Rock-a My Soul — Free Piano Sheet Music for Kids, With a Play Button

Rock-a My Soul

Free beginner piano sheet music: C major, 4/4, 8 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

The oldest printed form of the spiritual, from the 1867 book Slave Songs of the United States. The right hand plays alone in C position, with the thumb on middle C and fingers 1 to 5 on C D E F G, and it never has to move. Each line is a quick run of words on quavers (eighth notes), “Rock-a my soul in the bo-som of A-bra-ham”, with crotchets in between, so the rhythm is the main job. The tune starts on G with the little finger. The second time round the words sit on D and then on F, higher each time, before the tune comes back to G and down to C.

Practice tip: Say the words in rhythm first: they bounce, and the fingers will follow. Keep the quavers even and light.

The words

Rocka my soul in the bosom of Abraham, Rocka my soul in the bosom of Abraham, Rocka my soul in the bosom of Abraham, Lord, Rocka my soul.

A short history

“Rock o’ my soul in the bosom of Abraham” was first printed in 1867 in Slave Songs of the United States, the first book of African-American spirituals, collected by William Francis Allen, Charles Pickard Ware and Lucy McKim Garrison. Allen noted that it came from Virginia. The tune here is that 1867 one, number 94 in the book; the 1867 page also has an extra “King Jesus” at the end, left out here.

The “bosom of Abraham” comes from the story Jesus tells in Luke’s Gospel, where the poor man Lazarus is carried by angels to rest beside Abraham: a picture of safety and comfort after a hard life.

The song stayed in use in churches and was recorded many times in the 20th century; the dancer Alvin Ailey used it for the joyful finale of his dance Revelations in 1960.

Quick facts

Tune: Traditional (African-American spiritual, printed 1867)
Key: C major, C position
Time signature: 4/4
Length: 8 bars
Tempo: Joyfully, crotchet = 100
Difficulty: Level 1: Right hand, C to G (piece 8 of 201)
Type: Spiritual
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 Rock-a My Soul 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, 8 bars. The tempo marking is Joyfully, crotchet = 100.

Is Rock-a My Soul out of copyright?

Yes. The tune is traditional (African-American spiritual, printed 1867). Our piano arrangement is free for personal and classroom use.

What is the hardest part?

Say the words in rhythm first: they bounce, and the fingers will follow. Keep the quavers even and light.

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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