PIANUMERO
The interactive lesson needs JavaScript. Meanwhile, here is the whole song in numbers.
Sousa · El Capitan piano notes: G C D E C E E G · C E D C F F F F · D E F D F F G F …
The whole song, in numbers. Print it, or put it on your piano.
The opening strain of John Philip Sousa's march El Capitan (1896), built from tunes of his comic opera of the same name. Here in A minor, on white keys only.
This easy version uses 9 white keys and the right hand only: 39 notes, about 21 seconds at 112 BPM in 6/8 time. It has no words.
| Number | Note | Key | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | G3 | below middle C |
| 2 | A | A3 | below middle C |
| 3 | B | B3 | below middle C |
| 4 | C | C4 | middle C |
| 5 | D | D4 | above middle C |
| 6 | E | E4 | above middle C |
| 7 | F | F4 | above middle C |
| 8 | G | G4 | above middle C |
| 9 | A | A4 | above middle C |
G C D E C E E G
C E D C F F F F
D E F D F F G F
D C B E E E E A
C B A A C B A
9 keys, all white keys, played with the right hand: 1 = G, 2 = A, 3 = B, 4 = C, 5 = D, 6 = E, 7 = F, 8 = G, 9 = A.
In numbers: 1 4 5 6 4 6 6 8. In letter notes: G C D E C E E G.
Yes. Sousa · El Capitan is in the public domain (John Philip Sousa, El Capitan (1896)). This easy arrangement, its number sheet and its MIDI file are free to use and share for learning.
Yes: tap the keys on the page on a phone or tablet, or press the numbers 1–9 on a computer keyboard. The lesson waits for the right key and shows the next one.
The whole song lasts 21 seconds at 112 beats a minute. Most beginners play it through within a few tries; lower the speed with the slider to go slower.