E-|---Song:-Moonlight-Sonata-----------------------|
A-|---Composer:-Ludwig-Van-Beethoven---------------|
D-|---Transcription-by:Christian Liang-------------|
G-|---E-Mail:christian.liang@gmail.com-------------|
B-|---http://www.chrisliang.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=======--|
-2================------------------|--------------------------------------|
-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
---
Artist: Ludwig Van Beethoven
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