Frère Jacques Notes
Frère Jacques (“Are You Sleeping?”) is four short patterns, each played twice: C D E C, E F G, G A G F E C and C G C. It uses six notes, from middle C up to A.
The notes with the words
| French | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Frère Jacques, frère Jacques | Are you sleeping, are you sleeping | C D E C, C D E C |
| Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? | Brother John, Brother John | E F G, E F G |
| Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines | Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing | G A G F E C, G A G F E C |
| Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong. | Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong. | C G C, C G C |
Every line is a short pattern sung twice, so there are really only four patterns to read. That’s also what makes it work as a round: each pattern fits on top of the others.
On the staff
In 4/4 time, with four beats in every measure. The letter under each note is its name.
The game draws the “ding, dang, dong” G above middle C, as written here. You’ll often see it written an octave lower, below the staff, which sounds more like a deep church bell.
The six notes
- Middle C starts the song, and three of the four patterns begin or end on it. It’s on its own ledger line below the staff.
- G, on the second line where the treble clef curls, is the top of line 2 and the “dang” of the bells.
- A is the highest note, in the space just above G, at the top of the “matines” line.
Tips for reading it
- Read each pattern once. Every line repeats, so the second time through you already know what’s coming.
- Each line starts where the last one peaked. Line 1 climbs to E, and line 2 starts on E. Line 2 climbs to G, and line 3 starts on G.
- Count the eighth notes. “Son-nez les ma-” is four eighth notes in two beats: count “1 & 2 &”, then “3” and “4” for the two quarter notes.
About the song
“Frère Jacques” is a French round from the 1700s. The words ask Brother Jacques, a sleepy monk, whether he’s still asleep and tell him to ring the bells for the early morning service, matines. The English version, “Are You Sleeping?”, calls him Brother John. The composer Gustav Mahler borrowed the tune, in a slow minor key, for his First Symphony.
Play it
Press Play Frère Jacques at the top of this page to read it in Trebly’s Songs mode. Name each note as it arrives to hear the tune come together. Then sing it as a round with a friend: the second singer starts when the first reaches line 2.