Easy Piano Lessons: How to Play the Song Smoothly Row on the Piano

Lightly Row is a popular song that uses a range of just 5 notes. This makes it very easy to play the piano because you can easily play it with one hand.

Here are the lyrics of the song:

Row lightly, row lightly,

On the crystalline waves we go!

Smooth glide, smooth glide,

In the silent tide

Let the winds and the waters be

Ming-led with our me-lo-dy.

Sing and float, sing and float

In our little boat!

Hyphens are used to separate words of 2 or more syllables. This makes it easier to match the lyrics to the melody.

This song can only be played with the right or left hand. The range of notes is between middle C and upper G. Try this piece first on the right hand. Then play it 8 notes (one octave) lower in the left hand. If you’re feeling brave, play both hands together an octave apart. This is called playing in unison.

Here are Lightly Row’s notes:

EGE, FDD,

CDEFGGG,

EGE, FDD,

CEGG E.

DDDDDEF

EEEEEF G.

EGE, FDD

CEGG E.

There are 8 lines in the song. What lines are identical? Notice on the first line that the first 3 notes are GE E. This pattern is then repeated one note below. You then play FD D. This is called a descending pattern. It is a very useful way to learn and remember piano music.