How to Play the Notes of the National Anthem on a Keyboard

Static Left and Right Hand Positions

• 1

  Assume the G position with your left hand by first placing the pinky of your left hand on G3, the G below middle C. Rest your left hand’s remaining fingers on the consecutive white keys to complete the G hand position: ring finger on A3, middle finger on B3, index finger on C4 (“Middle C”) and thumb on D4.

• 2

  Move the index finger of your left hand to C#4, the black key immediately to the right of Middle C. The left hand’s G position for "The Star-Spangled Banner" is in the Lydian mode, which raises the fourth note a half step.

• 3

  Assume the G position with your right hand by first placing the thumb of your right hand on G4, the G above middle C. Rest your left hand’s remaining fingers on the consecutive white keys to complete the G hand position: index finger on A4, middle finger on B4, index finger on C5 and pinky on D5. The right hand will remain in a G major position, without sharping the C.

Moving the Right Hand Position

• 4

  Place the index finger of your right hand on F#4, the black key immediately to the left of G4.

• 5

  Play A4 with your index finger, followed by G4 with your thumb, followed by F#4 with your index finger. Practice playing these keys until you are comfortable crossing your index finger over your thumb in order to play F#4 and then reassuming the G position when you play A4.

• 6

  Play G4 with your thumb, followed by F#4 with your index finger, followed by E4 with your thumb. Practice playing these keys until you are comfortable crossing your thumb under your index finger in order to play G4.

Play the National Anthem

• 7

  Play the first phrase of the song, using this piano tab:
  D4 B3|G3>B3>D4>|G4>>>B4 A4|G4>B3>C#4>|D4>>>

• 8

  Play the second phrase of the song:
  D4 D4|B4>>A4 G4>|F#4>>>E4 F#4|G4>G4>D4>B3>|G3>

• 9

  Play the third phrase of the song:
  D4 B3|G3>B3>D4>|G4>>>B4 A4|G4>B3>C#4>|D4>>>

• 10

  Play the fourth phrase of the song:
  D4 D4|B4>>A4 G4>|F#4>>>E4 F#4|G4>G4>D4>B3>|G3>

• 11

  Play the fifth phrase of the song:
  B4 B4|B4>C5>D5>|D5>>>C5 B4|A4>B4>C5>|C5>>>

• 12

  Play the sixth phrase of the song:
  C5>|B4>>A4 G4>|F#4>>>E4 F#4|G4>B3>C#4>|D>>>

• 13

  Play the seventh phrase of the song:
  D4>|G4>G4> G4 F#4|E4>E4>E4>|A4>C5 B4 A4 G4|G4>F#4>>>|>>>>

• 14

  Play the eighth phrase of the song:
  D4 D4|G4>>A4 B4 C5|D5>>>G4 A4|B4>>C5 A4>|G4>>>