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Interactive piano tutorial for "I Saw Three Ships" by Bruce Cockburn, in F major at about 125 BPM. Transcribed from the track by Songscription. Slow it down to learn it at your own pace.

Interactive piano roll preview for "I Saw Three Ships" by Bruce Cockburn
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Preview of the interactive piano roll for “I Saw Three Ships” by Bruce Cockburn.

I Saw Three Ships by Bruce Cockburn
Piano Tutorial

Piano rollFalling notes

This interactive piano roll is a play-along piano tutorial for "I Saw Three Ships" by Bruce Cockburn, and one of the simplest ways to learn the song on piano. Every note falls onto the keyboard so you can see exactly what to play and when, and you can slow it right down to work through the fast parts before building back up to full speed.

Inside the music
Signature

Music DNA

Genrefolk · acoustic · traditional folk
Moodnostalgic · peaceful · spiritual
Signaturetraditional folk ballad with a gentle, reverent atmosphere
F major
Key
125
BPM
4/4
Time
Chords

The progression

F
B♭
Form

Structure & dynamics

IntroVerseChorusVerseChorusBridgeChorusOutro
Instrumentation

What's in the mix

acoustic guitar
fingerpicked, providing the harmonic and rhythmic foundation
male lead vocals
clear, warm, slightly weathered timbre; narrative, storytelling delivery
bass guitar
warm, supportive low end
harmonica
melodic, expressive lead voice
light percussion
soft, understated drum kit with brushes or soft sticks
Album & artist
ALBUM

Christmas (1993)

All of Christmas
Artist

Bruce Cockburn

Bruce Cockburn is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Ottawa who has been recording since the early 1970s. His music moves across folk, rock, jazz, and world music, and his lyrics frequently address spiritual themes, environmental concerns, and political injustice. He has long been one of Canada's most respected guitarists, and his catalog stretches across more than two dozen studio albums.

All Bruce Cockburn songs
How it works

From a recording to your part in three steps

  1. Step 1
    Bring the recording

    Paste a YouTube link or upload an audio file, the studio cut, a live take, or a cover.

  2. Step 2
    We transcribe it

    Our model listens and arranges this exact performance for piano.

  3. Step 3
    Play & export

    Read it on screen, transpose, slow it down, and export the piano tutorial when it feels right.

Ready to play it?

Start from any recording, your piano tutorial in minutes.

FAQ

Good to know

What key is "I Saw Three Ships" in?

"I Saw Three Ships" by Bruce Cockburn is in F major.

What is the tempo of "I Saw Three Ships"?

"I Saw Three Ships" plays at around 125 BPM in 4/4 time.

What chords are in "I Saw Three Ships"?

The core progression is F and B♭, built around the F major tonal center.

What instruments play on "I Saw Three Ships"?

The recording features acoustic guitar, bass guitar, light percussion, harmonica, and male lead vocals.

Can I get a piano roll for "I Saw Three Ships"?

Yes. Songscription turns "I Saw Three Ships" by Bruce Cockburn into an interactive piano roll you can play along with.

Is "I Saw Three Ships" piano tutorial easy to learn?

The piano roll shows every note of "I Saw Three Ships" falling onto the keys, and you can slow it right down so the fast parts come a few notes at a time. At 125 BPM in F major, it is friendly to pick up.

What album is "I Saw Three Ships" on?

"I Saw Three Ships" appears on Christmas (1993).

How does Songscription turn a song into sheet music?

Give it a recording, a YouTube link or an audio file, and its AI transcribes that performance into notation for the instrument and level you choose.

Can I get sheet music for a live or cover version?

Yes. The score is generated from whatever recording you pick, so a live take, a remix, or a cover each match that exact performance.

What instruments and formats are available?

Piano, guitar, violin, trumpet, sax, bass, drums, vocals and more, as standard sheet music, a piano roll, or guitar tabs.

Is Songscription free to use?

You can try it free, with no credit card needed.

Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?

Yes. You get a downloadable PDF, plus in-app playback and the option to transpose or adjust the arrangement before you print.

How accurate is the transcription?

It is produced by AI trained on millions of bars of music, and you can play it back and fine-tune any details before you download.

Is this transcription licensed?

Yes. We have licensed this track from its publisher, so we are permitted to transcribe it and provide the sheet music to you.

Transcribed from licensed catalogs by AI trained on millions of bars of music.

Made with in California.