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 — Classic Piano Sheet Music
20 people have learned this song
Read "First Of May" by Bee Gees in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of D. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 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”
- Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "First Of May"?
- Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature D. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
- 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 the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
- Yes — "First Of May" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature D, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
- What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
- Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
- Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
- Yes — slow the tempo from 80 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
- Why can I click a note in the score?
- Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
- Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
- Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.
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