How to play Turkish March on piano
- Level
- Intermediate
- Key
- A minor
- Composer
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Written
- 1783
The final movement of Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11 (K. 331), written around 1783, imitates the sound of Ottoman military bands that were fashionable in Vienna. Its opening turns are a great finger-dexterity exercise.
Turkish March letter notes
Press play to hear each line while the keys light up. Then play along, one line at a time.
Turns
BAG♯ACDCBCE
Climb
FED♯EBAG♯ABAG♯AC
Underlined notes are long notes: hold them for two beats or more.
Hand position
Right hand plays quick four-note turns (B A G♯ A). Use fingers 3 2 1 2 then cross to the next note.
Easy left-hand chords
Once the melody is comfortable, add these chords in your left hand, one per line or bar: Am | Am E Am.
Chord diagrams: A minor, E major.
Practice tips
- Each group is a 'turn': a note, the note below, the note below that, back up. B A G♯ A.
- Practice each turn alone, slowly, then link them.
- Keep the wrist loose. Speed comes later.
How to practice this song
- Listen to each line once with the play button.
- Play one line slowly with the right hand until you make no mistakes three times in a row.
- Join two lines together, then the whole song.
- Add the left-hand chords, at half speed, once the melody is automatic.