I’ve put together a simple arrangement in the key of G. This arrangement keeps a steady rhythm on the bass, with a low G sounding on beats one and three.

Though this arrangement is relatively simple to play, there is one spot to watch out for. For the first two measures I play the bass note with my third finger. On beat one of measure three, I again play the bass note with my third finger. On beat three, the melody moves to third position, and when making that position change I quickly switch my fingering for the bass note and use my thumb instead. I also play the bass notes in measure five and six with my thumb. I try to let the four eighth notes at the start measures five and six ring together (which is why I chose the fingering across the top three strings).

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Once again, I hope you’ve enjoyed playing this tune as much as I have.

Frère Jacques was written by Doug Sparling for Guitar Noise. A good guitar player you will be if you visit the above site. © 2012 Guitar Noise

Nearly every lullaby CD I’ve seen includes Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (though it’s commonly classified as a nursery rhyme), and that’s where I’ll begin. This is one I’ve played many times at bedtime, and it never seems to grow old.

My arrangement is very simple and is played entirely in the first position. For the most part, this tune uses half notes in the bass and quarter notes for the melody. I add harmony notes along with the bass, but you can ignore them if you’d like, making the arrangement even easier to play. One quick performance note: I often play the open G string instead of the C on the first fret of the B string as my harmony note on the C chord (measure two).

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London Bridge is a well-known nursery rhyme, and I’ve arranged this one in the key of G as well. I like to let notes ring together, and that’s why I start this tune at the third fret. I use my left hand thumb to play the G on the third fret of the low E string in measures one and two. In measure four, I play the G in the bass with my third finger on beat one, and with my thumb on beat three.

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I hope you (and especially any children you may play them for) enjoy these simple tunes.

Children’s Music: Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes was written by Peter Simms for Guitar Noise. A good guitar player you will be if you visit the above site. © 2012 Guitar Noise