Piano songs · Beginner
Yankee Doodle on piano
Yankee Doodle is quick, bright and almost all in one hand position, with a dip below middle C. Here's the verse with the notes in letters and a simple left hand.
this song
Yankee Doodle sheet music
The same notes as the player above, as a piano score: C major, 4/4 time. Press Play and the notes light up as they sound. Free to print or save as a PDF.
How to read the rhythms · how to read the notes
About the piece
The tune was sung by British soldiers to mock the American colonists before the Revolutionary War, and the Americans took it over as their own. It's now the state song of Connecticut.
The notes
The letters above are the tune, played by your right hand: C C D E C; E D G C C; D E C B C; C D E F E; D C B G A; B C C. Longer boxes are longer notes. Press Play and follow along, slow it down with the speed slider, or turn on Wait for me and play each note yourself.
How to learn it
- Hand position: right thumb on middle C. The first line is C C D E, C E D, then a dip down to the G below.
- The dip: reach the low G with your thumb (or cross under), and come straight back to C.
- "Stuck a feather in his cap": C C D E F E D C, walking up to F and back.
- Keep it marching: every note is one even beat until the last two.
Learning Yankee Doodle on a real piano? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a rhythm that runs away. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What are the notes for Yankee Doodle on piano?
C C D E C E D G, C C D E C B, C C D E F E D C, B G A B C C.
Is Yankee Doodle easy on piano?
Yes: it's mostly in C position, with a short dip below middle C.
More songs to play
A simple arrangement of a public-domain melody. Piano sound: Salamander Grand Piano by Alexander Holm, CC BY 3.0.