As a child, I sang “Yankee Doodle” without understanding what a Yankee Doodle was. The Dutch say the word “Yankees” comes from the names of two guys, Jan (pronounced Yan) and Kees (pronounced Case). Further research shows that “Yankee Doodle” was an insult that backfired (see story). Arranging the music here in Boston, Massachusetts, I recognize the familiar locations of Lexington and Concord. Any visitor to Boston should follow the “Freedom Trail” and visit the USS Constitution, among other historic sites. What about the music? Is it easy and fun to play on the ukulele or the piano?
Unlike The Star Spangled Banner, Yankee Doodle is easy to sing because the melody is stepwise (with few interval leaps) and ranges just over an octave. Starting on the tonic (the first degree or note of any major key), it goes to a low of E (in C major) to a high of F (in C major).
To play the melody notes and the chords together, I invert the chords such that the melody is on the highest note played. You can strum, fingerpick, or break up the chords such as adding eighth notes in the opening below.
The song can be reduced to three or four chords. My 3-page easy piano arrangement offers options for three different skill levels:
- Easiest: use both hands to play the melody
- Next level: right hand plays the melody, left hand plays few notes and partial chords
- Hardest: left hand plays broken chords to provide both harmonic and rhythmic accompaniment
While C major is the easiest key for pianists to play, ukulele players may find it easier to play and sing it in another key. As the lowest note on a high G ukulele is middle C, we can transpose this song such that the lowest note of the melody is not lower than middle C. Transposing it to the key of A major gives the lowest melodic note of C#.
The next key of Ab is still possible to play on the high G ukulele but requires barre chords for Ab, Db etc. If we transpose any lower, such as the friendly key of G, we will need the B below middle C, which can only be played on a low G ukulele.
Surprisingly, an instrumental solo version of this song in the key of A is easier to play than in C major.
Yankee Doodle is a march not a hymn. Either play it like a march or break the chords to make it sound like a march, with regular and even strokes.
My arrangement of Yankee Doodle is the fifth song in a new compilation of ukulele arrangements suitable to play in any of the many public holidays and patriotic occasions in the United States. The other four songs are God Bless America, America (My Country Tis of Thee), America the Beautiful, and The Star Spangled Banner.
Patriotic Holidays and Occasions
- Martin Luther King Jr Day
- President’s Day
- Patriot’s Day
- Loyalty Day
- Armed Forces Day
- Memorial Day
- Flag Day
- Independence Day
- Patriot Day
- POW/MIA Recognition Day
- Constitution Day
- Columbus Day
- Election Day
- Veterans Day
- Pearl Harbor Day
- Bill of Rights Day