Frere Jacques
With Lyrics in French & English

Frere Jacques with lyrics, so your students can sing this easy and familiar song!  Every version has both a Frere Jacques lyrics English translation, and Frere Jacques lyrics in French.

On this webpage you'll find:

  • Vocal rounds in the keys of C, F, and G
  • Easy beginner shared-hands melody centered on Middle C, in a plain note setting, and also with AlphaNotes for beginning readers
  • A simple setting with the melody in one hand, and a plain left hand accompaniment

The singing round:

Vocal round Frere Jacques

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

Three keys for the singing round

What's shown above is the key of F.  This round is also available in the key of G, and the key of C, much lower.

The piano arrangements

Beginner sheet music Frere Jacques

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

Even simpler - letters in the notes!

Frere Jacques with lyrics for beginners

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

A higher version for beginners

Piano sheet music Are You Sleeping Brother John

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

The reason I arranged the version in C in addition to the (perhaps) easier arrangement in G is so that little ones can play along with a big sister or brother (or Mom or Dad - or teacher!) who will be learning the more advanced arrangement in C, below.  Together, they can turn it into the round.  (The round is the reason for the numbers 1, 2, 3, & 4 to the left side of the grand staffs.)

That makes it fun!  A little bit of harmony naturally built into "Are You Sleeping?"  So I think the C version is worth working on.

An easily conquered arrangement

Elementary piano arrangement Frere Jacques

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

This setting in C has already proved to be fun for my students.  Some of them are on the cusp of sight reading a new piece of music hands together... Frere Jacques is just right for that, and the left hand here could hardly be easier!

I have BIG PLANS to add this to my list of songs-that-are-good-for-transposing.  The finger replacement at the end of line two is really the only "complicated" maneuver to be found in this piece; when transposing, this will be a valuable item to practice, practice, practice!



The links for the singing rounds:



Vocal round Frere Jacques in C



Vocal round Frere Jacques in F



Vocal round Frere Jacques in G



The links to the piano arrangements:



Download notereader G



Download notereader G alphanotes helper



Download notereader C



Download elementary piano version of Frere Jacques with lyrics



More Rounds at Music-for-Music-Teachers.com


Ah, Poor Bird

 A pretty round with a reach of an octave, slow-moving notes, and easy intervals.  The scale-wise movement makes this song easy for a beginner.


Beauty's But an Idle Boast

With lyrics from an older time, this is more difficult than many rounds, but compensatingly more beautiful, with more complex harmonies as well!


Canoe Song

From Canada, a minor harmony round with energy and a catchy melody.


Christ is Born

New lyrics for an old round by Haydn - well-suited to a mix of voices, a satisfying round


Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat

Lots of big interval jumps, even octaves, make this round fun and tricky.


Coffee Canon

Originally from Germany (Kaffee), this is great fun to sing, and a lasting favorite with my students!  With English lyrics - by me - that mention mochas, lattes, and "coffee black!"


Come, Follow

A fancy melody from the 1600's with rhythmic intricacies, that is also pretty!


Dona Nobis Pacem

Difficult!  Quite difficult for beginners, this beautiful round works best with a bigger group of singers, or even instrumentalists, unless your singers are experienced with harmony, and good note readers.


For Health & Strength & Daily Bread

Pretty, and fairly easy, as it moves primarily in descending steps, this is a wonderful Thanksgiving song!


Frere Jacques

The famous French melody.


Good Night, Stars Our Light

Meditative, slow, and minor... a lovely round.  This is a lullaby.


Good Night to You All

Not a lullaby!  This is a brisk bidding farewell to friends, in a major key.


Haida, a Hebrew round

Haida is vigorous and fun - there are two spots that invite a clap, adding to the rhythmic feeling of this song.  Along with "Coffee," this is a favorite, frequently requested!


The Hart, He Loves the High Hill

This brisk but pretty round from England contrasts a deer with a rabbit, and a man with a woman!  "The lady loves her WILL!" (getting her own way).


Have You Seen the Ghost of John

An unbelievably pretty round, with lyrics that DO NOT do it justice!   One of my students' perennial favorites.  I have added alternate lyrics in Latin, to make it sing-able for Christmas.


Heigh Ho, Nobody Home

The first round I use with beginning singers. Very singable!


Hinneh Mah Tov

Another brisk Hebrew round, lovely and minor.


Kookaburra

A fun 2-part round from Australia, good for classroom singing


Merry, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

A happy song, easy to learn!


Music Alone Shall Live

A very pretty little tune with nice major harmonies. A quick study! 


Oh How Lovely is the Evening

Short, and very easy.  This is a sweet melody with simple harmonies.


Rise Up, O Flame

A pretty song with lovely lyrics


Shalom Chaverim

A song about peace, from Israel. Very lovely.


Viva la musica

A little different - there is a bit of dissonance to learn to sing through.  A joyful melody!


White Coral Bells

A pretty little round with two parts and two verses, about white coral bells flowers along a garden path.


White Sand and Grey Sand

A street-seller's cry from England.  



Dianna:
Your website is a light in the darkness. THANK YOU for all you do in helping to spread the love of music. It matters!

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About the Author

Dana Thynes

Hi, I'm Dana!  (Say that like "Anna".)  I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.

Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.

You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.