Für Elise (easy theme)
Ludwig van Beethoven · German, 1810 · solo guitar
Techniques
The E–D♯ figure
bars 1–2 →The theme opens by swinging between the open first string and the fourth fret of the second string. Keep the left-hand finger on the fourth fret relaxed and let the open string ring.
Bass arpeggios on A minor and E
bars 3–5 →After each phrase of the melody the bass answers with a short arpeggio. Play it with the thumb and let the notes ring into each other.
First position only
bars 1–17 →Every note lies within the first four frets, so the hand never has to move along the neck.
Key and harmony
A minor, moving only between A minor and its dominant, E. The shading on the circle of fifths shows how many of the 17 bars use each chord.
Chords and positions
Practice plan
Four steps, about a week each at 15 minutes a day. Each link opens the player at that bar and tempo.
-
STEP 136 BPM
The opening figure
Play the pickup and the first phrase until the E–D♯ swing is even.
Open bars 1–5 at 36 BPM → -
STEP 240 BPM
The answer
Add the second phrase and its bass arpeggios.
Open bars 5–9 at 40 BPM → -
STEP 344 BPM
The repeat
The theme repeats from bar 10 and closes on A minor.
Open bars 10–17 at 44 BPM → -
STEP 448 BPM
The whole theme
Play all 17 bars through.
Open bars 1–17 at 48 BPM →
Related pieces
Easy version of the theme by easytabs.studio, from the guitar duo arranged by J. J. Olson (Mutopia Project #2059, public domain).