Why Is "The Star-Spangled Banner" So Hard To Sing?

FIU music professor Kathleen Wilson has some answers

By Ari Odzer
|  Thursday, Jul 5, 2012  |  Updated 7:23 AM EDT
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Our national anthem could be called  The Star-Mangled Banner,  given how much difficulty many people have with the tune. Kathleen Wilson tells NBC 6 why. Taylor at the Casino Car Wash tries to sing the anthem.

Our national anthem could be called The Star-Mangled Banner, given how much difficulty many people have with the tune. Kathleen Wilson tells NBC 6 why. Taylor at the Casino Car Wash tries to sing the anthem.

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Our national anthem could be called “The Star-Mangled Banner,” given how much difficulty many people have with the tune.

Kathleen Wilson, a music professor at Florida International University, explained why the patriotic song can give people musical fits.

"It is so hard to sing because it is outside the range of what most average, non-professional singers can do,” she said.

Taylor at the Casino Car Wash gave it a shot for NBC 6, singing "what so proudly we hailed, at the twilight's last streaming."

Wilson played those notes on the piano.

"That's a little high for your average person, it's even a little high for professional singers,” she said.

Check out our list of 10 places to celebrate the holiday in South Florida.

But the real kicker comes at the end of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” she noted. “That’s where people derail!"

Wilson said that since the tune is from an old British drinking song, it's best sung by a group.

“Just enjoy it, it's a great tune, it makes you feel really patriotic,” she said.

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Posted Jul 4, 2012
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