E-|---Song:-Moonlight-Sonata-----------------------| A-|---Composer:-Ludwig-Van-Beethoven---------------| D-|---Transcription-by:Christian Liang-------------| G-|---E-Mail:christian.liang@gmail.com-------------| B-|---http://www.classclef.com---------------------| E-|---Enjoy!---------------------------------------| ========================================================================== Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770–1827) ========================================================================== 1st movement Opus 27 No 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ====== Legend ====== Right p = pulgar = thumb i = indice = index m = medio = middle a = anular = ring Left p = pull off h = hammer on / = slide = = suspend/hold Note II2 = Barre at fret 2 bottom 2 strings * = leave finger at same position Standard Tuning 4/4 Time Signature 69 Bars Play Slowly [1] -------------------------------------|------------------------------------| --------1--------1--------1--------1-|-------1--------1--------1--------1-| -----2--------2--------2--------2----|----2--------2--------2--------2----| --2=======-2=======-2=======-2======-|-2=======-2=======-2=======-2======-| --0=================================-|------------------------------------| -------------------------------------|-3=================================-| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 *2 1 4 R i i m p i m p i m p i m i i m p i m p i m p i m p p [3]I...............III.............. ------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| -------1--------1--------3--------3-|-------3--------1--------0--------0--| ----2--------2--------3--------3----|----1--------2--------2--------1-----| -3=======-3=======-3=======-3======-|-2=======-2=======-2=======-0=======-| -------------------5===============-|-------------------------------------| -1================------------------|-0================-0================-| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L4 *2 1 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 4 2 3 1 2 3 3 1 3 Ri i m p i m i i m p i m i i m p i m p i m p i m p p p [5]V............... ----------------------------0======-0-0=========================-0=====--0-| -------------------------1--------1-|-------3--------3--------3--------3---| -------2-----2--5-----2--------2----|----4--------4--------4--------4------| ----2=====2======--2======--2======-|----------2=======-2=======-2=======--| -3================------------------|--------------------------------------| -5================------------------|-4==================================--| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L2 1 1 1 1 4 2 3 1 2 3 1 3 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 4 Ri i m i m i p i m a i m a a i m p i m p i m a i m a p p p p [7] -0================-1===============-|-0=========================-3=======-| -------1--------1--------3--------3-|-------1--------1--3-----0--------0--| ----2--------2--------2--------2----|----0--------0--------0--------0-----| ----------2=======-0=======-3======-|----------2========---------3=======-| -0=================================-|-------------------------------------| ------------------------------------|-3================-3================-| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L 3 1 2 3 1 1 2 4 3 2 4 3 1 2 1 4 4 3 3 Ra i m p i m a i m p i m a i m p i m m i m a i m p p p p p [9] V............... ------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| -1-----1--------1--------1--------1-|----------------------------4-------4-| ----0--------0--------0--------0----|-------5--------5--------5--------5---| ----------2=======-2=======-2======-|----5--------5--------5--------5------| -3=================================-| 6=======-6=======-6========-6======--| ------------------------------------|-8==============----------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 4 2 3 *1 *2 3 4 4 Ra i m p i m p i m p i m i i m p i m p i m a i m a p p p [11] IV.......III......I........ ------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| -4==========================4======-4-4======================-1--3-----1---| -------6--------6--------6--------6-|-------5--------5-----2--------2------| ----5--------5--------5--------5----|----6--------6-----1--------0======---| ----------6=======-6=======-6======-|--------------------------------------| -6========--------------------------|-4=======-3=======-2========----------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L4 *2 *1 3 2 4 3 2 4 1 2 4 1 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 3 1 4 2 1 3 3 1 2 Ra i m p i m p i m a i m a a i m p i m i m a m i m p p p p p [13]III............. III................................. ------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| -3================-4=====---1======-|-3================-3================-| -------3--------3-----0--2-----0--2-|-------3--------3--------2--------2--| ----5--------5--------------1======-|----5--------5--------4--------4-----| ----------5=======-3========--------|-5=======-5=======-5=======-5=======-| -3=================-----------------|-------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 4 1 3 4 1 4 3 2 3 1 4 1 3 4 1 2 3 1 4 3 1 1 2 1 3 4 Ra i m p i m a m i m i m a i m p i m a i m p i m p p p p p [15]III.............................. II....... ----------------------------3======-|-4=========================-2=======-| -------3--------3--------3--------3-|-------4--------4--------4--------4--| ----3--------3--------4--------4----|----5--------5--------5--------5-----| -5=======-5=======-5=======-5======-|-5========---------------------------| ------------------------------------|----------3=======-6=======-3=======-| -3=================================-|-------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 1 1 4 1 1 4 3 1 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 4 3 2 1 4 3 3 *4 *4 2 Ri i m p i m p i m a i m a i m p i m p i m a i m p p p p [17]III.............................. II....... -3=========================-3======-|-4================-2=======-2=======-| -------3--------3--------3--------3-|-------4--------4--------4--------4--| ----4--------4--------4--------4----|----5--------5--------5--------5-----| ----------5=======-5=======-5======-|-5========---------------------------| ------------------------------------|----------3=======-6=======-3=======-| -3=================================-|-------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 2 1 4 3 1 4 3 1 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 4 3 2 1 4 3 *4 *4 2 Rp i m p i m p i m a i m a i m p i m p i m a i m p p p [19]III............ III............ -3================-3===============-|-3=============-0--1================-| -------3--------3--------5--------5-|-------5-----------------3--------3--| ----4--------4--------4--------4----|----3--------3--------2--------2-----| ----------5========---------5======-|----------5=======-0=======-3=======-| ------------------------------------|-4=================------------------| -3================-0===============-|-------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 2 1 *3 *2 1 1 *2 4 *3 2 *4 1 1 *4 *3 2 1 2 4 3 2 4 1 2 Ra i m p i m a i m p i m a i m p i a a i m p i m p p p p [21]III............................. ------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| -4================-3===============-|-------------------------------------| -------3--------3--------4--------4-|-2================-2================-| ----5--------5--------3--------3----|----0--3-----0--3--------2--------2--| ----------6========---------5======-|-0========-0======-0--4-----0--4-----| -3================-4===============-|-------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L2 3 1 4 3 1 1 1 2 4 1 *2 *2 3 3 2 4 1 4 1 1 3 Ra i m p i m a i m p i m m i m p m i m p i p p i p p p p [23] -------------------------1--5======-5-5========------------------5-----5-5-| ----------------3-----3-----------6-|-------8--------8--------8-----8------| -------2-----2-----2========---7----|----6--------6--------6---------------| ----3-----3========-----------------|----------7=======-7=======-7=======--| ----------------------------0======-|-0==================================--| -1========--------------------------|--------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L 3 2 3 2 4 2 4 1 1 3 2 1 1 2 4 3 2 4 3 2 4 1 2 4 4 3 Rp p i p i m p i m a i m a a i m p i m p i m a m a a p p p [25] -5-----------------4--------5-------|-7-----0--------0--------0--7-----0--| -------6--------6--------6--------6-|-------------------------------------| ----7--------7--------7--------7----|----7--------7--------7--------7-----| ----------7========-----------------|----------6=======-6========---------| -0=========================-0======-|-------------------------------------| -------------------7===============-|-4=========================-4=======-| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 4 2 3 *4 *2 1 *4 *2 1 4 2 4 3 2 3 2 3 4 3 3 1 1 Ra i m p i m a i m a i m a i a p i a p i a a i a p p p p [27] V....... -8-----------------7--------5-------|-4--------0--------1------------------| -------10-------10-------6--------7-|-------0--------0--------0--3-----0---| ----9--------9--------7--------5----|----1=======-1=======-1=======-1===---| ----------10======-0=======-7-------|--------------------------------------| -0=========================-6======-|--------------------------------------| ------------------------------------|-0==================================--| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 2 4 3 2 4 4 3 2 1 1 4 4 1 1 2 1 3 1 3 2 Ra i m p i m a i m a i m a i m a i m a i m m i m p p i p p [29] V................................... ------------------------------------|----------5--------8--------5---------| -------0--------0--------0--------0-|-------5--------5--------5--------5---| ----1--------1--------1--------1----|-5--5=======-5========-5======-5===---| ----------2=======-3=======-0======-|--------------------------------------| ------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| -0=================================-|-0==================================--| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 Rp i m p i m p i m p i m i i m a i m a i m a i m p [31]II5............................. ------------------------------------|----------------------------1-----4--| ------------------------------------|----------------0-----3--------3-----| ----------2--------5--------2-------|----------1--------1-----4-----------| -------2--------2--------2--------2-|----3--0-----3-----------------------| ----3=======-3=======-3=======-3===-|-2===============--------------------| -0=================================-|-0==================================-| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L2 2 1 1 2 1 4 2 1 1 2 1 2 3 1 3 1 3 4 1 3 4 Rp i m a i m a i m a i m i m i m i m i m i m i m p [33]II5........ V.......... ----------------0-----5-----8--5--0-|----------2-----5-----8-----------14-| -------------------1-----5----------|----4--------4-----7-----10-13-------| ----2-----5--2----------------------|-2====-5-----------------------14----| -------2----------------------------|-------------------------------------| -3===============-------------------|-0================================---| -0=================================-|-0================================== | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L2 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 3 4 1 3 1 3 1 3 2 3 4 Ri m i m i a i m i m i m m m i m i m i m i i p a p i p [35] ----------7-----10----13----16----19|-16----13----10----7-----4-----1-----| ----9--------9-----12----15----18---|----15----12----9-----6-----3--------| -7====-10---------------------------|----------------------------------4--| -0=================================-|-------------------------------------| ------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| -0=================================-|-------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 3 4 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 4 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 4 Rm m i m i m i m i m i m m i m i m i m i m i m p i p [37] ------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| -3-----0----------------------------|-------------------------------------| ----1--------1----------------------|-------------------------------------| ----------3-----0--3-----0-----0--3-|----0--2--3--2--0-----0--3-----0--3--| ----------------------2-----0-------|-------------------2=======-0=======-| ------------------------------------|-4================-------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L3 1 3 1 3 2 3 4 1 2 1 2 3 3 Rm i m i m i m p i p i m p i m i m i p i m p i m [39] ------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| ------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| ------------------------------------|-------------------------2--------2--| ----0--2--3--2--0-----0--3-----0--3-|----0--2--3--2--0--------------------| -------------------1=======-0======-|----------------------3-----0--3-----| -4=================-----------------|-4================-1================-| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L4 1 2 3 1 3 3 4 1 2 1 1 4 3 4 *3 R [41] V................ ------------------------------------|----------------------------0======-0-| ------------------------------------|-------------------------1--------1---| -------2--------2--------1--------1-|-------2-----2--5-----2--------2------| ----3--------3--------2--------2----|----2====-2======--2=======-2=======--| -2=======-2=======-2=======-2======-|-2===============---------------------| -------------------0===============-|-5==============----------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L2 4 *3 2 4 *3 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 4 2 3 1 2 3 1 4 Rp i m p i m i i m p i m i i m i m i p i m i m a p p p p [43] -0=================================-0-0================-1================-| -------3--------3--------3--------3-|-------1--------1--------3--------3--| ----4--------4--------4--------4----|----2--------2--------2--------2-----| ----------2=======-2=======-2======-|----------2=======-0=======-3=======-| ------------------------------------|-0==================================-| -4=================================-|-------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L3 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 3 1 2 3 1 1 2 4 3 2 4 Ra i m p i m p i m p i m a i m p i m a i m p i m p p p [45] III...... -0=========================-3======-|----------------0=======-0--3======-3-| -------1--------1--3-----0--------0-|-1-----1-----1--------1-----------5---| ----0--------0--------0--------0----|----0-----0--------0-----------5------| ----------2========---------3======-|----------------------------5=======--| ------------------------------------|-3==========================----------| -3================-3===============-|--------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L3 1 2 1 4 4 1 1 1 1 1 3 4 1 3 3 3 2 Ra i m p i m m i m a i m m i m i m a i m a a i m a p p p p p [47]III................................................ V........ -3===========================-3====-3-3==========-------4-----0--5=======-| -------6--------6--------6--------6-|-------5--------5-----3-----------5--| ----4--------4--------4--------4----|----5--------5-----------------5-----| ----------5=======-5=======-5======-|----------5========------------------| ------------------------------------|-3========---------2=======-0=======-| -3=================================-|-------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 2 4 3 2 4 3 2 4 1 2 4 1 1 3 4 1 3 4 3 2 4 2 3 1 3 1 2 1 Ra i m p i m p i m a i m a a i m p i m a m a a i m p p p p p [49] VI............... -7================-8==============--|-6================-4================-| -------5--------5--------10-------10|-6-----6--------6--------5--------5--| ----7--------7--------9--------9----|----7--------7--------7--------7-----| ----------6========---------10=====-|-0=======-8========---------6=======-| -------------------0===============-|-------------------------------------| -0=================-----------------|-------------------0=========--------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L4 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 4 3 2 4 1 2 1 3 2 1 1 4 2 3 4 1 1 Ra i m p i m a i m p i m a i m p i m a i m p i m p p m p p [51]V4............................... -5=========================-5======-|-6=========================-4=======-| -------5--------5--------5--------5-|-------6--------6--------6--------6--| ----5--------5--------6--------6----|----7--------7--------7--------7-----| ----------7=======-7=======-7======-|-7========------------------0=======-| -0=================================-|----------5=======-8========---------| ------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 1 1 3 1 1 3 2 1 1 3 1 1 3 2 1 3 2 4 3 2 1 4 3 *4 *4 Ra i m p i m p i m a i m a i m p i m p i m a i m p p p p [53]V4............................... -5=========================-5======-|-6=========================-4=======-| -------5--------5--------5--------5-|-------6--------6--------6--------6--| ----6--------6--------6--------6----|----7--------7--------7--------7-----| ----------7=======-7=======-7======-|-7========------------------0=======-| -0=================================-|----------5=======-8========---------| ------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 1 3 1 1 3 2 1 3 2 4 3 2 1 4 3 *4 *4 Ra i m p i m p i m a i m a i m p i m p i m a i m p p p p [55]V............... III................................. -5=================5===============-|-3=========================-3======--| -------5--------5--------6--------6-|-------6--------6--------6--------5--| ----6--------6--------7--------7----|----4--------4--------4--------5-----| ----------7=======-0=======-7======-|----------5=======-5========---------| -0=================-----------------|----------------------------3======--| ------------------------------------|-3==========================---------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 2 1 3 2 1 1 4 2 *3 4 2 1 2 4 *3 1 4 3 2 4 1 3 4 1 1 Ra i m p i m a i m p i m a i m p i m p i m a i m p p p p [57] -------0--1--------0--------0======-|-------------------0=======-1=======-| -6=======----0--3-----0--3--------1-|-3-----0--------0--------0--------0--| ----5--------------------------2----|----2--------2--------2--------2-----| ------------------------------------|----------0========---------0=======-| -0=======-2========---------0======-|-------------------------------------| -------------------4===============-|-1================-0===============--| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L 4 3 1 4 3 2 *2 1 3 *2 2 2 1 2 2 1 Rm i a a m i a m i a i m m i m p i m a i m a i m p p p p p p p [59] -0================-0===============-|--------------------------------------| -------1--------1--------0--------0-|----------------1--------1--------1---| ----2--------2--------1--------1----|-2=====-2----2--------2--------2------| ----------2========---------0======-|----2====-2======--2=======-2=======--| ------------------------------------|-0================--------------------| -0================-0===============-|----------------------------0======-0-| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L 3 1 2 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 4 2 3 1 2 3 1 4 Ra i m p i m a i m p i m m i m p i m p i m i m a p p p p p [61] V........... ------------------------------------|----------0-----5-----8--5--12--------| -------3--------3--------3--------3-|----1--------1-----5-----------13-----| ----4--------4--------4--------4----|-------2--------------------------14--| ----------2=======-2=======-2======-|--------------------------------------| ------------------------------------|-0==========================----------| -0=========================-0======-0----------------------------0======-0-| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 2 1 1 1 4 1 1 2 3 Rp i m p i m p i m i m a p p m i m i m i m i m i m p p p [63] V......... ----7-----4-----1-------------------|----------0-----5-----8--5--12--------| -9-----6-----3-----0--3-------------|----1--------1-----5-----------13-----| ----------------------------1======-|-------2--------------------------14--| -------------------------3-----2--0-|--------------------------------------| ------------------------------------|-0=========================-----------| -0=========================-0======-0----------------------------0======-0-| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L3 1 3 1 3 1 4 3 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 4 1 1 2 3 Ri m i m i m i m i m i m p p m i m i m i m i m i m p p p p [65] V................ ----7-----4-----1-------------------|----------8-----------------5--------| -9-----6-----3-----0--3-------------|-------10----10----------5-----5-----| ----------------------------1======-|----9-----------9-----5-----------5--| -------------------------3-----2--0-|-------------------7===============--| ------------------------------------|-0=================------------------| -0=========================-0======-0-------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L3 1 3 1 3 1 4 3 1 2 2 3 1 3 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 Ri m i m i m i m i m i m p p i m a m i p i m a m i p p [67] V................. ----------0-------------------------|-------------------0================-| -------1-----1----------------------|-------------------1================-| ----2-----------2-----2-------------|-------------------2================-| -------------------2-----2-----2----|-------------------------------------| -0=========================-3====-3-|-0================-0================-| ------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L 3 1 1 3 2 3 2 4 2 4 1 3 Rp i m a m i p i p p i p p a m i p [69]II............. ------------------------------------| ------------------------------------| -2----------------------------------| -2=================-----------------| -3=================-----------------| -5=================-----------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | L1 1 2 4 Ra m i p ----- Notes ----- www.chrisliang.com Adagio sostenuto. Adagio: music is to be played "slowly". Sostenuto: is a term from Italian which means "sustained." At the opening of the work, Beethoven included a written direction that the sustain pedal should be depressed for the entire duration of the first movement! The movement opens with an octave in the left hand and a triplet figuration in the right. A melody that Hector Berlioz called a "lamentation". Composed during beethoven's middle (Heroic) period- Beethoven's personal crisis brought on by his recognition of encroaching deafness. It is rumored that Moonlight Sonata is a romantic dedication to Beethoven's pupil, 17-year-old Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. Composed for the piano and translated to the guitar. The hardest part of Moonlight Sonanta is achieving Smooth Chord transition. This is a not a beginner song with many Chords barred chords. More demanding on the left (chords) than the right (plucking). Pay heed to left hand fingering in all chords. Every finger placement is important! Rhythmn (right) is mostly uniform throughout. Play slow. This is not a lengthy song (69 bars) but it should span beyond 5 minutes. Commit Moonlight Sonata to memory so you can "think ahead" in finger placement. Don't try to place all fingers in a chord at once. Instead place fingers one by one according to the note being played. Remember Smooth Chord transition is the key. If you find this song to be overwhelmingly long, work on parts and piece it back together gradually. You may notice there are a lot of (===) in my tab. This indicated note suspension. Sustain these notes for they make the mood of the song extra special! Areas worth noting..... Bar[1]-[3] Watch your fingering "A minor" chord in an unorthodox position. This works best for the pinky playing the G note in measure 2. Bar[5]-[8] Main Motif Spend some time in these 4 measure. The main motif-that most people are familiar with. Repeated at Bar[42]-[45] Double pluck on high E string at Double speed. Bar[10]-[11] Numerous Chords There are 5 chords in these 2 bars with tricky finger. Remember smooth chords transition. I marked * to indicate to keep a specific finger at the same position during the chord transition. ie. not lifting any fingers unnecessarily. Bar[16][18][52][54] Tight chord! 4 fingers has to fit in 2 frets. Bar[35] High Note Solo Interlude. Scales.The highest note possible on the guitar is hit on the 19th fret high E string. Your left thumb should not be touching the back of the neck at this point! It will help if you have a cutaway. Bar[60]-[61] Main motif revisited. Slight variation with double thumb downstroke on low E string. Bar[62]-[66]-Counterpoint 2 voices. bass and treble. Rhythimcally quite challenging. Well, you have gone this far, no stopping you now! keep the motif bass tempo (ta--ta-ta) during the left hand solo along the neck. Good luck! www.chrisliang.com --- FIN ---