Mary Had a Little Lamb – Tin Whistle & Chords (PDF) – A major – Traditional American Song

Mary Had a Little Lamb
Key: A major
Arrangement: Tin Whistle & Chords (lead sheet) (also works for other melody instruments)
Composer credit: Traditional / Anonymous
Period: Traditional (19th century; published 1830)
Region / Culture: American
Type: Song (Nursery rhyme)
Format: Digital download (PDF) — 2 files (2.7MB)

About this tune

“Mary Had a Little Lamb” is one of the best-known American nursery rhymes, first published in 1830 (commonly credited to Sarah Josepha Hale).
Because the melody is simple, stepwise, and easy to memorize, it became a classic first song for beginners—perfect for developing steady tone, clean finger changes, and basic phrasing without technical overload.

This edition is set in A major and presented as Tin Whistle + chord symbols, so you can play it:

completely solo (melody only),
with easy accompaniment on guitar/keyboard,
or as a quick teaching piece for duet/ensemble practice (one person plays melody, another follows the chords).

Why “Tin Whistle & Chords” works so well

Fast accompaniment: chord symbols let any accompanist join immediately.
Clear phrasing: harmony cues help beginners feel where the music “rests” and where it “moves.”
Flexible use: keep the chords and swap the melody to recorder/flute/violin if needed.

Performance tips

Keep articulation light and friendly—avoid heavy tonguing. Aim for an even tone and consistent rhythm. If you repeat, try simple contrasts: softer first time, fuller second time, or change the accompaniment texture (single chords vs. broken chords).

What you receive

2 PDF files (2.7MB) as listed on the product page.