“Hot Cross Buns” on piano uses only three notes, making it one of the easiest songs to learn. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to play it step by step, from the first note to a full performance. Let’s have fun and start playing!
Cheat sheet
| Artist | Traditional |
| Composer | Traditional / Unknown |
| Release year | Late 18th to early 19th century (est.) |
| Genre | Nursery rhyme / Folk |
| Difficulty level | Beginner |
| Instrument | Piano / voice |
| Key | C major |
| Meter | 4/4 |
| Techniques | Right hand melody with stepwise motion, left hand with repeated single-note or simple chordal accompaniment |
“Hot Cross Buns” piano notes and fingering
You only need three notes to play the entire “Hot Cross Buns” song on piano. These are three white keys that sit next to each other near the middle of your keyboard.
- E (3rd finger)
- D (2nd finger)
- C (1st finger)
Place your right hand so your thumb is on C, index finger on D, and middle finger on E. This hand position stays the same for the whole song.
Want to make “Hot Cross Buns” sound even better? All it takes is one simple chord in your left hand.
- C major chord – C, E, G
Place your left-hand pinky on C, middle finger on E, and thumb on G. Now press all three notes down at the same time, that’s your C major chord!
To make learning as easy and fun as possible, We’ve made this beginner-friendly “Hot Cross Buns” piano sheet music to help you get started with ease. Have a look, try it out, and enjoy making music from the very first note!
Interesting fact
Did you know the “Hot Cross Buns” song actually began as an English street vendor’s advertising jingle. In the eighteenth century, vendors in London would shout “Hot cross buns!” in the streets to attract customers to buy their freshly baked sweet buns, especially on Good Friday. Over time, this catchy call turned into the nursery rhyme we know today. It’s not just a fun kids’ song, it’s a little piece of history traveling through music!
Learning “Hot Cross Buns” is just the beginning! If you enjoyed this, you’ll love exploring more easy songs and lessons made just for kids. Head over to Skoove’s kids lessons to discover fun tutorials, step-by-step guidance, and songs your child will actually want to play.
Author of this blog post:
Susana Pérez Posada
With over seven years of piano education and a deep passion for music therapy, Susana brings a unique blend of expertise to Skoove. A graduate in Music Therapy from SRH Hochschule Heidelberg and an experienced classical pianist from Universidad EAFIT, she infuses her teaching with a holistic approach that transcends traditional piano lessons. Susana’s writings for Skoove combine her rich musical knowledge with engaging storytelling, enriching the learning experience for pianists of all levels. Away from the piano, she loves exploring new places and immersing herself in a good book, believing these diverse experiences enhance her creative teaching style.
