Frère Jacques on the fretboard
Sing the first phrase of Frère Jacques, then play its first four notes C–D–E–C on the B string: frets 1, 3, 5, 1. Sing along at a steady pace. The playable version on the Songs page highlights the notes.
Twinkle, Twinkle in phrases
Another familiar traditional tune is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Listen to the opening phrase, then learn only a few notes at a time. Make it a call-and-response game: an adult plays a phrase and the child echoes it.
Do you need sheet music for a first song?
No. Listen, sing and follow notes on the fretboard to get started.