Lullaby (Schubert) – Franz Schubert

About this piece

Schubert's Lullaby, known in German as Wiegenlied, D 498, is a song for voice and piano that Franz Schubert wrote in 1816, while he was still a teenager in Vienna. It is a gentle cradle song with a rocking accompaniment, and its tender melody has become one of the best-loved lullabies in the classical repertoire, often played on its own without a singer.

This arrangement keeps only the melody as a single line and lasts around 41 seconds. It is in 4/4 at 90 bpm, with a range from D4 to E5, so it sits comfortably in the middle of the keyboard just above middle C. The phrases are smooth and song-like, which makes the real challenge one of tone: each note should connect to the next as if it were being sung softly.

Try Listen mode first to hear how calmly the line moves, then practise in Wait mode at 50 to 75 % so the notes wait while you find each key. Keep note names on until the moves between D4 and E5 feel familiar. Use the A–B loop on any phrase that sounds uneven and repeat it quietly, aiming for a legato connection between notes. When it flows, switch to Play along with a count-in. The sheet music printed below this text shows the melody as written for this version.