Lullaby (Wiegenlied), Op. 49 No. 4
Johannes Brahms · German, 1868 · solo guitar
Techniques
Melody with a bass on each chord
bars 2–17 →The melody stays in the first position, and a single bass note marks each chord change. Hold the bass for the length of the chord while the melody moves above it.
Holding the G shape
bar 11 →In bars 11 and 15 the hand keeps a full G grip down for the whole bar and the melody is played out of it. Put the grip down once instead of fretting each note.
The second time through
bars 18–33 →The song is played twice; the second time starts again from the pickup. Keep the same fingering in both rounds.
Key and harmony
G major, built on G, D, A minor, B minor and C. The shading on the circle of fifths shows how many of the 33 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 160 BPM
The first phrase
Play the melody alone, then add the bass notes.
Open bars 1–9 at 60 BPM → -
STEP 266 BPM
The second phrase
Learn bars 10 to 17 and the G grip in bar 11.
Open bars 10–17 at 66 BPM → -
STEP 372 BPM
The second time
Play the repeat from the pickup in bar 17.
Open bars 17–33 at 72 BPM → -
STEP 480 BPM
The whole lullaby
Play both rounds through, gently and evenly.
Open bars 1–33 at 80 BPM →
Related pieces
Guitar version by easytabs.studio from the recorder-and-chords arrangement by Diego F. Guillen (Mutopia Project #481, public domain).