<P> The poem was set to the tune of a popular British song written by John Stafford Smith for the Anacreontic Society , a men 's social club in London . `` To Anacreon in Heaven '' ( or `` The Anacreontic Song '' ) , with various lyrics , was already popular in the United States . Set to Key 's poem and renamed `` The Star - Spangled Banner '' , it soon became a well - known American patriotic song . With a range of 19 semitones , it is known for being difficult to sing . Although the poem has four stanzas , only the first is commonly sung today . </P>
<P> The poem was set to the tune of a popular British song written by John Stafford Smith for the Anacreontic Society , a men 's social club in London . `` To Anacreon in Heaven '' ( or `` The Anacreontic Song '' ) , with various lyrics , was already popular in the United States . Set to Key 's poem and renamed `` The Star - Spangled Banner '' , it soon became a well - known American patriotic song . With a range of 19 semitones , it is known for being difficult to sing . Although the poem has four stanzas , only the first is commonly sung today . </P>
who wrote the melody to the star spangled banner
who wrote the melody to the star spangled banner
John Stafford Smith
John Stafford Smith