Written by Ambre Montespan - Updated on Jan 27, 2026
Table of contents:
Want to play one of the iconic songs by the legendary rock band The Beatles? How about learning “Yesterday”, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, on your kalimba? It’s absolutely doable (and very approachable) if you use the sheet music or mbira tablature you’ll find a little further down.
Let’s jump right in and explore this 1960s classic.
Get ready to play the melody of Yesterday correctly on the kalimba
You’ll quickly discover that “Yesterday” can be played by any musician with a bit of experience on the thumb piano. However, you’ll need to learn how to read kalimba sheet music properly, because a few subtle details could completely throw you off. So take a few minutes to make sure you fully understand the numbers, letters, and symbols you’ll inevitably run into.
On another note, but just as important, have you tuned your instrument recently? It’s something to do regularly to confirm that the keys on the thumb piano are actually producing the notes they’re supposed to. Otherwise, you won’t get a clean result, and all the time you put into learning this melody will feel frustrating.
Get off to a good start by watching a demonstration video for thumb piano
Very few players can truly learn a song from a simplified kalimba score without hearing it first. So check out this video—it’s a great motivator and shows exactly what you’ll be able to play before long!
And if you want to get even more into the vibe of “Yesterday”, you can also watch the original recording from 1965.
Learn the song Yesterday with a score for mbira
Don’t know anything about music theory, but still want to play an instrument? The simplified sheet music below is made for you. That way, you can finally play the Beatles song “Yesterday”.
Choose a sanza sheet music with letters
Not a fan of numbered sheet music? No problem—at Instruments du Monde, you’ll always find both versions (numbers or letters) to suit every musician. Check out the one for the song “Yesterday” below:
Prefer tablature for the Beatles' hit song
Often favored by musicians who already know music theory, tablature is a more efficient way to play a melody, thanks to a clearer visual representation of the keys you need to hit.
Store finger piano sheet music and tablature in a PDF file
It’s true that it can be pretty tiring to rely on the internet to access a full repertoire of sheet music. To fix that, Instruments du Monde lets you download a PDF file with the musical documents for the Beatles’ song “Yesterday”. All you need is a computer or smartphone to store your entire collection.
Who sang Yesterday?
Yesterday is a song by The Beatles that was originally sung by Paul McCartney, one of the four members of the band, in 1965. According to McCartney, who wrote the song, the lyrics and melody came to him in a dream. At first, he thought his brain was replaying something he’d heard before, but it turned out to be an original work.
According to Guinness World Records, “Yesterday” is the most covered song in the world, with more than 3,000 other artists recording it, in addition to The Beatles themselves. Just to name a few well-known versions, there are covers by Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Gérard Lenorman, and Tino Rossi. None of those covers ever matched the success of Paul McCartney’s original performance.
When did The Beatles split up?
Although the official breakup of The Beatles dates back to 1970, their last song completed together, “The End,” was recorded on August 18, 1969. A few weeks later, in September 1969, John Lennon announced his definitive departure, but it wasn’t until early 1970 that Paul McCartney also announced he was leaving the band to launch a solo album—bringing The Beatles’ career to an end.
The reasons behind the split were many and varied. However, one major turning point was the death of Brian Epstein, the band’s manager, in 1967, which forced the four musicians to get more deeply involved in organization and finances, fueling tensions between them. The arrival of a new manager in 1969, whom Paul McCartney didn’t get along with, didn’t help either. On top of that, the presence of Yoko Ono, the partner of John Lennon, from 1968 onward is also said to have stirred up animosity. Taken together, all of these factors contributed to the breakup of The Beatles.
Enhance your instrumental skills with a high-quality kalimba
The Beatles left their mark on their era and remain a cult band, with their famous songs still playing on the radio and in the hearts of countless fans. Thanks to the kalimba sheet music and tablature you’ve just discovered, you’ll be able to perform one of the greatest hits from this legendary English band.
That said, while the instrument doesn’t make the musician, learning melodies with a bit more complexity is much easier (and more enjoyable) on a higher-quality thumb piano with a richer tone. The Instruments du Monde store recommends the Hluru brand, an excellent value that fits most budgets.
Treat yourself to a Hluru kalimba now by clicking on the image below:
Grab your sword and shield and join Link in the fabulous world of Hyrule. Learn the kalimba sheet music for Zelda: The Lost Woods and relive the best moments from the game where this tune first appeared in Ocarina of Time. Or explore other musical galaxies by checking out our list of 17-key kalimba scores.
