Keyboard for Adult Beginners. Traditional Native American Songs

The most difficult thing about playing Native American songs is their irregular rhythms. It might change several times during a song because rhythm is generally more important than melody. Songs for American tribes are traditionally a method of communicating with their ancestors and supernatural powers. Music is used to help grow a harvest, bring rain, bring victory in battle or cure the sick.

Music is seldom performed for its own sake and as a rule, the tribes tried to repeat sounds that were heard in nature (whispering winds, rain sounds, etc). That is why the rhythm prevailed and words were not so important. Some songs such as ceremonial or medicinal ones often were inspired by dreams. Here you can find traditional songs, handed down from generation to generation

These traditional American folk songs are possible to play on the piano, Melodica, glockenspiel, xylophone, or synthesizer keyboard, but remember that traditional American music never involved or included a piano or other keyboard instrument.

We added a QR code to each song. Follow the link and listen to the rhythm before beginning to play.

Table of Contents

1. Ani Couni. Arapaho Song. (Version 1)

2. Ani Couni. Arapaho Song. (Version 2)

3. Ani Couni. Arapaho Song. (Version 3)

4. Bebi Notsa. Creek folk song

5. Buffalo Dance. Kiowa folk song

6. Chippewa Lullaby. Chippewa folk song

7. Corn Grinding Song. Zuni folk song

8. Creek Duck Dance. Creek folk song. (Version 1)

9. Creek Duck Dance. Creek folk song. (Version 2)

10. Dust of the Red Wagon. Ute folk song

11. Eagle Dance Song. Algonquin folk song

12. Epanay. Sioux folk song

13. Inuit Ice Cream. Inuit folk song

14. Happy Song. Navajo folk song

15. Hiya Hiya. Pawnee folk song

16. Ho Ho Watanay. Iroquois Lullaby. (2 versions)

17. Hosisipa. Sioux folk song

18. Hwi Ne Ya He. Presumably an Apache song

19. Happiness Song. Navajo folk song

20. Inuit lullaby. Inuit folk song

21. Kayowajineh. Seneca Canoe song

22. Medicine Song. Apache Song

23. Moccasin Game Song. Navajo folk song

24. Mos Mos. Hopi folk song

25. Muje Mukesin. Ojibwe traditional song

26. My Paddle. Folk song

27. Nessa, Nessa. Ojibwe Lullaby

28. O Hal'lwe. Nanticoke folk song

29. Okki Tokki Unga. Eskimo fishing song

30. Pleasure Dance. Choctaw folk song

31. Sioux Lullaby. Sioux folk song

32. Song of the Deer Dancing. Chippewa folk song

33. Song to the Sun. Zuni folk song

34. Uhe' Ba Sho. Omaha folk song

35. Wanagi Wacipi Olowan. Dakota folk song

36. Wioste Olowan. Dakota folk song

37. We n' De Ya Ho. Cherokee Morning song

38. Ya Ya We. Wichita song

39. Zuni Sunset Song. Zuni folk song