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Frère Jacques

Traditional (French) · Key of C major · 4/4 · ♩ = 100

Frère Jacques is a French folk round, usually sung in overlapping parts. Pianory’s version is 8 bars in C major: the right hand carries the whole melody and the left hand comes in only at the end to ring low G and C "bells".

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What makes it tricky

The "morning bells are ringing" line has four eighth notes in a row, twice as fast as the rest. The tune also reaches up to A, so the right-hand fifth finger stretches one note past C position.

How to practice it

  1. Pick Right hand at 50%. Count "1 and 2 and" through the eighth-note line so all four notes are even.
  2. Pick Left hand and find the two bell notes, G and C, in bass clef. Rest your hand on them before they arrive.
  3. Pick Both and work up to 100%. It is short, so play it several times in a row, the way a round is sung.