Easy piano · 4 keys Start here · step 1 of 10

Mary Had a Little Lamb easy piano by numbers

Q: How many keys do I need for Mary Had a Little Lamb?

4 keys, all white keys, played with the right hand: 1 = C, 2 = D, 3 = E, 4 = G.

Q: What are the first notes of Mary Had a Little Lamb?

In numbers: 3 2 1 2 3 3 3. In letter notes: E D C D E E E.

American nursery rhyme · 35 s · 52 notes · public domain

Mary Had a Little Lamb is easy to play on the piano with numbers. One hand, 4 keys, about 35 seconds: press the numbers in order, as they light up, and the lesson waits for you. Free, no account needed.

▶ Play it now

On paper: the 25 easiest songs, in a printable book · 2 songs free to print

32123

Mary had a little lamb,

The interactive lesson needs JavaScript. Meanwhile, here is the whole song in numbers.

Mary Had a Little Lamb piano notes: E D C D E E E · D D D E G G · E D C D E E E …

The number sheet

The whole song, in numbers. Print it, or put it on your piano.

3EMa2Dry1Chad2Da3Elit3Etle3Elamb,

2Dlit2Dtle2Dlamb,3Elit4Gtle4Glamb,

3EMa2Dry1Chad2Da3Elit3Etle3Elamb,

3Eits2Dfleece2Dwas3Ewhite2Das1Csnow.

3EEv2Dery1Cwhere2Dthat3EMa3Ery3Ewent,

2DMa2Dry2Dwent,3EMa4Gry4Gwent,

3Eev2Dery1Cwhere2Dthat3EMa3Ery3Ewent

3Ethe2Dlamb2Dwas3Esure2Dto1Cgo.

How to play Mary Had a Little Lamb on the piano

An American nursery rhyme from Sarah Josepha Hale's poem (1830). It is the first thing Thomas Edison recorded on his phonograph, in 1877 — and with four keys, one of the very easiest songs to start the piano.

This easy version uses 4 keys (all white keys) and the right hand only: 52 notes, about 35 seconds at 110 BPM in 4/4 time. The words are in English.

Find key 1: C4 (middle C). The other numbers go up from there, to the next key the song uses.

Press ▶ Listen to hear the song while the numbers light up.

Press 🎹 Play it and play the numbers in order; an arrow shows the next key, and the lesson waits for you.

Want the rhythm too? Press 🌧 Falling notes: each note falls onto its key, and its length shows how long to hold it (how falling notes work).

Finish the song for up to three stars — fewer mistakes, more stars.

The keys

Number	Note	Key	Where
1	C	C4	middle C
2	D	D4	above middle C
3	E	E4	above middle C
4	G	G4	above middle C

Number

Note

Key

Where

middle C

above middle C

Mary Had a Little Lamb in letter notes

Show the whole song in letter notes, line by line

E D C D E E E
Mary had a little lamb,

D D D E G G
little lamb, little lamb,

E D C D E E E
Mary had a little lamb,

E D D E D C
its fleece was white as snow.

E D C D E E E
Everywhere that Mary went,

D D D E G G
Mary went, Mary went,

E D C D E E E
everywhere that Mary went

E D D E D C
the lamb was sure to go.

Questions

How do you play Mary Had a Little Lamb on the piano, the easy way?

With one hand and 4 keys: put a finger on key 1, C4, and number the keys the song uses from there. Then press the numbers in order: 3 2 1 2 3 3 3 (in letter notes: E D C D E E E). The whole song lasts about 35 seconds; the lesson on this page shows the next key and waits for you.

How many keys do I need for Mary Had a Little Lamb?

4 keys, all white keys, played with the right hand: 1 = C, 2 = D, 3 = E, 4 = G.

What are the first notes of Mary Had a Little Lamb?

In numbers: 3 2 1 2 3 3 3. In letter notes: E D C D E E E.

Is Mary Had a Little Lamb free to play and share?

Yes. Mary Had a Little Lamb is in the public domain (American nursery rhyme). This easy arrangement, its number sheet and its MIDI file are free to use and share for learning.

Can I play it without a piano?

Yes: tap the keys on the page on a phone or tablet, or press the numbers 1–4 on a computer keyboard. The lesson waits for the right key and shows the next one.

How long does it take to learn?

The whole song lasts 35 seconds at 110 beats a minute. Most beginners play it through within a few tries; lower the speed with the slider to go slower.

If you like Mary Had a Little Lamb, try

Mary Had a Little Lamb easy piano by numbers

The number sheet

How to play Mary Had a Little Lamb on the piano

The keys

Mary Had a Little Lamb in letter notes

Questions

If you like Mary Had a Little Lamb, try

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