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
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