Für Elise for beginners: how to play the famous opening

The opening of “Für Elise” is the part that every piano student wants to play. It is nine notes that rock back and forth and then fall. A child who has played for a year or so can learn it. This page gives the notes for the first section.

Quick facts

• Composer: Beethoven, in 1810
• Key: A minor
• Time signature: 3/8
• The famous part: the first section, which comes back twice more in the full piece
• The full piece: about three minutes long, and much harder in the middle

On this page, a dash after a letter means “hold this note longer.” E’ means the E above the next C. D sharp is the black key just above D.

The right hand

The tune starts on the E above the C that sits above middle C.

Line 1: E’ D sharp’ E’ D sharp’ E’, B D’ C’ A-,

Line 2: C E A B-,

Line 3: E G sharp B C’-,

Line 4: E, and then E’ D sharp’ E’ D sharp’ E’, B D’ C’ A-,

Line 5: C E A B-,

Line 6: E C’ B A-

What to notice

Line	What happens
1	Two notes rock back and forth, a half step apart. Then the tune falls to A
2	Three notes climb to B
3	Three notes climb to C’
4	Line 1 again, led in by one E
5	Line 2 again
6	The answer: three notes that step down to A, the home note

The rocking notes, E and D sharp, are next-door keys: a white key and the black key just below it. Read sharps, flats, and naturals explained for kids. For the size of that step, read whole steps and half steps explained.

The left hand

In the real piece, the left hand fills the gaps. Each time the right hand lands on a long note, the left hand plays three notes that rise.

When	Left hand, from low to high
Under the long A, in lines 1 and 4	A, E, A
Under the long B, in lines 2 and 5	E, E, G sharp
Under the long C’, in line 3	A, E, A
Under the last A, in line 6	A, E, A

The left-hand notes are low, in the octaves below middle C. The left hand starts each climb, and the right hand finishes it. That is why lines 2, 3, and 5 begin with three rising notes.

A beginner can start with one low note from each group: A under line 1, E under line 2, and A under line 3.

Fingers for the right hand

Notes	Fingers
E’ D sharp’ E’ D sharp’ E’	5 4 5 4 5
B D’ C’ A	2 4 3 1
C E A B	1 2 4 5

This is the fingering in many printed copies. A teacher may choose another one to fit your child’s hand.

The rhythm

There are three quick beats in each bar. Every note in line 1 is the same length, until the long A. Keep the notes even. The most common slip is to rush the rocking notes.

Count “1, 2, 3” for each bar. The tune starts on beat 3, so the first two notes are a pickup.

How to learn it

1. Listen to it several times. Read who was Elise?
2. Play the rocking notes: E’, D sharp’, E’, D sharp’, E’. Use fingers 5 and 4.
3. Add the fall: B, D’, C’, A.
4. Learn lines 2 and 3. Each is three notes up and one long note.
5. Add one low note in the left hand under each long note.
6. Play it soft. Beethoven marked the opening pianissimo, which is softer than piano.

When to learn the whole piece

The full piece has two more sections. One has fast runs. The other has a low note that repeats under thick chords. Both are much harder than the opening.

The Royal Conservatory of Music has listed the full piece in its Level 7 piano repertoire. A child can enjoy the opening years before that. Ask the teacher when the full piece makes sense.

Things to do together

Half-step hunt. Find other pairs of next-door keys on the piano, and rock between them.

Name that tune. Play the first five notes. See how fast the family can name it.

Change one note. Play line 1 with D natural in place of D sharp. Ask what changed.

Print and play

Print the piano keyboard chart. Read famous piano pieces kids know by ear and easy classical piano pieces for beginners. For the composer, read Beethoven for kids.