Explore how to play some of the most popular country songs on the kalimba with these simple and easy-to-follow tabs! These tabs are provided for educational purposes only. All rights to the original music belong to the respective owners.
1. Johnny Cash - Hurt
The song `hurt` was originally recorded by an American rock band called Nine Inch nails and was released in 1995. It was featured on their album called: Further down the spiral". The lyrics were written by Trent Reznor, and when the band went on tour, they were accompanied by David Bowie and he also performed the song with them. The song became extremely popular after it was covered by Johnny Cash and the music video is considered one of the most powerful of all time. The meaning of the song is mixed and is open to interpretation but mainly focuses on the loss of his wife and his depression.
E G E D C E
G C A D C E
E G E D C E
G C A D G A
E G E D C E
G C A D C E
E E G E D C E
G C A C C D G A
G G E C C C D C D
2. Shania Twain - You're Still The One
Your still the one was performed by shania twain in 1997, it is a love song about how people thought her and her partner wouldn't work out but they did and are still going strong. The music video is her singing on a beach at night, very blue and many waves crashing the shore. The song was co written by Shania and her husband Robert John, and the song was based of their own marriage that people didn't believe they would last for long together. Their relationship was criticised by the public eye and the media. Below are the kalimba notes and numbers to play along with the song yourself.
G°F°C°G°F°D F D°F°F°F
G°A°C G°F°G°F°F
C°G°F°C°G°F°D F D°F°F°F
G°A°C G°F°G°F°F
(C°° C°) F°D F (C°° C°) F°D F
D°F°G°A°G°
D°C°B D F°C°(C°C)
G°(E°E) D°C°C E G
C°C°B A E F°C C°(C°E)
G°(E°G) D°C°C E C G
3. John Denver - Country Roads
The song country roads was originally released in 1971 by American singer-songwriter John Denver. The famous country track is on the album called Poems, Prayers and promises. Since its original release, it has been performed by 100s of different musicians, with one of the most recent commercially released versions being in 2002. The song country road has also been recreated with modified lyrics and was used in the Japanese anime called Whisper of the heart and features violin backing music. Below is the kalimba tab with number notes and letter notation so that you can learn to play the song chords or alternatively you can watch the video and play along with us.
C° D° E° E° D° C° D°
E° D° C° E° G° A°
A° E° G° G° E° E° D° C° D°
E° D° C° C° C° D° C°
G G G A G
A A G A C°
D° D° D° E° D°
G A C° C° D° C°
G G G A G A C° C° E° E°
D° D° E° D° G A C°
4. John Denver - Perhaps love
John denver and Placido Domingo came together and made a wonderful love song called 'perhaps love'. it was released in 1981 and within its first half a year it achieved a golden record status.
Whilst the original song is composed of orchestral strings and a guitar melody it will sound beautiful on the kalimba as long as the notes below are followed. In the original song the singers have opera style singing voices and the guitar is subtle and beautiful. The song meaning is about how love makes us feel, the warmth, the open door to success, to comfort each other and to care for one and other.
G D° C° B C° D° C° G
G E F G A F G
G G C° B C° D° C° G G
E F A C° D°
G E° F° G° A° G E
G° F° E° D° C° D°
C° C° B A B C° B A B C°
G D° C° B C° D° C° G
G E F G A F G
G G C° B C° D° C° G G
5. The band Perry - If I die Young
The country song called ‘If I die young’ by The Band Perry was released on the 8th June 2010 and made it to no. 14 in the US billboard hot 100 and no. 1 in the US adult contemporary billboard. The original artist is Kimberly Perry and she also wrote the song. Backing music was produced by Nathan chapman, and Paul Worley.
In the music video there is a woman singing to the camera and then laying on a gondola style boat, she goes along a river holding a book with her eyes closed. Then it comes to her singing whilst playing the guitar guitar with two other men playing instruments.
The song makes me feel sad, the lyrics are powerful and about a short and how if she died young she would be happy for the life she had lived. There has been many other variations of the song including a cover by the cast of Glee in 2013, by Michael Henry, by Justin robinett in 2012, and by Lauren Alaina in 2011.
G E° C° (A F) D° E° D° C° A (E G)
E°D° (BD°) D°D°D° E°F°E°
E°E°D°C° (BD°) C°E° (E°C°)
D°E°F°E° (BD°) D°D°D°D°
E°D°(C°A) E°C°AE
GE°E°C°D°C° E°F°E°D°C° (AF)
E°E°C°(BD°) D°D°D°C° (AF)
D°D°C° (BD°) D°D°D°E°D° (C°A)
AE° (C°) AAE° (GBD°) C°
E°C° GGA (E G)
6. Paul Overstreet - Say Nothing At All
Say nothing at all was originally composed and written by Paul Overstreet and don Schlitz in true country music style, it quickly became popular and was remade by Ronan Keating and Keith Whitley there have been many versions of the song and it has won awards such as country music association awards for single of the year. Say nothing at all means when someone loves another even when they don't say a word they still know they love them. Love can be exchanged just by looking and without words. It is a great love song and will always hold a place in everyones hearts, even though it was made a long time ago it is still played today and enjoyed by so many.
G° F° E° E° C° C° D° E° F° G° F° E° E° C°
E° E° E° D° C° C°
A A B A G G B° C°° A° G° G°
E° E° E° D° C° C°
G E° D° C° C° D° E° A° G° E°
A C° C° C° D° E° D° D° D° B G
E° E° E° D° C° C° C° A E° D° C° D°
C° G° G° E° G° G° G° A° G° F° E° D°
C° D° E° E° E° E° E° F° G° F° E° E° D°
E° C° G D° D° E° D° C° C° C° D° E° E° D°
7. Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey
Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton is a soulful country song that pays homage to the power of love and the intoxicating nature of a romantic relationship. The lyrics compare the depth and richness of the narrator's love to the smoothness and warmth of Tennessee whiskey. Throughout the song, Stapleton's powerful vocals and emotive delivery convey a sense of passion and longing as he describes the transformative effect that love has had on his life.
E F# A B C°# B C°# B A B C°#
B B C°# B C°# B C°# B B C°# B A A
(E° C°) C°# E° B° E° A° (A° E°)
D°# F°# D°# G#° G°# B° G°#
C°# G°# D°# D°# E° D°# F°#
C° D°# (C° D°#) (D°# F°#) (C° D°#)
(C°# E°) D°# E° D°# F°# C° D°#
(C° D°#) (D°# F°#) (C° D°#) (C°# E°)
(C° D°#) (C°# E°) (C° D°#)
(C°# E°) (C° D°#) (B° D°#)
8. Shania Twain - You're Still The One
You're Still the One is a sentimental country-pop ballad by Shania Twain about the enduring power of love. Twain's gentle, soothing vocals and the song's catchy melody make it an easy-to-listen-to classic. The song's lyrics speak to the idea of a long-lasting love that has stood the test of time, with lines like "We've been together since way back when / Sometimes I never want to see you again / But I want you to know, after all these years / You're still the one I want whisperin' in my ear." The song became a massive hit for Twain, cementing her status as a superstar in the country music industry.
C E Dº Cº G (E G B Dº) Cº
(A F) Cº Cº Dº (Eº G) Dº Cº Dº
C E Dº Cº G (E G B Dº) Cº
(A F) Cº Cº Dº (Eº G) Dº Cº Dº
C E Gº Cº G E Gº Cº
F A Cº Dº (EºG) Dº
G G F E (C E)
Cº E F Dº (G B)
G G G F (C E) Cº
E F Dº (G B)
9. Martina McBride - Valentine
Valentine by Martina McBride is a romantic country song that expresses deep love and devotion between two partners. The lyrics describe the narrator's feelings of gratitude for having found true love in their significant other. The song portrays the narrator's desire to spend their life cherishing and celebrating the love they share with their partner. It expresses sentiments of companionship, commitment, and appreciation, emphasizing the importance of love and the joy it brings to their lives.
C G B C° D° C° A G B C°
D° E° C° C° A B C° F G G
G B C° D° C° B C° D° A
A G G F G G
G B C° D° D° C° B C° D° E°
C° C° A A G A B
G G° G° G° A° G°F° F° E°D° D° G°
G° G° G° A° G°F° F° E°D° D° E°D°C°
C° D° E° F° E° D°
E° C° E° A° G° D°C°
10. Faith Hill - Breathe
Breathe by Faith Hill is a love song that explores the intense emotions and sensations experienced in a romantic relationship. The lyrics describe the feeling of being deeply in love and the desire to be close to someone special. The protagonist expresses a longing to connect with their partner on a profound level, seeking solace and comfort in their presence. The song captures the essence of passion and desire, highlighting the importance of love and intimacy in a relationship. With its heartfelt lyrics and melody, "Breathe" is a poignant expression of the power of love.
A E C° G E G
B D D° G D G
C E D° G E G
B D D° G D G
A E C° G E G
B D D° G D G
C E D° G E
(E° D° G E C)
A E C° G E G
B D D° G D G
C E D° G E G
11. Happy Trails
The song Happy Trails by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans is a classic Western-themed tune often associated with farewells and parting ways. It expresses well-wishes and positive sentiments to someone departing, hoping for their happiness and success until they meet again.
The lyrics speak about the varying nature of trails in life, with some being happy and others bringing sadness. However, the focus remains on riding through these trails with a positive attitude and outlook. It encourages maintaining a cheerful disposition despite challenges and suggests that being together can bring sunshine even in cloudy times.
G G G° G° E° C° D° C° D° C° E°
G G G° G° E° C° D° C° D° C° E°
G° G° E° E° D° C° C° C° C° G° F°
E° E° D° D° C° C° B A G E° D°
G G G° G° E° F° G° A° B C°
12. Tim McGraw & Faith Hill - It's Your Love
"It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill is a heartfelt country ballad celebrating the enduring power of love. The song expresses gratitude for the depth and strength of the romantic relationship between two people. It highlights the transformative nature of love, describing how it brings joy, comfort, and meaning to their lives. The lyrics convey a sense of appreciation for the partner's unwavering support and the profound impact they have on each other's lives. Overall, the song celebrates the beauty and importance of love in creating a deep and lasting connection between two individuals.
B B B B B
B B B A A
E A A A E E
D B B B B
A A B A
G D° E° E° E° E°
D° E° E° E° D° D° D° C° C°
G B A G A A B B A G B B A G A A D°
B A G
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