Did you know?
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. 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 travelling through music.
If you want your first real song on piano, “Hot Cross Buns” is a perfect place to start. In this Skoove tutorial, we’ll walk you through the “Hot Cross Buns” piano notes exactly as shown in our app, complete with helpful finger numbers. You’ll start with the easy three-note pattern and practice it step by step with clear finger positions. We’ll keep it fun and simple, so you go from reading to playing in minutes.
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
Learning “Hot Cross Buns” on piano couldn’t be easier, it only uses three notes. In the sheet below, you’ll see the notes written with finger numbers right above them. This means you know which key to play and which finger to use at the same time.
The three piano notes you need are:
- E – played with your middle finger (finger 3)
- D – played with your index finger (finger 2)
- C – played with your thumb (finger 1)
By keeping your thumb on C, your hand naturally falls into place over D and E. This “3-2-1” fingering makes the melody smooth and easy for beginners.
You can play the entire “Hot Cross Buns” piano song with just your right hand. Here’s how the main line looks:
E(3)-D(2)-C(1) | E(3)-D(2)-C(1)
You’ll notice the melody is repetitive. That’s why the “Hot Cross Buns” piano music is so beginner-friendly, you only need to master a couple of small patterns, then repeat them.
How to play “Hot Cross Buns” on piano?
Now that you know the notes, let’s put everything together. With just three keys under your right hand, you can already play the full melody.
The “Hot Cross Buns” piano tutorial below shows you the finger positions in real time and lets you hear exactly how it should sound. Follow along slowly with your right hand and repeat each phrase until it feels smooth and steady.
Lesson plan
Step 1: listen to the song
Listen to the song “Hot Cross Buns” a couple of times to get a sense of its overall structure and nuances.
Step 2: try the tune in the right hand
Try playing the melody in the right hand only initially and get accustomed to it.
Step 3: learn the left hand accompaniment
Now take a look at the accompaniment in the left hand and get more familiar with that part.
Step 4: play both hands together
Once you’ve learned the song for both hands separately, you can try playing hands together. It’s helpful to start slowly and then increase tempo as you get more accustomed to playing both parts simultaneously. You can use the metronome in the Skoove app to help with this.
Practice tips for “Hot Cross Buns”
Learning “Hot Cross Buns” on piano is all about building good habits from the start. Here are a few ways to practice so the song feels natural and fun:
- Use the lyrics for rhythm – Sing “Hot cross buns” out loud while playing E-D-C. The words naturally fit the rhythm and help you stay in time.
- Start slow, then speed up – Begin at a very slow pace where every note feels comfortable. Once you can play it cleanly, gradually play a little faster.
- Add variety – After you’ve mastered the melody, try clapping the rhythm before playing, or experiment with playing softly, then loudly. Dynamics make even simple songs sound exciting.
- Add the left hand – If you want more of a challenge, Skoove has a variety of difficulties and songs like “Hot Cross Buns” have various levels so you can progress as you master each stage of piano playing.
Keep playing and learning
You’ve just learned to play “Hot Cross Buns” on piano, and this simple song is proof that you don’t need years of training to make music. With a few minutes of practice, you can already play a full melody and start building real confidence at the keys.
This is only the beginning. At Skoove, we guide you step by step through piano songs just like this, helping you improve finger coordination, rhythm and hand independence while having fun. Inside the app, you’ll find interactive tutorials, instant feedback and a growing library of songs to keep you motivated. Start practicing today!
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.
Published by the Skoove team
