Easy piano · 6 keys

This Old Man easy piano by numbers

Q: How many keys do I need for This Old Man?

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

Q: What are the first notes of This Old Man?

In numbers: 5 3 5 5 3 5 6 5. In letter notes: G E G G E G A G.

Traditional English children's counting song (Knick-Knack Song) · 17 s · 60 notes · public domain

This Old Man is easy to play on the piano with numbers. One hand, 6 keys, about 17 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

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

This Old Man piano notes: G E G G E G A G · F E D E F G C C · C C C D E F G G …

The number sheet

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

5G·3E·5G·5G·3E·5G·6A·5G·

4F·3E·2D·3E·4F·5G·1C·1C·

1C·1C·1C·2D·3E·4F·5G·5G·

2D·2D·4F·3E·2D·1C·5G·3E·

5G·5G·3E·5G·6A·5G·4F·3E·

2D·3E·4F·5G·1C·1C·1C·1C·

1C·2D·3E·4F·5G·5G·2D·2D·

4F·3E·2D·1C·

How to play This Old Man on the piano

The English counting song with its bouncing 'nick-nack, paddywhack' line and a quick run up the scale for 'give the dog a bone'. It is written in C major, on white keys, and played twice.

This easy version uses 6 keys (all white keys) and the right hand only: 60 notes, about 17 seconds at 110 BPM in 2/4 time. It has no words.

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.

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	F	F4	above middle C
5	G	G4	above middle C
6	A	A4	above middle C

Number

Note

Key

Where

middle C

above middle C

This Old Man in letter notes

Show the whole song in letter notes, line by line

G E G G E G A G

F E D E F G C C

C C C D E F G G

D D F E D C G E

G G E G A G F E

D E F G C C C C

C D E F G G D D

F E D C

Questions

How do you play This Old Man on the piano, the easy way?

With one hand and 6 keys: put a finger on key 1, C4, and number the keys the song uses from there. Then press the numbers in order: 5 3 5 5 3 5 6 5 (in letter notes: G E G G E G A G). The whole song lasts about 17 seconds; the lesson on this page shows the next key and waits for you.

How many keys do I need for This Old Man?

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

What are the first notes of This Old Man?

In numbers: 5 3 5 5 3 5 6 5. In letter notes: G E G G E G A G.

Is This Old Man free to play and share?

Yes. This Old Man is in the public domain (Traditional English children's counting song (Knick-Knack Song)). 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 17 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 This Old Man, try

This Old Man easy piano by numbers

The number sheet

How to play This Old Man on the piano

The keys

This Old Man in letter notes

Questions

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