Pieces › Tunes everyone knows

Für Elise

Beethoven’s theme, in sixteenth notes

The opening of Für Elise is probably the most famous piano piece in the world. It alternates E and D♯ (a black key) in sixteenth notes, each half as long as an eighth note.

The two hands answer each other: the left hand launches each chord (A, E), then the right hand takes over.

Heard in: Nas’s “I Can” (sampled), and countless films and commercials

Tips

• Slow down to 50–75%: sixteenth notes go fast.
• Play E-D♯ with fingers 5 and 4, your hand resting near the black keys.

Right hand

The theme in the right hand; the computer plays the left hand.

Both hands

The left hand plays A-E-A (or E-E-G♯) while the right hand rests.