Topmusicanswers
- What mode is the Star Spangled Banner?
- What key is the national anthem supposed to be sung in?
- Is there a difference between the Star Spangled Banner and the national anthem?
- Why is there a question mark at the end of the Star Spangled Banner?
What mode is the Star Spangled Banner?
The Star Spangled Banner has an irregular rhyme scheme. It is AB AB CC DD. So the rhymes do not lead the ear in a natural way. It has too many s's (esses) in the first three lines causing some annoying problems with sibilance.
What key is the national anthem supposed to be sung in?
The song was written in the key of C, but today, thanks to its range, it's usually sung in Bb. That means the first note you sing is an F, your lowest note is a fifth below that (Bb), and your highest note will be an F, one octave higher than your starting note. Bb may not work for your voice.
Is there a difference between the Star Spangled Banner and the national anthem?
As currently codified, the United States Code states that "[t]he composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem."
Why is there a question mark at the end of the Star Spangled Banner?
Today some people choose to interpret Key's words—and the question mark—more broadly, not just as a question of whether the flag is still flying, but as a moment to reflect on whether we are upholding the ideals embodied in the vision of America as the land of the free and the home of the brave.
