PIANUMERO
Easy piano · 6 keys

Ode to Joy

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 (1824) · 38 s · 62 notes · public domain
44566
Freude, schöner Götterfunken,

The interactive lesson needs JavaScript. Meanwhile, here is the whole song in numbers.

Ode to Joy piano notes: E E F G G F E D · C C D E E D D · E E F G G F E D …

The number sheet

The whole song, in numbers. Print it, or put it on your piano.

4EFreu4Ede,5Fschö6Gner6GGöt5Fter4Efun3Dken,
2CToch2Cter3Daus4EE4Ely3Dsi3Dum,
4Ewir4Ebe5Ftre6Gten6Gfeu5Fer4Etrun3Dken,
2CHimm2Cli3Dsche,4Edein3DHei2Clig2Ctum!
3DDei3Dne4EZau2Cber3Dbin4Eden5F·4Ewie2Cder,
3Dwas4Edie5F·4EMo3Dde2Cstreng3Dge1Gteilt;
4Eal4Ele5FMen6Gschen6Gwer5Fden4EBrü3Dder,
2Cwo2Cdein3Dsanf4Eter3DFlü2Cgel2Cweilt.

How to play Ode to Joy on the piano

The great theme of the last movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (1824), on Friedrich Schiller's poem "An die Freude". It is the anthem of Europe, and one of the easiest famous classical melodies: it moves mostly step by step.

This easy version uses 6 white keys and the right hand only: 62 notes, about 38 seconds at 100 BPM in 4/4 time. The words are in German.

  1. Find key 1: G3 (below middle C). The other numbers go up from there, one white key each.
  2. Press ▶ Listen to hear the song while the numbers light up.
  3. Press 🎹 Play it and play the numbers in order; an arrow shows the next key, and the lesson waits for you.
  4. Finish the song for up to three stars — fewer mistakes, more stars.

The keys

NumberNoteKeyWhere
1GG3below middle C
2CC4middle C
3DD4above middle C
4EE4above middle C
5FF4above middle C
6GG4above middle C

Ode to Joy in letter notes

Show the whole song in letter notes, line by line

E E F G G F E D
Freude, schöner Götterfunken,

C C D E E D D
Tochter aus Elysium,

E E F G G F E D
wir betreten feuertrunken,

C C D E D C C
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!

D D E C D E F E C
Deine Zauber bindenwieder,

D E F E D C D G
was dieMode streng geteilt;

E E F G G F E D
alle Menschen werden Brüder,

C C D E D C C
wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt.

Questions

How many keys do I need for Ode to Joy?

6 keys, all white keys, played with the right hand: 1 = G, 2 = C, 3 = D, 4 = E, 5 = F, 6 = G.

What are the first notes of Ode to Joy?

In numbers: 4 4 5 6 6 5 4 3. In letter notes: E E F G G F E D.

Is Ode to Joy free to play and share?

Yes. Ode to Joy is in the public domain (Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 (1824)). This easy arrangement, its number sheet and its MIDI file are free to use and share for learning.

Can I play it without a piano?

Yes: tap the keys on the page on a phone or tablet, or press the numbers 1–6 on a computer keyboard. The lesson waits for the right key and shows the next one.

How long does it take to learn?

The whole song lasts 38 seconds at 100 beats a minute. Most beginners play it through within a few tries; lower the speed with the slider to go slower.

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