Music · Songs

Songs

Songs for piano, guitar, ukulele and banjo, from first tunes to Bach, Beethoven and Chopin, classical guitar studies, Hawaiian-style ukulele and old-time fiddle tunes. Each one shows the music, and the tab or the keys, with every note lit up as it plays.

Pick a piece, press Play, and watch. A line moves through the music, each note lights up as it sounds, and the same key lights up on the piano below: blue for the right hand, orange for the left. Turn on Letter names to see C, D, E… inside every note, slow it down, play one hand at a time, or turn on Wait for me and play along at your own speed.

Beginner 28 pieces

One hand at a time, then both hands. Quarter and half notes, then eighths. Start here if you've just learned where the notes are.

Amazing Grace Traditional hymn tune “New Britain” (words by John Newton) · bluegrass 🪕 Banjothree-finger rollsG major3/415 barsarrangedthree-finger rolls in 3/4 · open strings · a C chord shape · a pull-off Hot Cross Buns Traditional C major4/44 barsright handarrangedright hand only · three notes: C, D, E · steps and repeated notes · quarter and half notes · first eighth notes Ode to Joy Ludwig van Beethoven · classical 🎸 GuitarfingerpickingC major4/416 barsarrangedtune and bass together · thumb on the bass strings · first position · a dotted rhythm Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Traditional (French tune, 1761; words by Jane Taylor, 1806) · folk 🌺 UkulelestrummingC major4/412 barsarrangedC, F and G chords · the island strum · picking a tune on open strings Boil Them Cabbage Down (clawhammer) Traditional (American) · old-time 🪕 BanjoclawhammerG major2/48 barsarrangedbum-ditty · striking single strings · the brush · the 5th-string thumb · G, C and D chords Front Porch Blues Teddy Rook Book (original) · blues 🎸 GuitarflatpickingE major4/412 barsarrangedthe twelve-bar blues · a two-string shuffle · swing eighths · palm muting (optional) Mary Had a Little Lamb Traditional (words by Sarah Josepha Hale, 1830) C major4/48 barsright handarrangedright hand only · C position · steps and skips · quarter, half and whole notes Mary Had a Little Lamb Traditional (words by Sarah Josepha Hale, 1830) · folk 🌺 UkulelestrummingC major4/48 barsarrangedpicking a tune on three strings · the high G string · C and G7 · four down strums Boil Them Cabbage Down (three-finger rolls) Traditional (American) · bluegrass 🪕 Banjothree-finger rollsG major4/45 barsarrangedforward roll · melody on the 2nd string · G, C and D chords · a pinch to end · 1st and 2nd endings Lightly Row Traditional (German folk song “Hänschen klein”) · folk 🌺 UkulelestrummingG major4/416 barsarrangedG and D7 · changing chords on beat 3 · the notes on the 1st string · down-up strums Night Herd Waltz Teddy Rook Book (original) · cowboy 🎸 GuitarstrummingG major3/416 barsarranged3/4 time · bass, strum, strum · G, C, D7 and G7 chords · a tune on the top three strings Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Traditional (French tune, 1761; words by Jane Taylor, 1806) C major4/412 barsboth handsarrangedhands together · C position with a reach to A · bass clef: C, F and G Hard Times Come Again No More Stephen Collins Foster (1826–1864) · folk 🎸 GuitarstrummingG major4/416 barsarrangedG, C, D, D7, Am and G6 chords · the folk strum · changing chords in the middle of a bar · a tune on the top three strings How Firm a Foundation Traditional American hymn tune “Foundation” (words by “K” in Rippon’s Selection, 1787) · Southern hymn 🪕 Banjothree-finger rollsG major4/416 barsarrangedforward and alternating-thumb rolls · melody with the thumb · open strings · a C chord and a D chord · a pinch to end Jingle Bells James Lord Pierpont · folk 🌺 UkulelestrummingC major4/416 barsarrangedC, F and G7 · the folk strum · repeated notes · a dotted rhythm Ode to Joy Ludwig van Beethoven C major4/416 barsboth handsarrangedhands together · C position · dotted quarter notes · one small move of the thumb Prelude in C Matteo Carcassi (1792–1853) · classical 🎸 GuitarfingerpickingC major4/48 barsarrangedp i m a arpeggios · holding a chord while picking · first position · C, Am, Dm and G7 shapes Lightly Row Traditional (German folk song “Hänschen klein”) G major4/416 barsboth handsarrangedhands together · G position · the key of G major (key signature: one sharp) Porch Light Waltz Teddy Rook Book (original) · country waltz 🪕 Banjothree-finger rollsG major3/416 barsarrangedthree-finger rolls in 3/4 · forward and backward rolls · G, C and D7 · a pull-off · a pinch to end Trade Wind Vamp Teddy Rook Book (an original practice tune) · Hawaiian-style vamp 🌺 UkulelestrummingC major4/412 barsarrangedthe island strum · the D7–G7–C vamp · C, F, D7 and G7 · ending on a strummed chord Amazing Grace Traditional hymn tune “New Britain” (words by John Newton) · hymn 🌺 UkulelestrummingG major3/415 barsarranged3/4 time · the waltz strum · G, C, Em and D7 · a pickup note Waltz in C Ferdinando Carulli (1770–1841) · classical 🎸 GuitarfingerpickingC major3/840 barsarrangedbass and chord: thumb, then two fingers together · 3/8 time · first position · C, G7 and A minor shapes Jingle Bells James Lord Pierpont C major4/416 barsboth handsarrangedhands together · C position · dotted quarter and eighth · repeated notes Red Clay Breakdown Teddy Rook Book (original) · bluegrass 🪕 Banjothree-finger rollsG major4/416 barsarrangedthe slide lick · forward-reverse roll · alternating-thumb roll · hammer-ons and pull-offs · G, C and D7 · a high part and a low part Amazing Grace Traditional hymn tune “New Britain” (words by John Newton) G major3/415 barsboth handsarrangedhands together · 3/4 time · a pickup note · dotted rhythms · moving the hand Andalusian Study Teddy Rook Book (original) · flamenco-style 🎸 GuitarstrummingA minor4/48 barsarrangedAm, G, F and E chords · an accented strum with a muted chuck · the Spanish sound of G-sharp and F · a tune in first position Rook’s Hollow Teddy Rook Book (original) · old-time 🪕 BanjoclawhammerG major4/416 barsarrangedbum-ditty · hammer-ons and pull-offs in clawhammer · the F note and F chord · a high part and a low part Andantino in C Fernando Sor (1778–1839) · classical 🎸 GuitarfingerpickingC major4/432 barsarrangeda tune over a held bass · rest strokes with i and m · first position · the open 3rd string as an inner voice

Intermediate 27 pieces

Both hands all the way through, more keys, dotted rhythms and real pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Clementi and Schumann.

Angeline the Baker Traditional (American) · old-time 🪕 BanjoclawhammerC major4/416 barsarrangeddouble C tuning · strikes on the beat · drop-thumb · hammer-ons and a pull-off · C and F chords Canon in D Johann Pachelbel D major4/411 barsboth handsarrangeda repeating bass line (ground bass) · D major (key signature: two sharps) · eighth notes · hands together Greensleeves Traditional English tune · folk 🎸 GuitarfingerpickingE minor6/816 barsarrangedtune and bass together · 6/8 time · dotted rhythms · D-sharp and C-sharp in E minor Ode to Joy Ludwig van Beethoven · classical 🌺 UkulelefingerpickingstrummingC major4/416 barsarrangedlow-G tuning · picking a tune by steps · a dotted rhythm · C and G7 Arkansas Traveler (clawhammer) Traditional (American); credited to Sanford C. Faulkner of Arkansas · old-time 🪕 BanjoclawhammerC major4/416 barsarrangedbum-ditty all the way through · melody notes inside the brush · double C tuning · C, F and G chords Greensleeves Traditional English tune · folk 🌺 UkulelefingerpickingstrummingE minor6/816 barsarranged6/8 time · a minor key · low-G tuning · Em, D, G, C and B7 Minuet in G major Christian Petzold (long credited to J. S. Bach) G major3/432 barsboth hands3/4 time · G major (key signature: one sharp) · moving the hand along a scale · repeats Romance (Spanish Romance) Anonymous · Spanish 🎸 GuitarfingerpickingE minor3/416 barsarrangedtriplet arpeggios: a, m, i · a tune on the 1st string up the neck · barre chords at the 5th and 7th frets · shifting positions Prelude in E Minor Matteo Carcassi (1792–1853) · classical 🎸 GuitarfingerpickingE minor6/88 barsarrangedsixteenth-note arpeggios in 6/8 · open bass strings · a natural harmonic · first position Island Waltz Teddy Rook Book (an original practice tune) · Hawaiian-style waltz 🌺 UkulelefingerpickingG major3/416 barsarrangeda fingerpicking pattern in 3/4 · thumb on the bass, fingers on the treble · the A7–D7–G vamp · G, C, G7, A7 and D7 Musette in D major Anonymous (long credited to J. S. Bach) D major2/420 barsboth handsD major · left-hand octave jumps · both hands playing the same notes · sixteenth notes Soldier’s Joy (clawhammer) Traditional (Scottish, then American) · old-time 🪕 BanjoclawhammerD major4/416 barsarrangedopen D tuning · double thumbing · drop-thumb · hammer-ons and pull-offs · D and A chords Arkansas Traveler Traditional (American); credited to Sanford C. Faulkner of Arkansas · bluegrass 🪕 Banjothree-finger rollsG major4/416 barsarrangedalternating-thumb roll · melody inside rolls · pull-offs and a hammer-on · the 5th string as a melody note · G, C, D and D7 Canon in D Johann Pachelbel · classical 🌺 UkulelefingerpickingstrummingD major4/411 barsarrangedlow-G tuning · a chord on every beat · Bm and F♯m · moving up the neck to the 5th position Dry Creek Blues Teddy Rook Book (original) · Delta blues 🎸 GuitarfingerpickingE major4/412 barsarrangeda steady thumb bass (monotonic bass) · hammer-ons · blue notes · a turnaround Melody Robert Schumann C major4/420 barsboth handsboth hands in treble clef · a singing tune over flowing eighth notes · phrasing · dynamics: p and dim. Prelude in C major Johann Sebastian Bach C major4/435 barsboth handsbroken chords · holding notes in the left hand · steady sixteenth notes · reading chord shapes Ragtime Ramble Teddy Rook Book (an original practice tune) · ragtime-era 🌺 UkulelestrummingC major4/412 barsarrangedthe ragtime chord chain · E7, A7, D7 and G7 · swung eighth notes · accents on beats 2 and 4 Soldier’s Joy (three-finger rolls) Traditional (Scottish, then American) · bluegrass 🪕 Banjothree-finger rollsD major4/416 barsarrangedplaying in D in open G tuning · alternating-thumb roll · pinches · pull-offs in the B part · the D and A chord shapes Whistle Stop Rag Teddy Rook Book (original) · Travis picking 🎸 GuitarfingerpickingC major4/416 barsarrangedan alternating thumb bass · pinches (thumb and finger together) · C, A7, D7 and G7 · melody between the bass notes Durang’s Hornpipe Attributed to Mr. Hoffmaster, John Durang’s violin teacher (about 1785); long since a traditional fiddle tune · old-time 🪕 BanjoclawhammerD major4/416 barscapo 2arrangeddouble C with a capo (a D A D E) · double thumbing · drop-thumb on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings · hammer-ons and pull-offs · playing up to the 10th fret The Entertainer Scott Joplin · ragtime 🌺 UkulelestrummingfingerpickingC major2/416 barsarrangedsixteenth notes · syncopation · ties across the beat · C7, D7, Fm and G7 · a ragtime strum Für Elise (first section) Ludwig van Beethoven A minor3/824 barsboth hands3/8 time · pickup notes · sharps and naturals · hands taking turns · repeats with first and second endings Sonatina in C major, first movement Muzio Clementi C major2/238 barsboth handsscales and broken chords · cut time (2/2) · sonata form · a broken-chord left hand in places Fisher’s Hornpipe Traditional (British, 1700s), long played by Southern old-time and bluegrass musicians · old-time 🪕 Banjothree-finger rollsG major4/416 barsarrangedevery note of the tune with three fingers · hammer-ons, pull-offs · up the neck at the 7th fret · backward roll shapes · G, C, Am, D and D7 Devil’s Dream Traditional (British Isles), a favorite of Southern fiddlers and bluegrass banjo players · bluegrass 🪕 Banjothree-finger rollsA major4/416 barscapo 2arrangedplaying with a capo · every note of a fast reel · the 5th string as a melody note · pull-offs in a row · the I M T M roll shape Greensleeves Traditional English tune E minor6/816 barsboth handsarranged6/8 time · dotted rhythms · a minor key · a left-hand bass line

Advanced 5 pieces

Longer pieces with independent hands, wide stretches and expressive playing.

The Entertainer (opening) Scott Joplin C major2/421 barsboth handsarrangedragtime syncopation · left-hand jumps: bass note, then chord · octaves in the right hand · sixteenth notes Gymnopédie No. 1 Erik Satie D major3/447 barsboth handsa slow, even tempo · left-hand leaps: bass note, then chord · long held melody notes · pedal Invention No. 1 in C major Johann Sebastian Bach C major4/422 barsboth handstwo independent hands · counterpoint · sixteenth notes · a theme turned upside down Prelude in E minor Frédéric Chopin E minor2/225 barsboth handsslowly changing left-hand chords · a singing right hand · chords that move by half steps · pedal Moonlight Sonata, first movement Ludwig van Beethoven C♯ minor2/269 barsboth handstriplets · melody and accompaniment in one hand · pedal · very soft playing

About these editions

Every piece here is either a traditional tune or the work of a composer who died long ago, published before 1930, so it belongs to everyone. The music is our own engraving, and the guitar, ukulele and banjo arrangements are our own. When we simplified a piece or wrote our own accompaniment, the song page says so. Each page lists the edition the notes were checked against.

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