Ode to Joy on two strings

The melody

Ode to Joy is the final theme of Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony, composed in 1824. It uses only five notes, all on the two highest strings:

• C: B string, 1^st fret, with your index finger;
• D: B string, 3^rd fret, with your ring finger;
• E: open high E string;
• F: high E string, 1^st fret, with your index finger;
• G: high E string, 3^rd fret, with your ring finger.

e|-0-0-1-3-3-1-0---------0-0-----0-0-1-3-3-1-0---------0-------|
B|---------------3-1-1-3-----3-3---------------3-1-1-3---3-1-1-|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|

How to go about it

1. Listen to the whole melody, twice, following the tab with your finger.
2. Split it into two phrases. Each phrase ends on a longer note. Learn the first one, then the second.
3. Notice what repeats: both phrases start the same way. Only the ending changes: the first ends on D, the other on C.
4. Play the whole thing, slowly, counting the long notes: a held note lasts two or three beats, so don’t cut it short.

The traps

• Moving from one string to the other. Between E (open) and D (B string, 3^rd fret), your ring finger needs to be ready already. Get it in place while the open string rings.
• The same finger on two strings. Your index plays C on the B string and F on the high E string: it hops from one string to the other without leaving the 1^st fret.
• The rhythm at the end of each phrase. The next-to-last note is short: “E—, D D—.” Listen closely to the example.

Play it in time

Once the notes are solid, play the melody with a metronome, one note per beat at 60, using alternate picking on the fast notes or all downstrokes, whichever you prefer. Then work your way up to the tempo of the example.

To go further, replay the two melodies from the lesson Your first notes in tab: you’ll find them much easier.

You’ve got it when…

• You know the five notes and their fingers without looking at the tab
• You play all of Ode to Joy at 60 without stopping
• Your long notes really last two or three beats