The Little Drummer Boy

· by Harry Simeone

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Lyrics

Come,

they told me, pa rum pum pum pum,

a new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum.

Our fin est gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum,

to lay be (F)fore the King, pa (F7)rum pum pum (Bb)pum, rum pum pum (F)pum, rum pum pum (C)pum,

(F)so

to hon or Him, pa rum pum pum pum,

(C)when we (F)come.

Lit

tle Ba by, pa rum pum pum pum,

I am a poor boy, too, pa rum pum pum pum.

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum,

that’s fit to (F)give our King, pa (F7)rum pum pum (Bb)pum, rum pum pum (F)pum, rum pum pum (C)pum.

(F)Shall

I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

(C)on my (F)drum?

Mar

y nod ded, pa rum pum pum pum.

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum.

I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum.

I played my (F)best for Him, pa (F7)rum pum pum (Bb)pum, rum pum pum (F)pum, rum pum pum (C)pum.

(F)Then

He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum,

(C)me and my (F)drum.

The Little Drummer Boy by Harry Simeone — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “The Little Drummer Boy” by Harry Simeone 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 Bb at 120 BPM, a slightly more challenging arrangement — practice each phrase slowly first.

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 "The Little Drummer Boy" 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 "The Little Drummer Boy"?: 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.