Practice Piano Fingering

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Drill Your Finger Numbers with Ode to Joy!

Practice piano fingering by learning how to play "Ode to Joy" only by reading finger numbers. Finally, you can print a free PDF with the sheet music to continue practice with notes, if you like!

Practice Piano Fingering with Numbers

First a reminder about the finger numbers for piano playing:

When playing the piano the fingers are numbered from the thumb to the little finger: 1-2-3-4-5. Same finger- same number in each hand.

And a reminder of the notes in C Position (right hands first note is "middle c"):

"Middle C" is the C in the right hand.

Play "Ode to Joy" with Finger Numbers

Here is how to play "Ode to Joy":

Practice piano fingering with your right hand:

Place your right hand fingers in the C position (see above):

• Place your right-hand thumb (nr. 1) on "Middle C",
• finger 2 on D,
• 3 on E,
• 4 on F and 5 (Pinkie) on G

Then play the fingers in the following order (numbers closer together should be played faster):

3  3  4  5  5  4  3  2  1  1  2  3  3  2  2

3  3  4  5  5  4  3  2  1  1  2  3  2  1  1

2  2  3  1  2  34  3  1  2  34  3  2  1  2  5

3  3  4  5  5  4  3  2  1  1  2  3  2   11

Recognize Ode to Joy? Remember to keep your hand "cupped" and play on the tips of your fingers for proper hand posture.

Optional:

Practice piano fingering with your left hand:

Place your left hand finger 5 on bass C, finger 4 on D, 3 on E, 2 on F and 1 (thumb) on G. Then play the same melody like this:

3  3  2  1  1  2  3  4  5  5  4  3  3  4  4

3  3  2  1  1  2  3  4  5  5  4  3  4  5  5

4  4  3  5  4  32  3  5  4  32  3  4  5  4  1

3  3  2  1  1  2  3  4  5  5  4  3  4  55

Challenge!

Try both hands together!

The right hand (RH) continues to play the melody the same as you learned above.

But your left hand (LH) will be playing the accompaniment using only the notes C and G. Simply follow the note names.

Play C (with finger 5) and G (with finger 1). The bold number and note on top of each other should be played at the same time:

RH:  3  3  4  5  5  4  3  2  1  1  2  3  3  2  2
LH:  C              G             C             G

RH:  3  3  4  5  5  4  3  2  1  1  2  3  2  1  1
LH:  C              G             C             G      C 

RH:  2  2  3  1  2  34  3  1  2  34  3  2  1  2  5
LH:  G             G                G               G

RH:  3  3  4  5  5  4  3  2  1  1  2  3  2  1 1
LH:  C              G             C             G     C 

Free Sheet Music of Beethoven's Ode to Joy (PDF)

What?!

You want the notes to read as well as finger numbers???

OK, OK. Here it is:

A free printable PDF with this piano lessons for beginners: Ode to Joy by Beethoven with easy to read notes, for both hands (as above) and finger numbers: Ode To Joy with Fingering (PDF opens in a new window).

Enjoy!

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