The Ugly Duckling

by Frank Loesser

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The Ugly Duckling

Easy
Frank Loesser135 BPM

Lyrics

There (Gm)once was an (C7)ug ly (F)duck ling (F#dim)with (C7)feath ers all stub by and (F)brown.

And the (Gm)oth er (C7)birds in (F)so man y (F7)words said (Gm7)“Quack!

get (A7)out of (Dm)town.

Get out,

get out,

get (C7)out of (F)town."

And he (Bb)went with a (F)quack and a (Gm7)wad dle and a (F)quack, in a (C7)flur ry of ei der (F)down.

That (Gm)poor lit tle (C7)ug ly (F)duck ling (F#dim)went (C7)wan der ing far by and (F)near.

But at (Gm)ev ’ry (C7)place they (F)said to his (F7)face “Now, (Gm7)quack!

get (A7)out of (Dm)here.

Get out,

get out,

get (C7)out of (F)here."

And he (Bb)went with a (F)quack and a (Gm7)wad dle and a (F)quack, and a (C7)ver y un hap py (F)tear.

That

(Bb)All through the Win ter time he (Bb)hid him self a way, a (Bb)shamed to show his face, a (G)fraid of what oth ers might say.

(Bb)All through the win ter in his (C)lone ly clump of weed, till the flock of swans spied him there and (C7)ver y soon a greed “You’re a (Bb)ver y fine swan in (C)deed.”

(F#dim7)I’m (Gm)not such an (C7)ug ly (F)duck ling, (F#dim)no (C7)feath ers all stub by and (F)brown.

For in (Gm)fact these (C7)birds in (F)so man y (F7)words said

“The (A7)best in (Dm)town.”

The best,

the best,

the (C7)best in (F)town.

Not a (Bb)quack, not a (F)quack, not a (Gm7)wad dle or a (F)quack, but a (F)glide and a whis tle and a (C)snow y white back and a (C7)head so no ble and (F#dim7)high.

Say (Gm)who’s an (C7)ug ly (F)duck ling?

(C)Not (Bb)I!

The Ugly Duckling by Frank Loesser — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “The Ugly Duckling” by Frank Loesser 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 136 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

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 Ugly Duckling" 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 Ugly Duckling"?
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.