In short
"Hush, Little Baby" is a soft, soothing lullaby that sounds beautiful on a steel tongue drum, especially at bedtime. Because our drums are laid out in simple number order from low to high (1 to 8), you just follow the numbers below, with no music reading needed. Its calm, gentle notes make it a lovely song to wind down the day.
The numbers: Hush, Little Baby
Play from left to right, one number at a time. Each row is one line of the song, so take a small breath at the end of each row before moving on.
| Sing this line | Play these numbers |
|---|---|
| Hush little baby | 2 7 7 7 8 |
| Don't say a word | 7 6 6 |
| Mama's gonna buy you | 2 6 6 6 |
| A mocking bird | 7 6 5 5 |
These numbers match our numbered steel tongue drums exactly, straight from our official songbook. If you have a different brand with a scattered note layout, the numbers may not line up the same way.
Watch the tutorial
Follow along with the short video below. Play it once to hear how the lullaby should sound, then try it slowly with the numbers above.
How to play it
A few gentle tips that make the first try feel easy:
- Play softly and slowly. This is a lullaby, so a calm, unhurried pace sounds best.
- The song uses the higher notes (5, 6, 7, 8), which sit close together, so your hand barely has to move.
- Numbers 1 to 8 run from the lowest note to the highest, so higher numbers are always further along the same direction.
- It makes a lovely part of a bedtime routine, played a little quieter each time through.
What you need
Any standard 8-note C major steel tongue drum will work. On our steel tongue drums for kids the notes are numbered and color coded, so a child can follow this lullaby without knowing a single musical note.
More easy songs
This tutorial is part of our free Easy Tongue Drum Songs collection, where every song is written out by numbers the same simple way. Gentle next songs to try are "You Are My Sunshine" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".
FAQ
Is "Hush, Little Baby" easy to play on a tongue drum?
Yes. It is short and slow, and the notes sit close together near the top of the drum, which makes it a calm, easy lullaby for kids and beginners.
Do I need to read music to play it?
No. You only follow the numbers on the drum from left to right. No notes, no sheet music, and no prior experience are needed.
What drum do I need for this song?
Any standard 8-note C major steel tongue drum works. Our numbered drums make it especially easy because each note already shows its number and color.
