The Ugly Duckling

by Frank Loesser
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Lyrics

There (Am)once was an (D)ug ly (G)duck ling with (Am)fea thers all (D)stub by and (G)brown,

(G)and the (Am)oth er (D7)birds in (G)so ma ny (E)words, said (Am)(quack!) Get (B)out of (Em)town.

(C)(quack!) Get out of, (G)(quack!) get out of, (Am)(quack!) get (Dsus)out (D7)of (G)town.

And he

(C)went with a (G)quack and a (Am)wad dle (D7)and a (G)quack, in a (Am7)flur ry of (Dsus)ei (D7)der (G)down.

(D)All through the (C)win ter time he (D)hid him self a (C)way,

a (D)shamed to show his (C)face,

a (D)fraid of what (A7)oth ers might (Aaug)say.

(D)All (C)through the (D)win ter (C)in his (D)lone ly (C)clump of (D)weed,

’til a (D)flock of swans spied him there, and (D7)ve ry soon a greed,

“You’re a ve ry fine (Am7)swan in (D7)deed!”

There

The Ugly Duckling by Frank Loesser

Easy piano arrangement in the key of G at 135 BPM. Difficulty: easy. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

About “The Ugly Duckling

What key is "The Ugly Duckling" in?
"The Ugly Duckling" by Frank Loesser is in the key of G with a tempo of 135 BPM. Difficulty: easy.
Is "The Ugly Duckling" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this arrangement is rated easy, meaning it uses simple chord patterns and a manageable tempo. Most beginners can play through it in 1-3 practice sessions using our color-coded notes.
Can I play "The Ugly Duckling" without reading sheet music?
Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
How long does it take to learn "The Ugly Duckling" on piano?
1–3 short practice sessions for the basics; 2–3 weeks to perform confidently with both hands.
What other songs by Frank Loesser can I play here?
Try "ON A SLOW BOAT TO CHINA", "I'VE NEVER BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE", "Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat (from 'Guys and Dolls')". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

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