Would you like to learn to play the notes of the Old MacDonald nursery rhyme on the piano? Welcome to Old MacDonald!
Old MacDonald Had a Farm is a traditional nursery rhyme about the adventures of a farmer named MacDonald and his animals. This cheerful, lively song is loved by children all over the world for its playfulness and catchy melodies. Playing Old MacDonald on the piano is a fun experience, featuring easy-to-remember melodies and simple structures, making it an excellent choice for those new to the piano.
In this article, we’ll first explore the different notes used in the nursery rhyme melody and techniques for playing them with the right hand. Then we’ll do the same with the accompaniment played by the left hand. Finally, we’ll teach you how to coordinate both hands to play Old MacDonald in its entirety. It’s child’s play!
By the end of this tutorial, you’ll know how to play the notes of this nursery rhyme just like MacDonald, who takes good care of his farm!
Bonus : you can also learn to play this song at your own pace on our interactive piano learning app La Touche Musicale.
Free download: >> >> The guide to learn 10 easy piano pieces.
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Before plunging into the childlike gaiety of this famous nursery rhyme, let’s take a moment in the country to unravel the mysteries of the keyboard. In the enchanted meadow of music, each key represents a seed of melody, ready to hatch under your fingers!
Before venturing into the heart of this musical farm, let’s learn together how to recognize these little harmonic shoots on the piano keyboard:
The name of the notes on a piano keyboard.
If you look closely at the diagram of the piano keyboard above, you’ll notice a fascinating repetition: each section is made up of 7 white keys. Did you know that this sequence repeats itself endlessly?
To help you find your way around the keyboard, let’s focus on the black notes, as they play a crucial role. Locate a group of two black notes that act as a landmark, signalling that you’ve returned to the beginning of the sequence of white notes. Before this group, i.e. the first white key to the left of the duo of black keys, you’ll find the reference note: C.
Remember that for each section, the notes are always in the same order: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and that you know the reference note C. With a little practice, you can easily find your way around the keyboard.
Usually, each hand has its own role. They play the same notes, but with different fingers:
The left hand uses fingers from 5 to 1: 5 for the little finger, 1 for the thumb. Example: The left hand starts with the little finger on C, then moves down to the thumb on G.
The right hand uses fingers from 1 to 5 (from the thumb to the little finger). Example: the right hand starts with the thumb on C, then moves down to the little finger on G.
We recommend practicing several times, until the placement of your fingers on the keys becomes instinctive.
To play the notes that make up Old MacDonald with the right hand, let’s take a moment to familiarize ourselves with the notes that make up the melody.
Let’s start by finding our starting point in this sweet melody. Gently place your right hand in the center of your keyboard, and locate the note that will launch our journey. The first note to be played with your fingertips is C.
Hold on to this first note and let yourself be guided to the next step!
C is the first note to be played with the right hand in the Old MacDonald nursery rhyme on the piano.
Well done! You’ve spotted the C! That’s a great start. Now you can use your right hand to play all the notes in Old MacDonald’s melody on the piano. Press the following notes in succession:
C – C – C – E – E – D – D – C – C – C – C – E – E – D – D – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – C – E – E – D – D – C
This series of notes represents the entire melody of this nursery rhyme, played exclusively with the right hand. By pressing each of these notes in turn, you should have easily recognized the famous melody. Ready, set, go!
Old MacDonald on the piano: the notes of the right hand.
To help you improve your right-hand playing, we’ve created a video tutorial to guide you. The tutorial gives you a visual representation of rhythms and beats, making it easier for you to learn.
Press the keys on your keyboard in sync with the video. Make sure you hold down each key as long as the corresponding note on the video is in contact with the virtual keyboard. Now it’s your turn!
Fantastic! You’ve successfully completed this step! You’ve now mastered the notes of the Old MacDonald melody on the piano with your right hand.
Now let’s see you play the notes with your left hand!
La Touche Musicale app waits for you to play the right note with your right hand on your piano before moving on to the next one.
We follow the same method for the left hand as for the right. The left hand generally plays the accompaniment, which adds depth to the melody.
To play the accompaniment, the note to start with is G.
G is the first note to be played with the left hand for the song Old MacDonald on piano.
Congratulations on identifying the first note of the accompaniment, G!
Now let’s delve into the left-hand notes of the Old MacDonald nursery rhyme on the piano. Play the following sequence of notes:
G – A – A – G – G – G – A – A – G – G – G – G – G – G – A – A – G
Practice this sequence several times, until you feel more confident.
Old MacDonald on the piano: the notes of the left hand.
If you enjoyed the help provided by the video tutorial for the right hand, you’ll love the one for the left! Watch our video carefully and practice at your own pace.
The La Touche Musicale app waits for you to play the correct note with your left hand on your piano before moving on to the next.
Congratulations! You’ve now learned to play the notes of the song Old MacDonald on the piano with your left and right hands. But now comes the most exciting part: playing both hands simultaneously!
That’s precisely what we’re going to tackle in this final part of the tutorial.
Coordinating the two hands may seem a little difficult at first. However, you’ve chosen the right song to start your piano learning. The simplicity of the notes and rhythm of this song will make your task easier.
Pay attention to your posture and the way you place your hands on the keyboard. Keep your hands in line with your forearms and your fingers slightly curved.
We recommend that you divide the piece into small parts, about 5 to 10 seconds long, practicing first with the right hand, then the left, and finally both together.
Once you’ve mastered one part, move on to the next and repeat the same exercise.
Finally, when you’re able to play all the parts separately, string them together.
Old MacDonald on the piano: the notes of both hands.
Discover the last step of this article, designed to help you master the coordination of both hands at the piano. Take your time and don’t hesitate to practice to improve the fluidity of your playing.
Watch this final video from our La Touche Musicale app, featuring innovative features such as key and chord recognition. Unlike a standard video, when you need to pause, the application waits patiently for you to play the right notes before continuing its progression. No more tedious management of song playback! Thanks to our app, you’ll learn smoothly and efficiently, whatever your level.
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The La Touche Musicale app waits for you to play the right notes with both hands on your piano before moving on to the next.
Congratulations on your progress! You have now mastered the interpretation of the notes that make up Old MacDonald on the piano with both hands at the same time! You’ve reached a gratifying milestone.
To keep the momentum going, I encourage you to explore our selection of tutorials specially prepared for you:
Well done! You’ve learned how to play the notes of this nursery rhyme on the piano in an entertaining way. As promised at the start of this tutorial, I’m sharing a link to the free sheet music of the Old MacDonald song in PDF format.
To make this experience even richer, I recommend that you use our interactive app La Touche Musicale. It makes learning the piano accessible to everyone, with unrivalled simplicity.
Keep practicing regularly, and don’t forget that the key to success lies in perseverance and the pleasure of playing music!
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