines resonate beautifully and produce clear, bell-like notes. To help you find the perfect instrument, the Instruments du Monde store offers a rare, solid-mahogany kalimba that promises an extraordinary musical experience.
Buy this instrument now by clicking on the link below:
Set off to discover galaxies and stars in the company of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca by playing the kalimba sheet music for the Star Wars movie theme. Relive the greatest musical moments of this cult science-fiction saga. Or set out to conquer other musical universes by studying one of the many 17-tine kalimba sheet music pieces available in our selection.
