In short
"London Bridge Is Falling Down" is a playful nursery favorite that sits perfectly on a steel tongue drum. 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. The first and third lines are identical, so it feels familiar almost right away.
The numbers: London Bridge Is Falling Down
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 |
|---|---|
| London bridge is falling down | 5 6 5 4 3 4 5 |
| Falling down, falling down | 2 3 4 3 4 5 |
| London bridge is falling down | 5 6 5 4 3 4 5 |
| My fair lady | 2 5 3 1 |
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 song 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:
- Go slowly at first. Find each number, then play it. Speed comes on its own once your hand knows the path.
- Lines one and three are exactly the same, so you really only have three lines to learn.
- Numbers 1 to 8 run from the lowest note to the highest, so higher numbers are always further along the same direction.
- Sing the words as you play, and let the tune you know guide your hand.
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 song 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. Fun next songs to try are "Jingle Bells" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".
FAQ
Is "London Bridge" easy to play on a tongue drum?
Yes. It is short and repetitive, with the opening line coming back again, which makes it a friendly early song for kids and beginners following numbers.
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.
