Why is the rhythm of ABC, Baba Black Sheep & Twinkle Twinkle Little Star songs the same?

Question

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Answer 1

It was easier for children to learn their ABC's if the "song" was assoiciated with another familure childrens song so they could remember the melody/pitch/tone

Answer 2

the rhythm's not the only similar thing....the melody's the same and the notes of the songs all fall within a single octave. I guess it's easier for a kid to pick up the song because it follows a pattern. One of the primary cognitive skills that a young child picks up is through identification of patterns.

Answer 3

I dunno....but I used to know another song with the same tune. It was about a hungry little bird.
It went something like this

Da da da da lit-tle bird
da da da da da da da
Have a piece of ham on rye
and a piece of cherry pie
If the crumbs are all you
want-
then stay outta my
restaurant!

I can't remember the words to the beginning!
Oh well.....fill in the "da das" and you'll have another ABC tuned song to drive you even more crazy.......haha ;)

Answer 4

For the exact same reason that "Mary had a little lamb" and "Merrily we roll along" are the same.

Answer 5

I agree with the second answer, but you could try writing something different.

Answer 6

I REALLY HAVE NO CLUE maybe the same person made them up.

Answer 7

easy to learn and sing, and play instruments with...and also probably lack of imagination...