Can I practice left and right hand separately for "When I Was A Boy"?

Yes! Our Top Down mode lets you isolate the left hand (bass clef), right hand (treble clef), or play both together. This makes it easy to master "When I Was A Boy" one hand at a time before combining them.

What is falling notes style for "When I Was A Boy"?

Falling notes (also known as Synthesia or piano waterfall) shows color-coded rectangles falling from the top of the screen onto a virtual keyboard. Each note's position matches the piano key you need to press. "When I Was A Boy" is in the key of G at 100 BPM.

When I Was A Boy — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial

Watch "When I Was A Boy" by Dar Williams in falling notes style — like Synthesia. Color-coded notes fall onto the keyboard in real time. Practice left hand, right hand, or both. Key of G, 100 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

Lyrics

I won’t for get when you Pe ter (G)Pan came to my house, took my (C69)hand. I said I was a boy. when I’m (G)glad he did n’t check. And I learned to fly; I learned to fight. I lived a whole life in one (C69)night. We saved each oth er’s lives out on the pi rate deck. And And I re mem ber that night (Bm7)when leav in’ a late night with some (D)friends and I hear some bod y tell me it’s not safe; some one should (Dsus4)help me. I need to find (Dsus4)“Oh me a nice man to walk me (Gsus2)home. When I was a boy, I scared the pants off of my (C69)mom, climbed what I could climb up on. that I walked. And I don’t know how I sur vived. I guess I knew the tricks lone that all (C69)im plants boys to put in; knew. they got im plants to re move. And you can walk me home, ting but I was a boy, too. I was a kid that you would would (G)like, just a small boy on her (C69)bike, rid when ing top less. Yeah, when I (G)nev er cared who saw. And My neigh bor came out side to say, The “Get your shirt.” I said, “No (C69)way. It’s catch the last time; I’m not break ing an y law.” And, and now I’m in this cloth ing (Bm7)store, a and the signs say less is (D)more. More that’s tight means more to see, me more for them, not more for (Dsus4)me. me. And That can’t help (Dsus4)“Oh me climb a tree ten sec onds (Gsus2)flat. When I was a boy, my see that pic ture? That was (C69)me, grass stained shirt and dust y knees. that I walked. And I know things have got ta change. Now They got pills to sell; lone they’ve got (C69)im plants dom to put in; do. they got im plants to re move. But I am not for get ness, that I was a boy, too. girl, too. And you were just like me. And (Dsus4)I was just like you.

Try other practice modes:

Beginner Lead Sheet Bar Sheet Simple Sheet

Song Details

Category: Folk
Key: G
Tempo: 100 BPM
Difficulty: medium
Artist: Dar Williams

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How to Play "When I Was A Boy" on Piano

1
Pick a practice mode — Choose from Fall Down, Beginner, Lead Sheet, Bar Sheet, or Simple Sheet — each mode visualizes the music differently to match your learning style.
2
Practice each hand separately — Use the Left, Right, and Both buttons to isolate the bass or treble part and build muscle memory one hand at a time.
3
Adjust speed and turn on metronome — Slow down to 50% while learning, then gradually speed up. Enable the metronome to keep steady timing.
4
Loop a section — Select a tricky part and loop it until you nail it. Perfect for mastering difficult passages.
5
Download sheet music — Export a PDF of the sheet music to print out and practice on your real piano anytime, anywhere.