Beginner melody · key of G major
Yankee Doodle — Easy Guitar Tab
Yankee Doodle — Traditional American (18th century). In the key of G major, 4/4 time — a great first melody for new players. Public domain.
Yankee Doodle — guitar tab
G G D G G D e|------------|------------|------------|------------| B|----------0-|----0-------|----------0-|------------| G|-0--0--2----|-0-----2----|-0--0--2----|-0----------| D|------------|----------0-|------------|-------4----| A|------------|------------|------------|------------| E|------------|------------|------------|------------| G C D G e|------------|------------|------------|------------| B|----------0-|-1--0-------|------------|------------| G|-0--0--2----|-------2--0-|------------|-0-----0----| D|------------|------------|-4--0--2--4-|------------| A|------------|------------|------------|------------| E|------------|------------|------------|------------|
Standard tuning. Top line = thin high E string. Numbers are frets (0 = open string). This tab uses frets 0–4 on strings 2, 3, 4.
The notes, in letters, numbers or Do-Re-Mi
Show notes as
Numbers and Do-Re-Mi count from the key note (G), so you can sing it or play it in any key.
Chords
GDC
How to practise it
- Press Play and follow the highlighted numbers in the tab. Slow the speed slider down until you can follow every note.
- Play along slowly, one bar at a time. Use one finger per fret: frets 1, 2, 3 and 4 get fingers 1, 2, 3 and 4.
- When the melody feels comfortable, untick Play chords too and play it alone, then try strumming the chords while the player plays the tune.
- Test your ear in the melody trainer: it plays a phrase and you name its last note — or, on Advanced and Master, tap out every note you hear.
The lowest note is D; the guitar is written an octave higher than it sounds, so this tab matches standard guitar notation.
More beginner melodies
Beginner · G majorJingle Bells (chorus)James Lord Pierpont (1857)Beginner · G majorOld MacDonald Had a FarmTraditional American folk songBeginner · C majorWhen the Saints Go Marching InTraditional American spiritualBeginner · C majorFrère Jacques (Are You Sleeping?)Traditional French round (18th century)Beginner · C majorHot Cross BunsTraditional EnglishBeginner · G majorAmazing GraceTraditional hymn tune "New Britain" (1829)
Questions
Is Yankee Doodle easy to play on guitar?
Yes — this version stays between frets 0 and 4 and it is rated beginner. Start slowly with the speed slider and speed up as it gets comfortable.
What chords go with Yankee Doodle?
This arrangement uses G, D, C in the key of G.