Today we will be exploring how to play “Can’t Help Falling in Love” on 17 key kalimbas. This melody was adapted by George Weiss, Hugo Peretti, and Luigi Creatore from the 18th century German composer Johann Paul Aegidius Martini’s ballad called “Plaisir d’amour.”
It has been sung by many people throughout the years, but it is most famously associated with Elvis Presley.
This song’s lyrics are so beautiful and romantic that they can be used as a template for your own love letter.
Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can’t help falling in love with you
The kalimba is tuned in a pentatonic scale and consists of seventeen tines, each one representing a different note. To play this song on the 17 key kalimba, you will need to press down the following tines:
Not only are the lyrics an intriguing little poem, but the song also has a beautiful melody to listen to. It’s a pleasure to be paired with the sound of the thumb piano. The version I made up is very simple, and there are no glissandos used throughout the song, so it’s good for beginners to learn. The only thing to note is that there is a triplet in the last bar of the first line of the third verse, which means that the last three notes are in two equal beats, i.e. the timing of the three notes should be equal.
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