Piper's SongbookHow to play Frère Jacques on recorder
Frère Jacques uses 7 notes on the soprano recorder: B, A, G, high C, high D, low D and high E. The first line goes G A B G G A B G. The same tune is used for Are You Sleeping.
- Notes
- 7: B, A, G, high C, high D, low D, high E
- Level
- Thumb pinch
- Time
- 4/4, about 100 beats a minute
- Source
- French round, known since the late 1700s
Frère Jacques recorder notes with letters
Each box is one note, with its fingering underneath: filled holes are covered, a half-filled hole is half covered or pinched. Wider boxes are longer notes. A ′ mark means the higher octave, so D′ is high D. Bar lines are drawn as thin rules.
Line 1
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4
Letters only, for printing or copying
- G A B G | G A B G
- B C′ D′ | B C′ D′
- D′ E′ D′ C′ B G | D′ E′ D′ C′ B G
- G D G | G D G
Sheet music
Written pitch for soprano recorder, which sounds an octave higher. Press play to hear it on a recorder sound; the slow setting plays at 60% speed.
Fingerings for the notes in Frère Jacques
Hole 0 is the thumb hole on the back. Holes 1 to 3 are for the left hand, 4 to 7 for the right. These are Baroque (English) fingerings.
How to practise it
The third line touches high E, which needs a thumb pinch: bend the thumb so its nail leaves a small gap at the top of the back hole. The last line drops to low D, so ease the air off there.
Learn one line at a time. Play it slowly until every note is clean, then join it to the next line.
About the tune
A French round about a friar who sleeps through the morning bell, known since the late 1700s. In English it is often sung as "Are You Sleeping, Brother John". Up to four players can play it as a round, each starting two bars after the last.
Questions
Is Frère Jacques easy on recorder?
It suits a player who already knows the notes from low D to high D. It also needs the thumb pinch for the high notes.
What notes do you need for Frère Jacques on recorder?
B, A, G, high C, high D, low D and high E. Tap a note to see its fingering on its own page.
Do these fingerings work on a German recorder?
Yes. Every note in Frère Jacques uses the same fingering on Baroque and German recorders.
More recorder songs
Notes checked against Traditional melody, in G. Last checked 6 October 2026.