UCL1 - WEEK 4
"HOW TO READ TAB & ODE TO JOY"
This week you will explore the melody line of "ODE TO JOY," or as it is known in German, "An die Freude" was originally written as a poem by German poet/playwright Friedrich Schiller in the summer of 1785.
Over 30 years later, it was rearranged into music as part of Beethovens final movement in his Ninth and last Symphony after spending seven years on it from 1818 to 1824. The symphony is one of the best known works of the Western classical repertoire and is considered one of Beethoven's masterpieces. This arrangement is 4/4 time.
Over 30 years later, it was rearranged into music as part of Beethovens final movement in his Ninth and last Symphony after spending seven years on it from 1818 to 1824. The symphony is one of the best known works of the Western classical repertoire and is considered one of Beethoven's masterpieces. This arrangement is 4/4 time.
PDF DOWNLOAD
Some fun facts about the piece:
- This is the most requested piece of music on the BBC Radio show, Desert Island Discs, which has been broadcast since 1942. Over 60 guests have chosen this tune.
- The piece was used in the 1988 film Die Hard, when the crooks crack the safe and get the money.
- The song was adopted as the organisational anthem of Europe — not to overrule national anthems but to celebrate shared values between nations in 1972.
- In 1985 it became the official anthem of the European Community, then the European Union, from 1993.
WARM UP & FINGER GYM
🎵 Let’s Get Those Fingers Moving! 🎵
Before diving into the melody, take a moment to warm up by revisiting the C Major scale. This is a great way to refresh your plucking and fretting technique—and it’ll help with finger accuracy and placement for the piece ahead.
The melody is mostly played across the E and A strings, so try this plucking position for ease:
Keep your ears and eyes peeled—there’s one sneaky note on the C string! You can comfortably play this with your thumb as well.
With this setup, your fingers will be prepped and your melody will flow more smoothly. Let’s play! 🎶
Before diving into the melody, take a moment to warm up by revisiting the C Major scale. This is a great way to refresh your plucking and fretting technique—and it’ll help with finger accuracy and placement for the piece ahead.
The melody is mostly played across the E and A strings, so try this plucking position for ease:
- Thumb on the E string
- Index finger on the A string
Keep your ears and eyes peeled—there’s one sneaky note on the C string! You can comfortably play this with your thumb as well.
With this setup, your fingers will be prepped and your melody will flow more smoothly. Let’s play! 🎶
ODE TO JOY
Let's break down the arrangement into bite sized chunks before playing them all together.
LINE 1: (BARS 1 - 4)
LINE 1: (BARS 1 - 4)
LINE 2: (BARS 5 - 8)
TIP: The first three bars of this line are the same as what you played above - only the last bar changes melody.
TIP: The first three bars of this line are the same as what you played above - only the last bar changes melody.
LINE 3: (BARS 9 - 12)
TIP: Look out for the 8th notes in Bar 10 & 11.
TIP: Look out for the 8th notes in Bar 10 & 11.
LINE 4: (BARS 13 - 16)
TIP: You already got this section from line 2!
TIP: You already got this section from line 2!
EXERCISE: Once you feel confident playing each line separately, have a go playing along to parts at 70BPM with the video below:
16 FRET STRETCH @ 90BPM
🎉 Congratulations – You’ve Made It Halfway! 🎶 Well done for making it through the first half of your ukulele term—you’ve come so far already! Now it’s time for a well-earned break… but also the perfect chance to sharpen your skills at home.
I’ve put together a Half-Term Practice Guide to keep you strumming with purpose over the holiday. With just a little focused practice, you’ll return feeling more confident and sounding better than ever!
To get started, you’ll need: Access to your online course and the following PDF resources
I’ve put together a Half-Term Practice Guide to keep you strumming with purpose over the holiday. With just a little focused practice, you’ll return feeling more confident and sounding better than ever!
To get started, you’ll need: Access to your online course and the following PDF resources
- Finger Gym Exercises
- Chord Sheet
- C Major Scale
- Songsheets: Anyone Else But You, Don’t Worry / What’s Up, Ode to Jo
- A metronome – Try this free one: Online Metronome
- Your ukulele & tuner
- A quiet space with no interruptions
- And of course... your favourite drink in hand! ☕🍹
OPENS A WEEK TUESDAY AT 5PM (HALF TERM NEXT WEEK - NO CLASS)