Right hand
Put the thumb on the G above middle C, the second finger on B, then C, D and E with fingers 3, 4 and 5. Every note of the theme is under those fingers. Bars 1 and 3 are mostly repeated G's; bars 2 and 4 carry the tune: C D E, and D B G.
William Tell Overture - Piano Sheet Music (Easy Version, Finale Theme)
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) 1829 C major 2/4 Easy 0:08 Both hands
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The finale of the William Tell Overture is the gallop everyone can hum: "ta-ta-TUM, ta-ta-TUM, ta-ta-TUM TUM TUM". This page arranges its first four bars for piano in C major, moved down from Rossini's E major, with the theme in the right hand and one long bass note per bar in the left. The four bars are played twice, then a C chord closes the phrase. The right hand needs only five notes, G B C D E, so the whole challenge is rhythm. Press Listen to hear the gallop, then use Practice at half speed until the quick pairs of notes fall neatly into place.
How to play it
How to play William Tell Overture on the piano
Left hand
One C below middle C held through bars 1 to 3, a low G in bar 4, and the same again for the second time through. A C closes the piece.
Tricky passages
The gallop rhythm: two quick sixteenth notes and an eighth, "ta-ta-TUM". The piece starts with two quick G's before bar 1, and bar 3 ends with C-E instead of G-G. Bounce the repeated G's lightly from the wrist and keep them very even.
Fingering
Repeated G's with the thumb. Bar 2: C-D-E with 3-4-5. End of bar 3: C-E with 3-5. Bar 4: D-B-G with 4-2-1.
Notes
William Tell Overture piano notes
The right-hand melody of this version, bar by bar, in letter names and in Do Ré Mi. Sharps are written #, flats b; a note held across a bar line is written once.
Melody: G G G G G G G G C D E G G G G G G C E D B G G G …
| Bar | Notes | Do Ré Mi |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup | G G | Sol Sol |
| 1 | G G G G G G | Sol Sol Sol Sol Sol Sol |
| 2 | C D E G G | Do Ré Mi Sol Sol |
| 3 | G G G G C E | Sol Sol Sol Sol Do Mi |
| 4 | D B G G G | Ré Si Sol Sol Sol |
| 5 | G G G G G G | Sol Sol Sol Sol Sol Sol |
| 6 | C D E G G | Do Ré Mi Sol Sol |
| 7 | G G G G C E | Sol Sol Sol Sol Do Mi |
| 8 | D B G | Ré Si Sol |
| 9 | C | Do |
Chords
Chords in William Tell Overture
The chords this arrangement holds for at least two bars, read from the score with the root in the bass. Each one opens its page: the notes, every inversion and the fingering, playable on a piano.
The piece is in C major: all the chords of the key
About the piece
About William Tell Overture
William Tell (Guillaume Tell) was first performed in Paris in 1829. It was the last of Rossini's 39 operas; he wrote no more operas after it. Its overture is in four connected parts - a dawn prelude for solo cellos, a storm, a pastoral call for cor anglais and flute, and the finale - and Hector Berlioz called it a symphony in four parts.
The finale, sometimes called the March of the Swiss Soldiers, is a galop in E major heralded by trumpets. In the 20th century it became the theme of The Lone Ranger on radio, television and film, and it has been used ever since for galloping horses and last-minute rescues. Franz Liszt made a piano transcription of the whole overture in 1838.
This transcription: Rossini, Guillaume Tell (1829), overture, finale: the gallop theme, bars 1-4, checked against the vocal score (London: Boosey, 1870); transposed to C major, left hand and final chord by GOONS Studio. Transcribed by GOONS Studio from the original work, which is in the public domain.
For kids: William Tell Overture by colors, on a rainbow piano that lights the next key and waits.
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In the studio
Practise with your MIDI keyboard, record your take, export MIDI
The full piano studio opens this score with your MIDI keyboard and sustain pedal, records what you play and exports it as a MIDI file. It comes with the GOONS Studio subscription - start with the 7-day free trial, no card required.
Questions
William Tell Overture on piano: frequently asked
What are the notes of the William Tell Overture on piano?
In C major: G G, G G G G G G, C D E G G, G G G G G C E, D B G - Sol Sol, Sol Sol Sol Sol Sol Sol, Do Ré Mi Sol Sol, Sol Sol Sol Sol Sol Do Mi, Ré Si Sol. Every bar is in the Notes section.
Why is the William Tell finale in C major here?
Rossini wrote the finale in E major, with four sharps. In C major the theme uses only white keys and stays under one hand position.
Is the William Tell Overture the Lone Ranger theme?
Yes, the finale of the overture was used as the theme of The Lone Ranger on radio, television and film. This page arranges the start of that finale.