Ode to Joy (Right Hand)

Beethoven's theme, stepwise from start to finish.

Level:
2 of 6
Hands:
Right hand
Key:
C major
Notes:
15
Range:
C4 to G4
One run:
about 13 seconds at 80 bpm

The notes, in order

15 notes, one at a time.

  1. E4
  2. E4
  3. F4
  4. G4
  5. G4
  6. F4
  7. E4
  8. D4
  9. C4
  10. C4
  11. D4
  12. E4
  13. E4
  14. D4
  15. D4

How to practise it

  1. The tune only ever moves to a neighbouring key, never jumps
  2. The dotted rhythm near the end is the one tricky moment
  3. Fingers 3-3-4-5 to begin

The scale behind it

This one is built on the C Major scale: C D E F G A B (no sharps or flats). Its right-hand fingering runs 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5, and the scale page has the full diagram if you want to hear the shape on its own first.

How to play it here

Play along on the keys with your mouse, your computer keyboard, a touch screen, or a MIDI keyboard you have plugged in. Every key can show its own name, and the metronome will hold the tempo while you work through the 15 notes.

What it trains

  • classical
  • hand position

More melodies

Real tunes, so there is something to play once the drills have paid off.

All piano exercises