Fur Elise, or to give it its full name, “Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor (WoO 59, Bia 515)” by Ludwig van Beethoven, is a timeless classical piece composed in 1810. Its iconic melody is instantly recognizable around the world, and the good news for aspiring guitarists is that the opening section is wonderfully accessible to learn using basic guitar chords. Often referred to as “Für Elise,” this piece is a fantastic starting point for anyone venturing into classical guitar or wanting to expand their chord vocabulary.
The initial part of Fur Elise is surprisingly easy to play on guitar. It cleverly combines fundamental chords with simple single-note melodies, making it an enjoyable and rewarding piece for beginners. Don’t be fooled by its classical origins; you don’t need to be an expert to tackle this beautiful tune. You can learn to play along with the iconic melody using just a handful of beginner-friendly chords you might already know.
To give you an idea of the melody, here’s a piano version of Fur Elise. Listen to the first part and you’ll realize how manageable it is to translate to the guitar. While the later sections of the piece are more complex, our focus here is on mastering that famous opening with guitar chords.
Below you will find a guitar chord chart showing the chords needed for playing Fur Elise.
These chords, as you can see, are fundamental guitar chords. You may already be familiar with shapes like Am (A minor), E major, Dm (D minor), G major, and C major. Perhaps your G chord is slightly different, but the versions shown are common and effective. These are the building blocks for countless songs, and mastering them through a piece like Fur Elise is a great way to solidify your chord knowledge.
Here is the sheet music with guitar tabs for Beethoven’s Fur Elise, adapted for guitar.
A crucial tip for learning Fur Elise (and any song with tabs and chords!): pay close attention to the chord symbols above the guitar tablature. When you see chords like Am or E indicated, make sure to actually fret the entire chord shape. You’ll notice the tab lines often reflect notes within those chords. Many beginner guitarists simply play the tab notes without engaging with the underlying chords. However, by fretting the full chord, you’ll achieve a richer sound and develop a deeper understanding of the music theory at play. This approach not only sounds better but also trains your ear and your understanding of harmony.
Did you find learning Fur Elise challenging? Don’t worry if some parts need more practice. Learning guitar takes time and patience.
Let’s explore some interesting facts about Fur Elise:
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Who was Elise? The true identity of Elise remains a mystery, sparking several theories. Theory 1 suggests “Elise” was a misreading of “Therese.” It’s thought the piece might have been originally titled “Für Therese,” dedicated to Therese von Malfatti, a woman Beethoven considered marrying. Theory 2 proposes Elise was one of Beethoven’s piano students. Known for his admiration of his female students, this theory suggests a romantic connection. Theory 3 posits Elise was Elisabeth Röckel, nicknamed “Elise,” a singer and another possible object of Beethoven’s affection.
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Fur Elise has even made its way into popular culture. A jazzed-up rendition featured in the Benny Hill comedy show, adding a humorous twist to the classical piece.
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Interestingly, Fur Elise serves a practical purpose in some parts of the world. It’s known as a “trucker’s tune” in Taiwan and Iran, where garbage trucks play it to signal collection times. In Brazil, gas cylinder delivery trucks use it, and ice cream vans worldwide have adopted it as their musical call.
All guitar chord charts 2010 Dirk Laukens
