Howl’s Moving Castle – Merry Go Round of Life Kalimba Tabs

This intermediate number notation for Merry Go Round of Life captures the harmonic complexity of Joe Hisaishi’s work through steady chord transitions and an expansive 15-note melodic range. It provides a technically rewarding resource for 17-key kalimba players seeking to master the iconic theme from Howl’s Moving Castle without the need for chromatic retuning.

Video Tutorial

Difficulty & Playing Guide

Number Notation

(7 2*) (3*1*) (72*) (3*1*) (72*) (3*1*)
(1*6) (72*) (1*6) (72*) (1*6) (72*)
(57) (1*6) (57) (1*6) (57) (1*6)
(64) (35) (42)

3 6 1* 3* 3*
2* 1* 7 [1*]
6 1* 3* 6* 6*
7* 5* 4* [5*]
7 3* 5* 7* 6*
5* 4* 5* 6* 5*
4* 3* 2* 1* 2*
3* 2* 6 [7]

3 6 1* [3*]
2* 1* 7 [1*]
6 1* 3* [6*]
6* 7* 5* 4* [5*]
7 3* 5* 7* 6*
5* 4* 3* 4* 6* 5*
4* 3* 2* 3* 3* 4* 3* 2* 1*
[7] 1* 2* [3*]

3* 4* 3*
2* 1* 7 1* 2* 3*
5 5 4* 3*
[2*] 1* 2* [3*]
3* 3* 1* 3*
5* 4* 3* 2* 4*
7 7 5* 5*
5* 4* 3* [4*]
5* 5*
5* 6* 7* [1*]
4* 4*
4* 5* 6* [7*]

4 3 4
6 5 4 3 2 3
4 7 [2*] 1*
7 6 [5*]

3 6 1* [3*]
7 3* 5* 7* [6*]
5* 4* 3* 4* 6* [5*]
4* 3* 2* 3* 3* 4* 3* 2* 1*
[7] 1* 2* [3*]
[3*] 2* 1*
[7] 1* 2* 3*