Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child (Kalimba Tab)

"Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" is a traditional African-American spiritual that expresses the feelings of loneliness, abandonment, and longing for parental care. The song reflects the experiences of slaves who were forcibly separated from their families and captures the profound sense of loss and despair they endured. The lyrics convey the deep emotional pain and yearning for connection, while also expressing hope for reconciliation and spiritual solace.

Letter notes

(C° A) E° E C° (E° E) A (C° E) D°
(E° C° A A) (D° E) C° (A E) E
(C° A) D° D C° (D° F) A (C° D) D°

(E° C° A A) (D° E) C° (A E) E
(C° A) E° E C° (E° E) A (C° E) D°
(E° C° A F) (D° D) C° (A A) D A

(C° A E) E (A A) E E A
(B G# E E) E A (C° A) E A
(C° A E) E (G# B) E E G#
(C° A A) E A E A E

(F° D° A F) D F° (G° A) A (F° D)
(E° C° G C) E G C G (E° E)
(E° C° A F) F A A A (E° F)
(D° G G) D G B G D 

Number notation

(1° 6) 3° 3 1° (3° 3) 6 (1° 3) 2°
(3° 1° 6 6) (2° 3) 1° (6 3) 3
(1° 6) 2° 2 1° (2° 4) 6 (1° 2) 2°

(3° 1° 6 6) (2° 3) 1° (6 3) 3
(1° 6) 3° 3 1° (3° 3) 6 (1° 3) 2°
(3° 1° 6 4) (2° 2) 1° (6 6) 2 6

(1° 6 3) 3 (6 6) 3 3 6
(7 5# 3 3) 3 6 (1° 6) 3 6
(1° 6 3) 3 (5# 7) 3 3 5#
(1° 6 6) 3 6 3 6 3

(4° 2° 6 4) 2 4° (5° 6) 6 (4° 2)
(3° 1° 5 1) 3 5 1 5 (3° 3)
(3° 1° 6 4) 4 6 6 6 (3° 4)
(2° 5 5) 2 5 7 5 2 

The Only Songbook You'll Ever Need

17-note kalimba on a gradient background with text 'The 17-Note Kalimba Songbook'.

The fastest way to build confidence and technique is by playing real music, and the Kalimba Songbook is designed for exactly that. This focused collection of 80 clean, easy-to-read kalimba tabs lets beginners and developing players skip long theory sections and start making music immediately, using clear tablature that removes frustration and builds skill naturally. By learning through real songs, reading kalimba notation becomes intuitive, progress feels effortless, and playing becomes far more enjoyable as your confidence grows.

Download the Kalimba Songbook