Ludwig van Beethoven
Ode to Joy
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Ode to Joy is the main theme from the last movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (1824). Play the whole eight-bar theme with your right hand, thumb on middle C and one finger for each key up to G.
Versions
Each version is a complete arrangement from Ultimidi’s books. Pro versions open the Pro options when you press Play.
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Right hand Free
Right hand, treble clef · 30 notes · about 21 seconds · 4/4 at 92 BPM
Book One, chapter 3: F and the C–G position (chapter performance)
Play right hand Play sheet version -
Left hand Pro
Left hand, bass clef · about 33 seconds · 4/4
Book Two, chapter 3: Steps and Skips (chapter performance)
Play left hand Play sheet version Pro -
Both hands Pro
Both hands, grand staff · hands in octaves · about 66 seconds · 4/4
Book Three, chapter 1: Hands together: octaves, contrary motion and holds (chapter performance)
Play both hands Play sheet version Pro
Bars 4 and 8 use even quarter notes where Beethoven’s theme has a dotted rhythm. Book One teaches the dotted rhythm in a later chapter.
Notes and fingering: right hand
Note names for each bar, with right hand finger numbers (1 is your thumb). Each note lasts one beat unless the chart says otherwise.
| Bar | Notes | Fingers |
|---|---|---|
| Bar 1 | EEFG | 3345 |
| Bar 2 | GFED | 5432 |
| Bar 3 | CCDE | 1123 |
| Bar 4 | EDD (2 beats) | 322 |
| Bar 5 | EEFG | 3345 |
| Bar 6 | GFED | 5432 |
| Bar 7 | CCDE | 1123 |
| Bar 8 | DCC (2 beats) | 211 |
- Part
- Right hand, treble clef
- Notes used
- C, D, E, F and G (C4 to G4)
- Length
- 8 bars, 30 notes, about 21 seconds
- Time and tempo
- 4/4, 92 beats per minute
- Rhythm
- 28 quarter notes and 2 half notes
- Level
- Book One, chapter 3: F and the C–G position (chapter performance)
Source and credits
- Right hand and left hand: Ode to Joy, Ludwig van Beethoven. Melody: public domain. Arrangement: Ultimidi original beginner arrangement. Historic melody. Original notes, voicing and teaching arrangement; no third-party recording or modern arrangement is bundled. Reference: Symphony No. 9, 1824; eight-bar main theme with simplified even-note cadences before dotted rhythm is taught. Reference score.
- Both hands: Ode to Joy · hands in octaves, Ludwig van Beethoven. Melody: public domain. Arrangement: Ultimidi original Book Three arrangement. Historic melody. Original notes, voicing and teaching arrangement; no third-party recording or modern arrangement is bundled. The left-hand octave doubling is project-authored and dedicated to the public domain under CC0. Reference: Symphony No. 9, 1824; eight-bar main theme with simplified even-note cadences before dotted rhythm is taught. Reference score.