Brother John – Ukulele Chords, Tabs and Sheet Music

Brother John (also called “Are you sleeping”) is one of the most popular children’s songs in the world! It’s originally a traditional French nursery rhyme, but has been translated into almost every language. Many children love to sing this song, especially the ending “Ding, dang, dong”. It’s also often one of the first songs music teachers choose for children to learn a musical instrument. It’s short and has a fairly simple melody. In this free ukulele song lesson we will learn a bit more about the history of the song and how to play it on the ukulele. We also provide the chords, tabs and sheet music in PDF format for free!

History of Brother John

Brother John, originally titled as “Frère Jacques” in French, is a traditional French nursery rhyme with roots dating back to the 18th century. The earliest recorded version of the song dates to around 1780. The melody is often associated with the Baroque composer Jean-Philippe Rameau. However, the lyrics and the specific context of the nursery rhyme’s creation remain uncertain.

The song is believed to have originated as a folk song sung by monks, with “Frère Jacques” possibly referring to a monk who overslept and failed to ring the morning bells, a routine duty in monastic life. Over time, the melody and lyrics spread throughout Europe and beyond, with the song being translated into numerous languages and becoming a popular children’s song.

Ukulele Tabs for Brother John

Nursery rhymes can be played in many different ways, from simple strumming patterns to advanced fingerstyle techniques. We’ll begin with some easy versions that are in a key most people find easy to sing. You’ll start by learning how to fingerpick the melody and then move on to strumming along with basic chords. Once you’ve mastered these versions, you can decide which version suits your style best or is ideal for teaching to young students.

1. Level: Playing only on One Ukulele String

How about starting with a simple version of the song? Most songs, you can play the entire melody with just one string on your ukulele. This approach allows you to focus on plucking a single string, moving one finger up and down the fretboard without worrying about the others. It’s a great way for beginners to get the hang of the tune quickly. For Brother John we need the open second string at the end of the one-string version. But it’s still a very simple version.

Simply press down on the first string with the index or middle finger of your left hand and pluck the string with your right thumb.

Here are the ukulele tabs for Row Row Row your Boat on one string:

Check out our recording of this one string version on the ukulele!

You can also play the same melody on any other string of your ukulele as well. Try for example the 3rd string to have a pretty low version Are you Sleeping.

2. Level: Playing on several Ukulele Strings

Starting with the melody on a single string of the ukulele is an easy and accessible starting point, but don’t hesitate to extend the melody across all the strings. This approach is actually more typical and efficient, as it reduces the amount of movement your left hand has to make along the neck and gives you access to a wider range of notes. Although this technique requires you to use more fingers and pluck different strings, it’s an excellent way for beginners to develop and sharpen their ukulele skills.

Here are the ukulele tabs for playing the children’s song on the first three strings:

We have also recorded the playing of the song on the first three strings. Have a listen to the audio recording.

Ukulele Chords For Brother John

Fingerpicking a melody on the ukulele is not only great practice, but also a lot of fun! The melody of these nursery rhymes will be instantly recognizable, even without the lyrics, as we pluck each note. However, if you want to sing along, strumming chords is the way to go. Let’s try to play the song in the key of G, which will require us to use one basic ukulele chord, the G chord.

Here is the G chord diagram for playing Brother John:

Do you already know how to play the G chord on the ukulele? Then you’ll have no trouble playing this song on your ukulele right away! But if you’re not quite there yet, start by practicing the G chord. Once you can play the chord without any difficulties, you can start playing the whole song.

However, for beginners, I would recommend just doing simple down strokes and starting slowly. You can also play the song in any other key to make it sound higher or lower. For example, try playing it with a C chord or a D chord.

Ukulele Sheet Music for Brother John

For ukulele enthusiasts and teachers, sheet music serves as a valuable resource, providing detailed insight into the notes, rhythms, and chord structures of a song. For those just starting out, however, sheet music can be overwhelming, requiring a basic understanding of music theory and the ability to read music. For this reason, ukulele tabs or chord-marked lyrics are often a more accessible option for beginners, especially younger students. But if you’re comfortable reading sheet music, it’s a great tool for developing your playing skills!

Here is the sheet music for Brother John:

Free Ukulele Printables for Brother John

Are you a ukulele teacher or do you just want to practice the song with the printed worksheet instead of on the screen? Then download the lyrics with cords, tabs and sheet music as a PDF.

Interested in instruments other than the ukulele? You can also find a free lesson on how to play Brother John on the guitar and piano.