The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

by Roberta Flack
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Looking to play this yourself? Try the standard piano arrangement of โ€œThe First Time Ever I Saw Your Faceโ€
Two-handed piano arrangement โ€” color-coded notes, lead sheet, sheet music. Learn it yourself.

Other arrangements of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Pick a learning view or switch to the backing-track version.

Also available as a standard piano arrangement
Lyrics

The first time

ev er I (C)saw

your face,

I thought

the sun

rose in your eyes

and the moon

and the stars

were the (C)gifts

you gave

to the dark

and the end less (C)skies.

(C)kissed

mouth,

felt

earth

move

my hand,

like trem

bling heart

of a (C)cap

tive bird

that there

at my com mand,

my love.

and last

till the end of time,

my love.

The first time

ev er I (C)saw

your face,

your face,

your face,

your (C)face.

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face โ€” Accompaniment Sheet Music (Classic Notation)

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Classic piano notation for "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack as an accompaniment / backing track. Both hands engraved at publisher quality in C โ€” sing or play melody on top while the score follows along at 60 BPM. Click any note to jump there.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (C) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range โ€” the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About โ€œThe First Time Ever I Saw Your Faceโ€

Is the engraved accompaniment score for "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" suitable for a pianist?
Yes โ€” both hands are notated in classic piano notation (treble + bass clefs, key C, real chord symbols), engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML. A staff pianist or accompanist can read this directly from the screen or printed PDF and play the backing while you sing the melody.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack in?
The backing track is in C at 60 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones โ€” the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" with this accompaniment?
Yes โ€” that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"?
Effectively yes โ€” it's the piano-only backing for "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work โ€” the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"?
Yes โ€” registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"?
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" was originally performed by Roberta Flack. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What is this accompaniment Sheet Music view?
Same engraver-grade rendering as the standard Sheet Music mode โ€” both hands, classic piano notation, key of C, real chord symbols โ€” but the audio is the karaoke / backing-track arrangement of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" with the lead melody removed. Perfect for singers, lead instruments, and ensemble practice.
Can I sing or play melody while the score follows along?
Yes. The backing track removes the melody so you can sing or play it on top while the chord changes and rhythm guide you. The engraved score scrolls in time with the audio so you never lose your place.
Is this the same notation a piano book would show?
Yes โ€” treble + bass clefs, key signature, time signature, beams, dynamics, and chord symbols above the staff, all rendered from the original publisher MusicXML. Identical reading experience to a printed piano accompaniment book.

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