Moonlight Sonata : Beethoven : guitar version.

[Geoff]

I had been away on Vacation for a month and it has been really hard to get back into playing 😵‍💫.

As a way around that, i decided just to focus on what I feel i do best and play music not too hard but really beautiful. Moonlight Sonata is an absolute classic example of beauty through simplicity.

I do a two guitar version of this to simulate the superior ability of the piano where you can play two parts simultaneously. The guitar sucks at that.

[Dieter]

Wonderful music, excellent playing.

Dieter

[Geoff]

Thanks Dieter.

[San Luis Rey]

That’s beautiful alright Geoff! you got your mojo back.🙂
Mike

Mike

[Geoff]

Trying Mike trying 😅

[Ralph P.]

Beautifully played Geoff. I’ve never heard that played on guitar(s) before. Great arrangement and very well played with feeling.

One of my favorite Beatle songs “Because” was directly influenced by this piece. Yoko Ono was playing Moonlight Sonata for John Lennon, and he asked if she could play it backwards, and she did!

That became the inspiration for one of John’s most beautiful songs. One of the best examples of The Beatle’s 3 part harmonies. John. Paul, and George all sang their own harmony lines 3 times, so it ended up being 9 part harmony.

I’m pretty sure Beethoven would approve:

Ralph

Ralph P.

[Geoff]

One of the things I realize Ralph is I don’t listen to the Beatles enough and I forget just how brilliant some of their arrangements were. This one is certainly an example of that.

I did not know this song was inspired by Moonlight Sonata but I can certainly hear it in that introductory keyboard / guitar section.

You know, I sometimes wonder what bands would be remembered hundreds of years from now like Beethoven. I do think the Beatles would be likely candidates for that because even Gen Z seem to know who they are.

[David L]

This is wonderful on so many levels, Geoff. Your technique is spot-on, tone is perfect, and the video effect enhances the overall vibe. I enjoyed this immensely.

[Geoff]

Thanks David. One of the reasons I so enjoy playing “easier” stuff is i can focus more on the way I really want to express myself. As I know you know 😏, classical guitar is all about beauty and tone, it’s why it will always be my favorite style.

[Wayne Nunez]

That’s awesome my friend!

[Geoff]

Thanks you Wayne.

[Guido]

Beautiful guitar duo arrangement and brilliant rendition, Geoff! For sure you didn’t lose your abilities during your vacations (one month… I can only dream about it!).

Guido

[Geoff]

Thanks for giving this a listen. You know I always appreciate your support of my playing 🙏

[Garry]

Excellent version of an all time classic Geoff. Beautifully played. I think it’s the first time I’ve heard it played on guitar also. Kudos! 👏👏✅👏👏 All the best! 😎🎸😎

[Geoff]

Thanks Garry. I really do think a lot of stuff written for piano does not translate well for guitar. I tried a solo version of “Clair de Lune” recently and it was completely beyond my ability- only a professional classical guitarist would manage it i think.

Good news is i now have a duet version of it which, I hope, I will be able to play 😅

[JoeD1]

Well, that was one fine example of getting back into playing after holiday!

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[Sal]

Just excellent!!

[Helen Lazaridou]

My dear Geoff ♥️ I’ve just listened to you again!I love this piece and I can assure you your guitar rendition does justice to it!It’s so important to give priority to expressiveness because music is the medium to express our feelings.
I also heard what Ralph suggested and I found it remarkable ❣️💕💞💖

[Geoff]

Hi Helen, one interesting thing Ralph told me is he learned all his rhythm guitar playing from the Beatles. He is a huge fan of them.

I always thought their music “Too Pop” for my taste but that track Ralph put up here proves how wrong I have been on that. Their stuff can be very sophisticated delving off into some really interesting sounding harmonies.

Playing Moonlight Sonata as a duet sounds simple but the timing has to be spot on. Running into the same issue with Bach’s “Ave Maria”. The timing on that one is 4 beats to the bar but each note in the accompaniment is a 16th note. There is often a 1/16 note pause where the second part fills in and it has to be precise. Phew ! 😅

[Duffy P]

Sounds great Geoff.

Now try the third movement. It’s awesome how deep the guitar is –

[Geoff]

Yes it is Duffy. No end to it 🙂

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