Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Row, Row, Row Your Boat on piano
By Traditional
- C major
- 2/4
- 105 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Row, Row, Row Your Boat in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – C – F
How it goes
Row, Row, Row Your Boat sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVCIFIV- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Little march
How it goes
A chord, then a single low note: left, right, like a little march. Musicians call it lh chords (2/4) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in 278 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Marching chords
How it goes
Two chords per bar, left-right, like a happy little march. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 105 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- GG · B · D
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Questions about Row, Row, Row Your Boat
What chords are in Row, Row, Row Your Boat?
The loop is C – F – C – F (I – IV – I – IV) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Row, Row, Row Your Boat in?
C major, at about 105 beats a minute in 2/4.
What does the left hand play in Row, Row, Row Your Boat?
Little march: lh chords (2/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Row, Row, Row Your Boat easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.