Baa Baa Black Sheep is not just any ordinary nursery rhyme; it’s an old traditional tune that has stood the test of time. The melody itself is so well-known that it has been used in other popular songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the Alphabet Song. This makes Baa Baa Black Sheep an excellent choice for learning and playing on the guitar. Once you learn how to play this song, you’ll find it easier to play the other songs as well. In this article, we’ll explore the history and origin of Baa Baa Black Sheep, different ways to play it on the guitar, and even provide you with free resources to enhance your learning experience.
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History and Origin of Baa Baa Black Sheep
The earliest version of Baa Baa Black Sheep can be traced back to 1732, while the current version with the famous melody was published in 1744. However, the songwriter remains unknown. There have been speculations that the song may have had ties to the slave trade in the southern United States, suggesting that the wool of black sheep was easily used for black cloth without dyeing. However, there is no concrete historical evidence to support this theory. Interestingly, the nursery rhyme is sung to the French melody Ah! vous dirai-je, maman, which is also used in other children’s songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the Alphabet Song.
Tabs for Baa Baa Black Sheep
There are various ways to play Baa Baa Black Sheep on the guitar, ranging from easy versions to more advanced fingerstyle arrangements. For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on simple arrangements to help beginners get started. Fingerpicking a song on just one string is a great exercise for beginners, as it allows them to concentrate on picking one string and moving only one finger on the left hand. Here are the tabs for playing Baa Baa Black Sheep on one string:
You can also try playing the song on other guitar strings, such as the 6th string (low E string), for a lower version of Baa Baa Black Sheep. As you progress, you can move on to playing the nursery rhyme on multiple strings, which is more common and efficient. It might be challenging at first, but with practice, you’ll be able to pluck different strings with different fingers without moving your left hand too much along the neck of the guitar. Here are the tabs for playing the nursery rhyme on the first three strings:
Chords for Baa Baa Black Sheep
If you want to sing and play Baa Baa Black Sheep simultaneously, learning the chord version is the way to go. We’ll start with an easy version using basic guitar chords in the key of G, which is easy to sing for most people. The chords you’ll need are G, C, and D. If you already know how to play these chords and transition between them, playing the song will be a breeze. If not, practice these three chords individually and try playing the sequence G-C-D with simple down strums. Start by playing each chord slowly, allowing time for transitioning between them. Once you’ve mastered the chord changes, you can experiment with different strumming patterns.
Sheet Music for Baa Baa Black Sheep
Sheet music provides you with the essential elements of a musical piece, including pitches, rhythms, and music notes. If you’re already familiar with playing the guitar and understand music theory, you probably know how to read sheet music as well. Even if you’re a beginner, easy nursery rhymes like Baa Baa Black Sheep can serve as the perfect exercise to introduce you to sheet music. Here’s the sheet music for Baa Baa Black Sheep:
Free PDF Printables for Baa Baa Black Sheep
Feel free to download these worksheets (chords, tabs, and sheet music) as PDFs for practicing or for your guitar lessons. They are a valuable resource to enhance your learning experience and improve your playing skills.
Explore More Nursery Rhymes
If you enjoy playing Baa Baa Black Sheep and want to further expand your repertoire, there are countless other nursery rhymes waiting to be explored. Each one offers its own unique melodies and challenges, making it a fun and rewarding journey for guitar enthusiasts.
So grab your guitar and start strumming those familiar nursery rhyme tunes. With practice and dedication, you’ll be playing your favorite songs in no time. Happy playing!