Baa, Baa, Black Sheep — Free Piano Sheet Music for Kids, With a Play Button

The chords in this piece

Your left hand plays three chords in this piece. The shaded keys are the notes of each chord, and the numbers under them are the left-hand fingers (1 is the thumb). Exactly the same three shapes as Twinkle, Twinkle, in the same order. All the common piano chords, with diagrams →

C C

C – E – G · Left hand 5 3 1

C, E and G: the home chord. Little finger on C, middle finger on E, thumb on G.

F F (C position)

C – F – A · Left hand 5 2 1

C, F and A. The same three notes as F major, rearranged so the little finger stays on C; the thumb stretches up one key to A.

G G (C position)

B – D – G · Left hand 5 3 1

B, D and G. The same three notes as G major, rearranged so the hand barely moves: the little finger slides down one key from C to B.

About this arrangement

The same French tune as Twinkle, Twinkle (and the alphabet song), with English words printed in 1744. Learn it straight after Twinkle: the notes are the ones you already know, but the words change the rhythm, so “have you a-ny wool” and “one for the lit-tle boy who” are sung on quavers (eighth notes), two to a beat. The left hand is exactly the same as Twinkle’s.

Practice tip: Play Twinkle first, then this, and listen for where the quavers come. Say the words while you play: they carry the rhythm for you.

The words

Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full. One for the master, one for the dame, one for the little boy who lives down the lane. Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.

A short history

The words were printed around 1744 in Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book, the earliest surviving collection of English nursery rhymes, and they have barely changed since. The tune is the French “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman” of 1761, the same one as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

A popular story links the rhyme to a medieval tax on wool, with the three bags going to the king, the church and the farmer. There is no good evidence for it; the rhyme is more likely just a counting song about a sheep.

Because the tune is shared with Twinkle, this is the natural second piece: the notes are already in the fingers, and only the rhythm of the words is new.

Quick facts

Tune: Traditional (tune French, 18th century; words English, 1744)
Key: C major, C position
Time signature: 4/4
Length: 12 bars
Tempo: Steadily, crotchet = 100
Difficulty: Level 2: Left-hand chords (piece 15 of 201)
Type: Nursery rhyme
Hands: Both: melody in the right hand, chords in the left
Chords: C, F and G (diagrams above)
Copyright: Public domain tune; arrangement by Digital Greenhouse, free for personal and classroom use

Questions and answers

What key is Baa, Baa, Black Sheep in?

C major, in 4/4 time. There are no sharps or flats in the key signature.

How long is it?

C major, 4/4, 12 bars. The tempo marking is Steadily, crotchet = 100.

Is Baa, Baa, Black Sheep out of copyright?

Yes. The tune is traditional (tune French, 18th century; words English, 1744). Our piano arrangement is free for personal and classroom use.

What is the hardest part?

Play Twinkle first, then this, and listen for where the quavers come. Say the words while you play: they carry the rhythm for you.

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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