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Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row, Row, Row Your Boat spans a whole octave, from middle C up to the C above, so the right hand moves twice, between phrases. It is in 6/8, with a gentle long-short rocking rhythm.

Play it in Octotune

The opening, as the app engraves it: C4, C4, C4, D4, E4

The melody in letters

Bar by bar, as the app’s melody version has it; the small numbers are the fingers.

  1. Bar 1C1C1
  2. Bar 2C1D2E3
  3. Bar 3E3D2E3F4
  4. Bar 4G5
  5. Bar 5C4C4C4G1G1G1
  6. Bar 6E3E3E3C1C1C1
  7. Bar 7G5F4E3D2
  8. Bar 8C1

At a glance

ComposerTraditional
DifficultyFirst pieces: grades 1–2 of 8
KeyC major (no sharps or flats)
Time6/8
Tempo90 quarter-note beats a minute, as the app starts it (it can go slower)
Length8 bars, about 16 seconds
Handsone hand or both, by version
Right handC4 to C5
Left handC3 to G3
On the pathUnit 6, Steps and skips, Kids, A, B and C, up from G

It reaches past the staff: see ledger lines explained.

Versions in the app

VersionGradeLevels
Row, Row, Row Your Boat — melody1 of 8Full
Row, Row, Row Your Boat — with bass2 of 8Melody, Full

Practice notes

Row, Row, Row Your Boat starts on middle C in C position: C C C D E ("row, row, row your boat"), E D E F G ("gently down the stream"). Then comes "merrily, merrily", four sets of three quick notes coming down an octave: high C C C, G G G, E E E, C C C. It ends G F E D C.

The hand moves twice. The tune spans an octave, more than one hand position holds. For the high Cs and Gs of "merrily, merrily", the hand moves up to G position, thumb on G and finger 4 on the high C. Then it moves back to C position for the Es and Cs and the last line. Each move happens between phrases, so there is time. Don't cross fingers.

The rhythm is 6/8: two big beats in a bar, each split into three. "Row, row" are long notes; "row your" is long-short. Say "row, row, row-your boat" with a rocking feel, or count "1 2 3 4 5 6" with the weight on 1 and 4.

Practice plan. Learn the first line in Wait for me. Then practise just the "merrily" bars, hand move included, slowly. Put them together, then try Play along at a slow speed to feel the lilt.

In the path: Unit 6 for grown-ups (steps and skips), and the Kids unit Up high.

Questions

What are the piano notes for Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

C C C D E, E D E F G; high C C C, G G G, E E E, C C C; G F E D C. It starts on middle C and climbs to the C an octave above for 'merrily, merrily'.

Credits and licence

The Octotune team · Updated