Intro:

The classic nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” has enchanted children and adults alike for generations. Playing this delightful melody on the piano is not only a favorite of budding pianists, but it also provides a fantastic opportunity to become familiar with the instrument. In this article, we’ll explore three different ways to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on the piano.

1. Learning by Letter Names

A great way to start learning how to play this tune is by understanding the letter names of the piano keys. The song uses only five notes: E, D, C, G, and A. Here are the consecutive notes for “Mary Had a Little Lamb:”

E D C D E E E | D D D E G G

E D C D E E E | E D D E D C

Take time to familiarize yourself with these notes on the piano keyboard, then work on playing them in sequence with one finger or alternating fingers. Start slowly and gradually increase your speed as you become more confident.

2. Finger Numbers Technique

Another approach to playing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” involves using finger numbers. By assigning each finger a number (thumb = 1, index = 2, middle = 3, ring = 4, pinky = 5), you can easily associate which fingers should be used for specific notes:

3 2 1 2 3 3 3 | 2 2 2 3 5 5

3 2 1 2 3 3 3 | 3 2 2 3

Once you feel comfortable playing the melody with your fingers in this sequence, you can work on incorporating both hands. Your left hand can provide simple harmony by pressing down a root note (C) or chords like C major and G major while your right hand plays the melody.

3. Playing with Sheet Music

The final method is for those who are ready to tackle sheet music. Look up the sheet music for “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and identify the notes on the staff as well as their respective positions on the piano keyboard.

Practice reading through the sheet music, starting with just the melody in the treble clef. As you become more familiar with reading music, you can incorporate chords and harmony in the bass clef. Sight-reading allows you to fully appreciate and understand how written music translates to performance.

Conclusion:

Whether you’re new to piano or an experienced player looking to revisit a classic, “Mary Had a Little Lamb” offers a fun and engaging way to refine your skills. The three different approaches we discussed—learning by letter names, using finger numbers, and reading sheet music—are all useful methods that cater to various levels of expertise. So go ahead and try one or all three methods, and enjoy playing this timeless nursery rhyme while building your piano abilities!