Auld Lang Syne is the song the whole world sings at midnight on New Year’s Eve, and you can learn it right here: press play on the interactive player to hear it at half speed while the notes and keys light up, then drag the score around. Sheet music, fingering, and a free printable PDF follow below.
Learn it with the interactive player
- Slow it down: x0.5 or x0.75 while you learn the notes, back to x1 once they flow.
- Pause anywhere: the current keys stay lit so you can find them on your own piano.
- Drag the score left or right, or use the 15s buttons, to replay a phrase.
The sheet music, section by section
With the player at x0.5, work through Section A: every phrase begins with the same pickup note C, and the first line runs C-F-F-F-A-G-F-G. Start each phrase gently, as if singing the words.
Section B climbs to the highest note of the piece around measure 12, then settles peacefully. Let phrase 3 grow a little louder before the final phrase relaxes back down.
The full score
Connect all four phrases into one breath-like arc: begin the full score at 60 BPM and build to a warm 92 BPM Moderato.
Note by note: keys and fingering
- Right hand: C4, D4, E4, F4, G4, A4 - C position with extension to A4.
- Left hand: C3, F3, G3 - I-IV-V bass pattern. Half notes following chord changes.
| Note | On the Staff | On the Keyboard | Finger |
|---|---|---|---|
| C4 (Middle C) | One ledger line below treble staff | White key left of two black keys, center | RH Thumb (1) |
| D4 | Just below bottom line of treble staff | Between the two black keys | RH Index (2) |
| E4 | On the bottom line of treble staff | Right of two black keys | RH Middle (3) |
| F4 | First space of treble staff | Left of three black keys | RH Ring (4) |
| G4 | Second line of treble staff | Between first two of three black keys | RH Pinky (5) |
| A4 | Second space of treble staff | Between last two of three black keys | RH stretched |
| C3 | Two ledger lines below bass staff | One octave below middle C | LH Pinky (5) |
| F3 | Fourth space of bass staff | Left of three black keys | LH Index (2) |
| G3 | Top line of bass staff | Between first two of three black keys | LH Thumb (1) |
Prefer a video? Watch the keys light up
Same color code as the player: green marks the right hand, blue the left hand, with the score and keyboard in one vertical video.
The story behind Auld Lang Syne
Robert Burns wrote down Auld Lang Syne in 1788 and sent it to the Scots Musical Museum, noting that he had taken part of it from an old man's singing - the poem blends older Scottish verses with lines of his own. The title translates roughly as old long since, or days gone by, and the song asks whether old friendships should be forgotten. Set to a traditional Scottish melody, it became the farewell song of the English-speaking world, sung at midnight every New Year's Eve. Its four symmetrical phrases, each launched by a pickup note, make it a fine study in shaping and expression.
Get the printable PDF
The printable PDF of Auld Lang Syne - full score, hand positions, and a step-by-step practice guide - ships inside our free Level 3 pack together with four other well-loved melodies.
Long, sentimental evening practice goes better with proper support behind you, which is precisely what the Adjustable Piano Bench with Back Support was designed for.
FAQ
How hard is Auld Lang Syne on piano?
It is a moderately easy piece - Level 3 in our free collection. The right hand plays in C position with a stretch up to A4, and the left hand holds half notes on the three chord roots C3, F3, and G3. The pickup note before every phrase is the one detail that needs deliberate practice.
How long does it take to learn Auld Lang Syne?
One to two weeks is typical for a learner who already plays simple hands-together pieces. All four phrases start with the same pickup note C and share the same shape, so the reading comes quickly. Most of the practice time goes into smooth legato and a warm, singing tone at 92 BPM.
What level is Auld Lang Syne?
This arrangement is part of the Level 3 pack in our free sheet collection. It works on phrasing and expression: four symmetrical phrases, each launched by a pickup note, over a steady half-note bass that follows the I-IV-V chord pattern.
What are the notes for Auld Lang Syne on piano?
The first phrase runs C-F-F-F-A-G-F-G, starting from the pickup note C, and every later phrase begins with that same pickup. Phrase 3, in measures 9 to 12, reaches the highest note of the piece. The left hand plays half notes in the progression C-F-C-G, then C-F-G-C. The full table is above.