About this work
The dotted rhythm gives this Brahms waltz its gentle sway. In the guitar transcription, the melody begins with a sustained note before moving into eighth notes; the bass marks the first beat and the chords answer it. The three beats remain clear even while the left hand shifts position.
A singing line above the dance
The fingerings and barre indications help the upper melody stay distinct from the chords. Practise the bass and chords alone first, letting the first beat lead each bar. Then add a slightly more prominent melody, without stressing every eighth note: the dotted figure already gives the phrase its shape.
Both sections repeat with different endings. Locate the first- and second-time bars before playing the whole piece: the short bass descent and the final chord belong to different passes. Let sustained notes ring while the other fingers prepare the next position.
Score and listeningThe one-page PDF contains the complete piece for solo guitar. The engraving by P. Bozzo, distributed by the Mutopia Project, retains the source’s markings. The MIDI provides a guide to pitches and rhythm; use the score for fingerings and articulation.The engraver has placed this edition in the public domain. It was typeset with LilyPond. Find its credits in the Mutopia entry, and explore more scores at LesPartitions.info.