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Brahms Lullaby

Johannes Brahms · Key of F major · 3/4 · ♩ = 80

Brahms’ Lullaby (Wiegenlied, Op. 49 No. 4) was written in 1868 and is one of the best known lullabies in the world. Pianory’s version is in F major, 3/4, at 80 BPM. The left hand plays a waltz pattern, a bass note then two soft chords, like a rocking cradle.

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What makes it tricky

This is the first piece with many left-hand chords. F major has a B flat in the key signature, and it is easy to forget when reading quickly. The right hand spans almost an octave, F to F, so it shifts position a few times.

How to practice it

  1. Pick Left hand at 50% and count "1, 2, 3": bass on beat 1, chords on 2 and 3. Play the chords softer than the bass.
  2. Pick Right hand and spot every B before you play. Every one of them is B flat.
  3. Pick Both at 75%, then 100%. Keep the melody louder than the accompaniment, as if you were singing it.