This month's free tab is a 2-part arrangement of the famous "Trio" section of "Stars and Stripes Forever", the official National March of the United States.  John Phillips Sousa (1854 - 1932), known as America's "March King", was a composer and conductor best known for his military marches, and for being the long-time conductor of the U.S. Marine Corps Band.  He composed 136 marches to be used to accompany the "military quickstep", a military cadenced step that was a somewhat quicker pace than the traditional ceremonial marches.   He came up with lilting melodies for these marches, some of which he borrowed from opera or classical themes.  He also is credited for adding a "Trio" section to his marches,  to provide a contrast between sections and repeats.  The 2-part arrangement presented here is actually just that famous "trio" section.

Sousa started his musical career at the age of 13, when his father, a trombonist in the Marine Band, enlisted his son into the U.S. Marine Corps as an apprentice musician, which he served for 7 years.  During that time, he learned to play all the wind instruments.  He returned to the Marine Corps band as its director in 1880, where he remained for 12 years.  Sousa also composed  a number of operettas, numerous songs, sacred vocal works, instrumental works, humoresques, fantasies and dances.  In fact, the marches for which he is most well known are actually the smallest part of his prodigious output. 

There are a few "accidentals" in this tune, which can be found out of D-A-d tuning by capo'ing at the 4th fret (key of A), and using both the 6 and the 6+ frets.  I have also provided a version of the tab in the key of D which uses the 1+ fret for those of you who would like to try that.  

Wishing you all a safe and happy July 4th.  Happy Birthday, America!

In music and friendship,

--Tull

Here are some lyrics that Sousa himself wrote for this section of his composition:

Hurrah for the flag of the free.
May it wave as our standard forever
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.