Au Clair de la Lune

Learn low D and E fingerings
Expand range to five notes (D-E-G-A-B)
Play a classic French folk song

About This Song

Origin: French Traditional (18th century)

English Title: "By the Light of the Moon"

Difficulty: Early Beginner

Notes Used: D, E, G, A, B

Time Signature: 4/4

Key: G Major

New Notes: Low D and E

This song introduces two new lower notes. These require covering more finger holes!

All Notes Used

Full Song

A beautiful French folk song about moonlight. Play it gently and smoothly.

English Lyrics:

By the light of the moon,
My friend Pierrot,
Lend me your quill,
To write a word.
My candle is dead,
I have no light left,
Open your door for me,
For the love of God.

Practice Tips

Low notes: The D and E notes need more fingers - practice them slowly
Full coverage: Make sure all holes are completely covered
Gentle breath: Don't blow harder for low notes - keep breath steady
Smooth transitions: Moving between high and low notes takes practice

Practice Exercises

Practice low D with notes you already know.

Practice the transition between D and E.

Play all five notes ascending and descending.

Start with the opening phrase.

Historical Context

"Au Clair de la Lune" is one of the most popular French folk songs, dating back to the 18th century. The lyrics tell the story of Pierrot asking his friend Harlequin to lend him a pen. The song became historically significant as one of the earliest recorded sounds in 1860 by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville.

Performance Goal: Play smoothly with clear transitions between all notes, especially when jumping to the low D.