Lightly Row — Free Piano Sheet Music for Kids, With a Play Button

Lightly Row

Free beginner piano sheet music: C major, 4/4, 16 bars. The right hand alone in C position, thumb on middle C, with the finger number above every note and its letter name underneath. Press Play to hear it on a real piano or slow it down; click any note to start from there; print it for the music stand.

The notes in this piece

Your right hand plays five notes in this piece: C, D, E, F, G. The thumb sits on middle C and each finger has its own key, so the hand never moves. The left hand rests in your lap. The shaded keys are the notes, and the numbers under them are the fingers (1 is the thumb). The same finger numbers are printed above every note in the music, with the note’s letter name underneath. What is C position? →

Where your hand goes

C – D – E – F – G

About this arrangement

A German children’s song from the 1800s (Hänschen klein) that became an English rowing song, and the first real piece in the Suzuki piano and violin books. The right hand plays alone in C position: thumb on middle C, fingers 1 to 5 on C D E F G, and the whole tune sits under those five fingers. It starts with the little finger on G. The second half starts on D, with four repeated notes, then climbs step by step to G.

Practice tip: Bars 1 and 2 are the same shape a step apart: G E E, then F D D. Once the hand knows that, most of the piece is learnt.

The words

Lightly row, lightly row, o'er the glassy waves we go; smoothly glide, smoothly glide, on the silent tide. Let the winds and waters be mingled with our melody; sing and float, sing and float, in our little boat.

A short history

The tune is the German children’s song “Hänschen klein” (Little Hans), about a boy who goes out into the world and comes home to his mother. The words were written by Franz Wiedemann, a Dresden teacher, in 1860, to an older folk tune.

In English it became “Lightly Row”, a rowing song, and under that name it is the first proper piece in the Suzuki method books for violin and piano, right after the Twinkle variations.

The second half, which starts on D and climbs step by step, is the first time many beginners meet a melody that moves away from the home note and comes back.

Quick facts

Tune: Traditional (German, 19th century)
Key: C major, C position
Time signature: 4/4
Length: 16 bars
Tempo: Flowing, crotchet = 104
Difficulty: Level 1: Right hand, C to G (piece 4 of 201)
Type: Children's song
Hands: Right hand only, thumb on middle C
Notes: C, D, E, F and G (diagram above)
Copyright: Public domain tune; arrangement by Digital Greenhouse, free for personal and classroom use

Questions and answers

Which notes does Lightly Row use?

It is in C major, in 4/4 time, for the right hand alone in C position: thumb on middle C and fingers 1 to 5 on C, D, E, F and G. The finger number above each note and the letter name under it tell you which key to play.

How long is it?

C major, 4/4, 16 bars. The tempo marking is Flowing, crotchet = 104.

Is Lightly Row out of copyright?

Yes. The tune is traditional (German, 19th century). Our piano arrangement is free for personal and classroom use.

What is the hardest part?

Bars 1 and 2 are the same shape a step apart: G E E, then F D D. Once the hand knows that, most of the piece is learnt.

Can I print it?

Yes. Press Print above to put this piece on its own page, or choose Save as PDF as the printer for a file. It prints on A4 paper; if yours is US Letter, choose US Letter in the box beside Print. The notes are the same size as a printed music book.

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