How to play London Bridge Is Falling Down on piano
- Level
- Very easy
- Key
- C major
- Composer
- Traditional
- Written
- 1744 (earliest print)
A nursery rhyme printed as early as 1744 and known in many versions across Europe. Its melody lives in the five notes between C and G plus one A, and repeats the same shape three times.
London Bridge Is Falling Down letter notes
Press play to hear each line while the keys light up. Then play along, one line at a time.
London Bridge is falling down
GAGFEFG
Falling down, falling down
DEFEFG
London Bridge is falling down
GAGFEFG
My fair lady
DGEC
Underlined notes are long notes: hold them for two beats or more.
Hand position
Right hand in C position with finger 5 on G. Shift up one key so finger 5 reaches A for the first note pattern.
Easy left-hand chords
Once the melody is comfortable, add these chords in your left hand, one per line or bar: C | G C | C | G C.
Chord diagrams: C major, G major.
Practice tips
- The opening G A G F E F G has a little dotted rhythm. Make 'Lon-' long and '-don' short.
- The ending 'my fair lady' goes D G E C: a nice leap for finger 5.
- Left hand: C chord, then G on 'falling down'.
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.