Clair de lune
by Claude Debussy (1862–1918) · Early modern · Advanced
Versions
| Version | Level | Key | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced · Level 4 | 4 of 5 | C♯ major | 5:23 |
The player above plays the first 20 seconds. Learn all 5:23 of Clair de lune in the PianoKite app: every version, both hands or one at a time, Wait mode on every bar, play-along at 50, 75 or 100% and per-bar feedback. Get early access.
- Era
- Early modern (1890–1930)
- Mood
- Calm · slow and peaceful
- Versions
- 1
About this piece
Claude Debussy (1862–1918) is the composer of Clair de lune, an early-20th-century piece that is slow and peaceful. There is one arrangement: Advanced (level 4 of 5), 5:23 long, in C♯ major. In the app's library you'll also find it in the Dreamy collection. It is one of the 100 most popular pieces in our library.
About Claude Debussy (1862–1918): French composer whose new harmonies opened the 20th century. Clair de lune, the two Arabesques and Children's Corner are his best-known piano pieces.
How to play Clair de lune on piano
- Expect weeks, not days. Learn it section by section and keep a list of the hardest passages to practise first in every session.
- Slow practice is the fastest way forward: loop the difficult bars at 50% until they are clean, then 75%, then full speed.
- Decide on fingering early for fast passages and write it down; changing fingering later costs more time than it saves.
- Aim for a soft, singing tone and smooth connections between notes. Change the sustain pedal with each new harmony so the sound doesn't blur.
- Short daily sessions beat one long weekly one. Ten focused minutes a day is enough to make steady progress.
In the PianoKite app you can learn it with your own digital piano over Bluetooth or USB, or with any piano through the microphone: the score scrolls past a playhead, the keys light up, and every bar gets a score so you can see what's learned. See how it works. New to the piano? Start with the beginner lessons. Get early access.
License and credits
Typeset by Keith OHara for the Mutopia Project. License: Public Domain. Source: Mutopia Project.
Both the composition and the source file are in the public domain.
Text events such as lyrics were removed; the notes are as published. The player on this page plays the first 20 seconds.
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