Lullaby (Brahms) – Johannes Brahms

About this piece

Brahms' Lullaby, known in German as Wiegenlied, is the fourth song of Johannes Brahms' Op. 49, a set of songs for voice and piano published in 1868. Its rocking melody became one of the most familiar cradle songs in the world, and for many children it is the first classical tune they ever hear at bedtime.

This arrangement keeps things simple: a single melody line that lasts about 36 seconds and stays between C4 and C5, so your hand barely needs to move. It is written in 3/4 time at 89 beats per minute, and that gentle three-beat sway is the heart of the piece. Count one, two, three as you play and let the first beat of each bar lean a little.

Start in Wait mode so the falling notes pause until you press the right key, and turn on note names if you are still learning where C, E and G sit. Slow the speed to 50–75 % at first, then raise it once the phrases feel smooth. If one line keeps tripping you up, set an A–B loop around it and repeat it a few times. Use the count-in to settle into the waltz-like pulse before the first note, and when you are ready, look at the sheet music further down the page to see how the melody appears on the staff.