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Ode to Joy — full theme

A familiar five-note melody to read, listen to, and try at the keyboard. This 16-bar arrangement presents the complete famous hymn theme with simplified rhythms for a first reading session.

First notesLudwig van Beethoven · Simplified 16-bar theme · piano right handPiano · One hand · C major · 4/4

80 beats per minute. Changing speed stops playback; press Play to start again.

Source edition typeset by Peter Chubb; melody by Ludwig van Beethoven. The source edition is marked Public Domain by its typesetter. · www.noteplaymusic.com

Try it at the keyboard

  1. Place your right thumb on middle C and your other fingers on D, E, F and G. The melody starts on E.
  2. Say the note names before playing. Count 1, 2, 3, 4 through every bar, including the longer notes.
  3. Notice that bars 13–16 repeat bars 5–8 after the contrasting bridge in bars 9–12.

About this score

NotePlayMusic 16-bar adaptation of the complete main theme: transposed from G major to C major, kept within C4–G4, accompaniment omitted, and dotted-crotchet/quaver figures simplified to crotchets.

Source edition typeset by Peter Chubb; melody by Ludwig van Beethoven. The source edition is marked Public Domain by its typesetter.

Source notation · Source score & rights notice