The Alphabet Song is written in C major, with 3 chords: C, F and G. Tap Fits a small voice and Iโll move the whole song to where you can sing it.
The Alphabet Song in C major
The tune goes from C4 to A4: try โFits a small voiceโ.
C
F
G
CAย Bย Cย DFEย FCG,
FHย ICJย KGLย Mย Nย OCP,
CQย RFS,CTย UGV,
CWFX,CYย andGZ.
CNowย I'veย sungย fromFAย toCZ,
FComeย andCsingย themGallย withCme!
Letters to the Twinkle tune, as Charles Bradlee printed them in Boston (1835), with a last couplet in Peabody's own words. Public domain. peabody.kids/music
Where the song comes from
The alphabet sung to the Twinkle tune was printed by Charles Bradlee, a music publisher in Boston, in 1835. It is the same tune as Twinkle, Twinkle and Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, so a child who can play one can play all three. The last two lines here are Peabody's own.
Words: Charles Bradlee, The A.B.C. (Boston, 1835); the last couplet is Peabody's. Tune: Ah! vous dirai-je, maman (Paris, 1761). Both were printed before 1931, so the song is in the public domain in the United States: anyone may sing it, print it and share it. Peabody wrote out the tune and the chords for this page. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphabet_song.
For teachers
The tune runs from C4 to A4 in C major. For a class from Pre-K to 2nd grade, try D major (D, G, A), which keeps it inside D4 to B4.
Easiest to play
On a ukulele: C major (C, F, G). On a guitar: D major (D, G, A).
Sing it with the words lit up
The sing-along plays the tune and lights each word as it is sung.