First melody: Ode to Joy

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was first played in Vienna on 7 May 1824. Its best-known tune uses only five notes, all in C position.

The notes

Line 1: E E F G · G F E D · C C D E · E D D
Line 2: E E F G · G F E D · C C D E · D C C

Look at the shape of the tune before you play it. It moves almost entirely by step, one key at a time, and never jumps. The first phrase climbs from E up to G and walks back down to D. The second starts on C and climbs again. The two lines are the same until the very end: line 1 stops on D and sounds unfinished, like a question, while line 2 lands on C and sounds settled, like an answer. Musicians call this pairing a question and answer, and you will find it in many folk songs.

In C position every note falls under a finger you already know: E is finger 3, F is 4, G is 5, D is 2 and C is 1. The only rhythm to watch is near the end of each line, where one note is held a little longer (one and a half beats) and the next is short (half a beat). The staff below shows the first phrase. Click it to hear the notes.

Press Listen first, then play along. The next key is marked green.

If you press a wrong key, nothing is lost: the green key stays on the note you need, so find it and carry on. When you reach the end, press Start over and play it again from the start, this time trying to keep every beat even.

Practising in pieces

Do not try to learn all 30 notes at once. Each line splits into four short groups of notes, shown with dots above. Learn the first group until you can play it three times in a row without a mistake, then add the second, and so on. Because line 2 repeats line 1 except for the ending, once line 1 is solid you only have two new notes left to learn. When the notes are secure, turn your attention to the rhythm, keeping each beat the same length, and only then try to play a little faster.

Sing the opening

Singing a melody before playing it helps your fingers know where it goes. Sing the climb E, F, G into the microphone, one note at a time.