How to play When the Saints Go Marching In on piano
- Level
- Very easy
- Key
- C major
- Composer
- Traditional (African American spiritual)
- Written
- early 1900s
A traditional spiritual that became a New Orleans jazz standard, famously recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1938. The melody starts with the same four notes, C E F G, three times, so it trains a strong, even finger pattern.
When the Saints Go Marching In letter notes
Press play to hear each line while the keys light up. Then play along, one line at a time.
Oh when the saints
CEFG
Go marching in
CEFG
Oh when the saints go marching in
CEFGECED
Oh Lord I want to be in that number
EEDCCEGGF
When the saints go marching in
EFGECDC
Underlined notes are long notes: hold them for two beats or more.
Hand position
Right hand in C position: fingers 1 3 4 5 play C E F G.
Easy left-hand chords
Once the melody is comfortable, add these chords in your left hand, one per line or bar: C | C | C G | C7 F | C G C.
Chord diagrams: C major, C dominant 7th, F major, G dominant 7th.
Practice tips
- The long G at the end of the first two phrases lasts four beats. Count them.
- Use fingers 1 3 4 5 for C E F G and keep your hand still.
- Left hand: C chord most of the time, G7 under 'marching', F under 'that number'.
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.