Old MacDonald Had a Farm

About This Song

Origin: Traditional American children's song

Difficulty: Beginner

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

Time Signature: 4/4

Key: D Major

Fingering Review

Full Song

A beloved children's song with a catchy, repetitive melody. We'll focus on the main melody without the animal sound interruptions.

Lyrics:

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O,
With a moo-moo here and a moo-moo there,
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo-moo,
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

Practice Tips

Practice Exercises

Master the opening G-G-G-D pattern.

Practice the distinctive "E-I-E-I-O" melody.

Practice the repeated D notes in the middle section.

Practice the jump from low D up to B.

Practice the ending pattern.

Historical Context

Old MacDonald Had a Farm is one of the most popular children's songs in the English-speaking world. While the exact origins are unclear, versions of the song date back to the early 20th century, with some scholars tracing melodic elements to even older folk songs. The cumulative structure (where each verse adds to the previous ones) makes it both entertaining and educational for young children. The simple melody uses only five notes, making it perfect for beginning recorder students. The song has been recorded countless times and translated into many languages.

Performance Goal: Play the entire song with a bouncy, cheerful character. All five notes (D, E, G, A, B) should be clear and even, especially the leap up to B.

Next Steps

Once you can play Old MacDonald confidently, try: