“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is a classic nursery rhyme and a perfect first song to learn on the guitar. Its simple melody, based on the traditional French tune “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman”, makes it incredibly accessible for beginners of all ages. Whether you’re just starting your guitar journey or looking for a fun and recognizable tune to play, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is an excellent choice.
This article provides you with free guitar tabs, sheet music, chords, and helpful tips to master this beloved song quickly. Downloadable PDF files are available for easy access and practice.
Download Free Guitar Tabs and Sheet Music for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Get started immediately with these free resources! We offer “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in various formats to suit your learning style and instrument needs.
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Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – Full Guitar Accompaniment: This PDF includes a complete arrangement for guitar, perfect for a richer, fuller sound.
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Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – Ukulele Tabs: If you’re a ukulele player or want to try this song on a different instrument, here are the tabs in C tuning.
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Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – Flute Notes: For flute players, we also provide the sheet music in the key of C.
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Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – Melody (Standard and Tablature Notation): This version focuses on the melody line, presented in both standard music notation and guitar tablature, ideal for learning the core tune on guitar.
Tips for Learning “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on Guitar
Learning “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on guitar is easier than you might think! Here are some helpful tips to guide you:
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Simple Notes: The song primarily uses natural notes, meaning no sharps or flats. This simplifies finger placement and makes it less confusing for beginners.
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Guitar-Friendly Key: Playing in the key of G Major is particularly well-suited for guitar. It allows you to utilize open strings extensively, making it sound full and resonant even with basic fingerings. The melody mainly uses the higher strings (thinnest strings – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd), which are often easier to manage for new players.
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ABBA Structure for Easy Memorization: The song follows an ABBA structure, which means sections repeat. Bars 1-4 are musically identical to bars 9-12, and bars 5-6 are the same as bars 7-8. This repetition simplifies the learning process, as you only need to learn two distinct musical phrases and repeat them. Focus on mastering the first two sections (A and B) and you’re already most of the way there!
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Guitar Chords and Lyrics
Sing along as you play! Here are the lyrics and chords for “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in two common keys: G and C Major.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (Short Version) in G Major
(G)Twinkle, twinkle, (C)little (G)star,
(C)How I (G)wonder (D)what you (G)are!
Up (C)above the (G)world so (D)high,
(G)Like a (C)diamond (G)in the (D)sky.
(G)Twinkle, twinkle, (C)little (G)star,
(C)How I (G)wonder (D)what you (G)are!
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (Short Version) in C Major
(C)Twinkle, twinkle, (F)little (C)star,
(F)How I (C)wonder (G)what you (C)are!
Up (F)above the (C)world so (G)high,
(C)Like a (F)diamond (C)in the (G)sky.
(C)Twinkle, twinkle, (F)little (G)star,
(F)How I (C)wonder (G)what you (C)are!
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Chords (G Major – Verse 1)
(G)Twinkle, twinkle, (C)little (G)star,
(D)How I (G)wonder (D)what you (G)are!
Up (C)above the (G)world so (D)high,
(G)Like a (C)diamond (G)in the (D)sky.
Full Lyrics – All Verses
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the trav’ller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often thro’ my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
‘Tis your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the trav’ller in the dark,
Tho’ I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
Download a PDF with these chord charts and more traditional songs, available in our 60 Traditional Songs e-book.
Experiment with Keys and Capo
Want to change the key? A capo is your friend! Here are some suggestions based on the G Major chord version:
- Capo on 2nd fret: Play in A Major
- Capo on 4th fret: Play in B Major
- Capo on 5th fret: Play in C Major
And using the chords in C Major version:
- Capo on 2nd fret: Play in D Major
- Capo on 4th fret: Play in E Major
- Capo on 5th fret: Play in F Major
Musical Information: Key, Time Signature, Tuning, and Tempo
Understanding the musical elements helps you play with accuracy and feel.
Key
The version presented here is primarily in the key of G Major, a common and comfortable key for guitar.
Time Signature
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is in 4/4 time signature. This means there are four beats per measure, and you count “1, 2, 3, 4” repeatedly as you play.
Tuning
Standard guitar tuning (EADGBE) is used for this song, making it accessible to all guitarists.
Tempo (BPM)
A tempo of 100 beats per minute (BPM) is suggested, marked as Moderately. This is a comfortable pace for learning and singing along.
