“The Wheels on the Bus” is a beloved nursery rhyme, sung by children across the globe. Originating from the United Kingdom, this song has become a staple in playgroups, classrooms, and homes, particularly in English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. Its simple, repetitive verses and engaging actions make it perfect for young children. But did you know it’s also a fantastic first song to learn on the guitar?
In this easy guitar lesson, we’ll explore the history of this classic children’s song and, most importantly, teach you how to play “Wheels on the Bus” guitar chords. We’ll start with incredibly simple versions using just one guitar string, perfect for absolute beginners. Then, we’ll progress to playing with basic guitar chords, opening up a fuller, richer sound. We’ll also provide free, printable resources to help you practice and share the joy of music!
The Journey of “Wheels on the Bus”: History and Origins
While the exact origins of “Wheels on the Bus” are not definitively known, it’s widely believed to be rooted in the traditional British tune “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.” Although pinpointing the songwriter and precise date of creation remains somewhat of a mystery, Verna Hills is often credited as the author, with the song first appearing in print in 1939.
The song’s purpose is charmingly straightforward: to entertain children during bus rides. This makes it a relatively modern nursery rhyme compared to older classics like “Brother John,” “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” or “Baa Baa Black Sheep.” Its relatable theme and catchy melody have ensured its enduring popularity across generations.
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Guitar Tabs for “Wheels on the Bus”: Beginner-Friendly Versions
Just like any song, “Wheels on the Bus” can be adapted for various skill levels, from the simplest beginner arrangements to more complex fingerstyle versions. Our focus here is on making it accessible for everyone, especially those just starting their guitar journey. We’ll begin with fingerpicking arrangements, starting with the easiest possible approach: playing the melody on just one guitar string. Don’t worry, we’ll gradually introduce versions using more strings and finally chords for strumming. Guitar teachers will find these progressive versions ideal for guiding students from the very basics to more confident playing.
Level 1: Mastering the Melody on a Single Guitar String
Young hands playing guitar on a single string
Believe it or not, many melodies, including “Wheels on the Bus,” can be played using only one string on the guitar! While it’s a simplified sound, the melody is instantly recognizable. For young beginners, achieving this recognizable tune quickly provides a fantastic sense of accomplishment and encourages them to continue learning.
This initial fingerpicking version focuses entirely on a single guitar string. This allows beginners to concentrate on right-hand picking technique and simple left-hand finger movements along that one string. It’s a great way to introduce the concept of different notes on the guitar string.
To play, simply press down on a string with your index or middle finger (left hand if you are right-handed). Then, pluck the string with the thumb of your right hand.
Here are the guitar tabs for “Wheels on the Bus” using one string:
(Tabs would be inserted here – Example: E|–0-0-0–2-2-2–4-4-4–5-5-5–)
Listen to a recording of how this one-string version should sound. Play along, and if it feels too fast, slow down the tempo until you’re comfortable.
You can experiment with playing this pattern on any guitar string. Try the 6th string (the thickest, lowest E string) for a deeper, lower-pitched version of the song.
Level 2: Expanding to Multiple Guitar Strings
The next step up is playing the melody across several strings. This is a more conventional way to play melodies on the guitar. We’ll keep it beginner-friendly by using only the first three strings (thinnest strings). This might present a slight challenge compared to the one-string version, but it opens up more musical possibilities and still minimizes left-hand movement along the guitar neck.
Here are the guitar tabs for “Wheels on the Bus” using the first three strings:
(Tabs would be inserted here – Example: e|–0-0-0–2-2-2–4-4-4– B|——–3-3-3–5-5-5– G|———————-)
Again, listen to a recording to guide your playing and ensure you’re on the right track.
“Wheels on the Bus” Guitar Chords: Strumming Along
Fingerpicking melodies is excellent for developing technique and learning the tune, but playing with chords and strumming brings a different dimension to the song. There are various ways to play “The Wheels on the Bus” with chords, but we’ll start with a super accessible version using basic guitar chords in the key of C. The key of C is also generally easy for singing.
For this easy chord version of “Wheels on the Bus,” you only need to know two chords: C Major and G Major.
Diagram of a C Major guitar chord
If you’re already familiar with these two fundamental guitar chords and can switch between them fairly smoothly, you’re ready to play! If not, take a little time to practice each chord individually. Then, practice switching between C and G, using slow and simple down strums.
When learning a new song with chords, always start slowly. For each chord change in the song, begin by just doing a single down strum. This gives you time to focus on cleanly changing between chords without the added complexity of a strumming pattern. Singing along is also much easier when you start with simple down strums on each chord. Once you’re comfortable with the chords and changes, you can introduce a strumming pattern to add rhythm and groove.
Here are the lyrics and “Wheels on the Bus” guitar chords:
(Verse 1)
**C** **G**
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
**G** **C**
Round and round, round and round.
**C** **G**
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
**G** **C**
All through the town.
(Verse 2)
**C** **G**
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,
**G** **C**
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish.
**C** **G**
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,
**G** **C**
All through the town.
(Verse 3)
**C** **G**
The driver on the bus says "Move on back,"
**G** **C**
"Move on back," "Move on back."
**C** **G**
The driver on the bus says "Move on back,"
**G** **C**
All through the town.
(Verse 4)
**C** **G**
The people on the bus go up and down,
**G** **C**
Up and down, up and down.
**C** **G**
The people on the bus go up and down,
**G** **C**
All through the town.
(Verse 5)
**C** **G**
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep,
**G** **C**
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.
**C** **G**
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep,
**G** **C**
All through the town.
(Verse 6)
**C** **G**
The baby on the bus goes "wah, wah, wah,"
**G** **C**
"Wah, wah, wah," "wah, wah, wah."
**C** **G**
The baby on the bus goes "wah, wah, wah,"
**G** **C**
All through the town.
(Verse 7)
**C** **G**
The parents on the bus go "shush, shush, shush,"
**G** **C**
"Shush, shush, shush," "shush, shush, shush."
**C** **G**
The parents on the bus go "shush, shush, shush,"
**G** **C**
All through the town.“Wheels on the Bus” Sheet Music and Guitar Tabs
Sheet music is the complete language of music, containing all the information about melody, rhythm, and harmony. However, for beginners, especially young children, sheet music can seem daunting. It requires some music theory knowledge to read effectively, and it can initially appear more complex than inviting. This is why guitar tabs (tablature) and lyrics with chords are often preferred for kids and beginners. That said, learning to read sheet music is a valuable skill for any musician in the long run.
Here is the sheet music for “Wheels on the Bus” on guitar:
Sheet music for The Wheels on the Bus – Guitar Version
Free Printables for “Wheels on the Bus” Guitar
To make learning even easier, we’ve created free printable resources for “The Wheels on the Bus.” You can download lyrics with chords, guitar tabs, and sheet music. Feel free to print these out for your practice sessions or guitar lessons!
DOWNLOAD CHORDS DOWNLOAD TABS DOWNLOAD SHEET MUSIC
Curious about playing “Wheels on the Bus” on other instruments? You can also find free lessons for playing “Wheels on the Bus” on the ukulele and piano.
Cheerful image promoting Wheels on the Bus Guitar Lesson
Explore More Fun Nursery Rhymes on Guitar
Want to keep the musical fun going? Check out these other popular nursery rhymes that are also great for learning guitar:
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Alphabet Song
Humpty Dumpty
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
Discover All Nursery Rhymes on Guitar
Alphabet Song
Amazing Grace
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
Five Little Ducks
Frère Jacques
Happy Birthday
Humpty Dumpty
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Ode To Joy
Old MacDonald
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Yankee Doodle
This rewritten article provides a comprehensive guide to learning “Wheels on the Bus” on guitar, catering to beginners with multiple learning approaches and valuable resources. It is optimized for the keyword “Wheels On The Bus Guitar Chords” and related terms, aiming to be helpful and engaging for users searching for easy guitar songs for kids.
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