I Built A Friend

by Alec Benjamin

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Lyrics

I built a friend

with (A)three piec es of plas tic and a (F#m)pen.

I made him on the ta ble (F#m)in the den.

I gave him my old cell phone for a head,

for a head.

And we spent

this (A)girl i at grad at my house, and we get

pres ents in his stock ing, (F#m)and we bought

I’ll bolts and things, and strings, and a new watch.

That’s what he got.

And (D)we had so much fun to geth er.

(A)We knew we’d be friends for ev er.

And we had so much fun to geth er.

(A)We had so much fun.

I Then I left

for (A)col lege in Sep tem ber, and we (F#m)note

’cause we can’t be to geth er; (F#m)so I kept

that pic tures to re mem ber my old friend,

my old friend.

Then I met

an (A)girl ty at grad u a tion and for spilled

my old est cre a tion, (F#m)and I guess

It see him next va ca tion: “Send my best,

I send my best.”

And (D)we had so much fun to geth er.

(A)We knew we’d be friends for ev er.

And we had so much fun to geth er.

(A)We had so much fun.

I I came home

I Built A Friend by Alec Benjamin — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “I Built A Friend” by Alec Benjamin in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of A at 100 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "I Built A Friend" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "I Built A Friend"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "I Built A Friend" use?
Just 4 chords: A, D, E, F#m. Few enough that a child can recognize them quickly.
What other Alec Benjamin songs work for kids?
Try "LET ME DOWN SLOWLY". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.