Other arrangements of First Of May
Pick a learning view.
When (D)I was small and Christ mas (F#m)trees were tall,
we (G)used to love while (D)oth ers used to (A)play.
Don’t (D)ask me why, but time has (F#m)passed us by;
the (G)some one else moved (D)in from far a (A)way.
Now (G)we are tall and Christ mas (D)trees are small,
and (Em7)you don’t ask the time of (D)day.
But (G)you and I, our love will (D)nev er die,
but (Em7)guess who’ll cry come first of (D)May.
The (D)ap ple tree that grew for (F#m)you and me,
I (G)watched the ap ples (D)fall ing one by (A)one.
And (D)I re call the mo ment (F#m)of them all,
the (G)day I kissed your (D)cheek and you were (A)gone.
Now (G)we are tall and Christ mas (D)trees are small,
and (Em7)you don’t ask the time of (D)day.
But (G)you and I, our love will (D)nev er die,
but (Em7)guess who’ll cry come first of (D)May.
The (D)May.
First Of May — Visual Piano Sheet Music
21 people have learned this song
"First Of May" in visual bar notation — see every note as a colored bar on the staff. Easier to read than traditional sheet music. Scrolls automatically as you play. Key of D, 80 BPM.
This arrangement is a lovely way to develop your sense of lyrical, singing melody in the right hand while your left hand holds steady with an octave bass pattern — keep those octaves relaxed, wrist loose, no tension.
At 80 BPM in the key of D, the tempo is gentle enough to really focus on smooth chord transitions, but watch the move from D7 to G and especially into F#m — that F#m shape tends to trip up newer players, so isolate it: practice just the Em7–F#m–A progression in a loop until your fingers land without hesitation.
Start hands-separate, left hand first to lock in that octave rhythm, then layer the melody on top.
Use a touch of sustain pedal on the longer melodic phrases to keep things warm and connected, but lift cleanly on each chord change so nothing blurs.
This is the piece that'll make your octave bass feel like second nature — once it's automatic, everything else flows.
Try other practice modes:
About “First Of May”
- Why does "First Of May" show as colored bars instead of notation?
- Bar Notation replaces traditional noteheads with colored horizontal bars on a simplified staff — each bar's vertical position is the pitch and its length is the duration. Much easier to read than classic sheet music while still showing the full arrangement of "First Of May".
- What key is "First Of May" by Bee Gees played in?
- First Of May is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "First Of May"?
- The arrangement plays at 80 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "First Of May" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
- Can I download sheet music for "First Of May"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "First Of May"?
- "First Of May" was originally performed by Bee Gees. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "First Of May"?
- This arrangement uses 6 chords: A, D, D7, Em7, F#m, G.
- What other songs by Bee Gees can I play here?
- Try "EMOTION", "SECRET LOVE", "YOU WIN AGAIN". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is this real sheet music for "First Of May"?
- It's a simplified visual notation using colored bars instead of traditional notes. Each bar's vertical position shows the pitch and its length shows duration — much easier to read for beginners while still showing the complete arrangement of "First Of May".
- Can I see all the notes in "First Of May"?
- Yes! The Bar Sheet shows every note in the arrangement as a colored bar. The sheet scrolls automatically during playback, or you can scroll manually to study any section. The song is in the key of D at 80 BPM.
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