Public Domain Music: What It Means and How to Use It

By Paul “PK” Kendall · Updated October 22, 2026 · 5 min read

Many of the world’s best-known tunes, such as folk songs and classical themes, are free for anyone to play, arrange and share. This is what the public domain means. The details matter, though, because a piece of music is made of several layers.

What public domain means

A work is in the public domain when copyright has expired or never applied. Anyone may copy, perform and adapt it without permission or payment. Copyright term depends on the country and the date. In Canada, the general term is the life of the author plus 70 years for works of authors who died in 1972 or later (the term was extended from 50 to 70 years in December 2022 and it was not applied backwards). In the United States, works published in 1930 or earlier are in the public domain as of 2026. Rules differ elsewhere, so always check the rules for where you publish.

Compositions, arrangements and recordings are separate

When you hear a piece of music, several different things may each have their own copyright:

The composition (the notes and structure) written by the composer. Bach’s or Beethoven’s compositions are old enough to be in the public domain almost everywhere.
An arrangement or edition (a particular written version). A modern editor’s version of an old piece can be protected even though the original is not.
A recording (a particular performance). A recording from the last several decades is usually protected even when the composition is not.

This is why you can freely play a Beethoven melody yourself but cannot automatically use someone else’s 2015 recording of it.

Creative Commons and similar licences

Many modern recordings are shared under Creative Commons licences. CC0 gives up all rights. CC BY lets you use the work if you credit the creator. CC BY-SA also asks that changed versions be shared under the same licence. These licences are what let websites share recordings by living performers.

How Hey Piano 4U handles this

The tunes in the song library are public-domain compositions, arranged in a simplified way for learning.
The scales, exercises, choir warm-ups and etudes are original practice patterns written for the site.
The organ listening room lists recordings with their licences, and the credit line to use when a licence requires one.

See our editorial policy for more detail, and tell us about any mistake through the contact page.

A quick checklist before you reuse music

Is the composition old enough to be in the public domain in your country?
Is the particular arrangement or edition protected?
If it is a recording, what licence does it have?
If the licence requires credit, have you included it?

This article is general information, not legal advice. If a project matters commercially, check with a qualified person.

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