Sonata in G, Op. 49 No. 2: I. Allegro ma non troppo
The first movement of Beethoven's Sonata in G major, Op. 49 No. 2, marked Allegro ma non troppo, is an intermediate piece in cut time, Octotune grade 6 of 8: a bold opening chord, then flowing triplets in both hands.
At a glance
| Composer | Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate: grade 6 of 8 |
| Key | Key signature: 1 sharp (F♯) |
| Time | 2/2 |
| Tempo | 142 quarter-note beats a minute, as the app starts it (it can go slower) |
| Length | 122 measures, about 3:25 |
| Hands | both hands |
| Right hand | F♯3 to E6 |
| Left hand | G1 to G5 |
It reaches past the staff: see ledger lines explained.
Levels in the app
| Version | Grade | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Sonata in G, Op. 49 No. 2: I. Allegro ma non troppo | 6 of 8 | Melody, Melody and bass, Full |
Practice notes
Beethoven's two Sonatas, Op. 49, are known as the "easy" sonatas: short, clear and much loved by students. They were written in the 1790s and published in 1805. No. 2, in G major, has two movements; this is the first, marked Allegro ma non troppo: quick, but not too quick.
How it is built. It opens with a G major chord, then the right hand rises in triplets, D G B D, and turns back down. Triplets run through most of the movement, passed between the hands. It is in cut time, two beats in a measure, and is built as a sonata movement: two tunes presented, developed, then brought back.
The tricky parts
- Triplets. Three even notes to each beat, often in both hands in turn. Count them.
- Triplets against duplets. Sometimes one hand plays triplets while the other plays eighths. Practice those measures slowly.
- Scales and broken chords. Keep them even across the hand's position changes.
- Accidentals. C sharp, D sharp and others as the music moves to D major and beyond.
Practice plan
- Hands separately in Wait for me, a section at a time.
- Both hands at 50% speed with the loop on any passage that stumbles.
- Play along, raising the speed while the triplets stay even.
Next movement: the Tempo di Menuetto.
Before you start: Octotune's path through Unit 10, which teaches F sharp. The other accidentals go beyond it.
Questions
Is Beethoven's Op. 49 No. 2 easy?
It is one of his two easy sonatas, but its first movement is an intermediate piece, Octotune grade 6 of 8: triplets in both hands for long stretches, scales and many accidentals.
Why are Beethoven's Op. 49 sonatas called easy?
The two sonatas of Op. 49 are short and simpler than his other sonatas, and have long been played by students. They were written in the 1790s and published in 1805.
Credits and license
- Music: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
- Typeset by Stelios Samelis for the Mutopia Project
- License: Public Domain
- Source and printable sheet music: the Mutopia Project’s page for this piece