How to play Hot Cross Buns on piano
- Level
- Very easy
- Key
- C major
- Composer
- Traditional
- Written
- 1700s
An English street cry from the 1700s, sung by sellers of the spiced buns at Easter. It uses only three notes, which makes it the simplest real melody on this site and a favorite first piece for young children.
Hot Cross Buns letter notes
Press play to hear each line while the keys light up. Then play along, one line at a time.
Hot cross buns
EDC
Hot cross buns
EDC
One a penny, two a penny
CCCCDDDD
Hot cross buns
EDC
Underlined notes are long notes: hold them for two beats or more.
Hand position
Right hand fingers 3 2 1 on E D C.
Easy left-hand chords
Once the melody is comfortable, add these chords in your left hand, one per line or bar: C | C | C G | C.
Chord diagrams: C major, G major.
Practice tips
- Only three keys: E, D and C. Put fingers 3, 2 and 1 on them and do not move.
- The middle line is four quick Cs and four quick Ds.
- Great for practicing with the left hand too: fingers 3 2 1 on C, D, E below middle C go backwards.
How to practice this song
- Listen to each line once with the play button.
- Play one line slowly with the right hand until you make no mistakes three times in a row.
- Join two lines together, then the whole song.
- Add the left-hand chords, at half speed, once the melody is automatic.