Easy piano · 6 keys

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Q: How many keys do I need for Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

6 keys, all white keys, played with the right hand: 1 = C, 2 = D, 3 = E, 4 = F, 5 = G, 6 = C.

Q: What are the first notes of Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

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

English round · 29 s · 54 notes · public domain

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Row, row, row your boat

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

Row, Row, Row Your Boat piano notes: C C C D E · E D E F G · C C C G G G E E E C C C …

The number sheet

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

1CRow,1Crow,1Crow2Dyour3Eboat

3Egent2Dly3Edown4Fthe5Gstream,

6Cmer6Cri6Cly,5Gmer5Gri5Gly,3Emer3Eri3Ely,1Cmer1Cri1Cly,

5Glife4Fis3Ebut2Da1Cdream.

1CRow,1Crow,1Crow2Dyour3Eboat

3Egent2Dly3Edown4Fthe5Gstream,

6Cmer6Cri6Cly,5Gmer5Gri5Gly,3Emer3Eri3Ely,1Cmer1Cri1Cly,

5Glife4Fis3Ebut2Da1Cdream.

How to play Row, Row, Row Your Boat on the piano

An English round and nursery rhyme first published in the 19th century, often sung as a canon, in 6/8 time.

This easy version uses 6 white keys and the right hand only: 54 notes, about 29 seconds at 100 BPM in 6/8 time. The words are in English.

Find key 1: C4 (middle C). The other numbers go up from there, one white key each.

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.

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	F	F4	above middle C
5	G	G4	above middle C
6	C	C5	above middle C

Number

Note

Key

Where

middle C

above middle C

Row, Row, Row Your Boat in letter notes

Show the whole song in letter notes, line by line

C C C D E
Row, row, row your boat

E D E F G
gently down the stream,

C C C G G G E E E C C C
merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

G F E D C
life is but a dream.

C C C D E
Row, row, row your boat

E D E F G
gently down the stream,

C C C G G G E E E C C C
merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

G F E D C
life is but a dream.

Questions

How many keys do I need for Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

6 keys, all white keys, played with the right hand: 1 = C, 2 = D, 3 = E, 4 = F, 5 = G, 6 = C.

What are the first notes of Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

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

Is Row, Row, Row Your Boat free to play and share?

Yes. Row, Row, Row Your Boat is in the public domain (English round). 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 1–6 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 29 seconds at 100 beats a minute. Most beginners play it through within a few tries; lower the speed with the slider to go slower.

More easy songs

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

The number sheet

How to play Row, Row, Row Your Boat on the piano

The keys