Waltz in B minor, Op. 69 No. 2
Chopin's Waltz in B minor, Op. 69 No. 2, written around 1829 and published after his death, is a wistful waltz in 3/4, Octotune grade 6 of 8: a singing tune over a leaping waltz bass, with a brighter middle section in B major.
At a glance
| Composer | Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate: grade 6 of 8 |
| Key | Key signature: 2 sharps (F♯, C♯) |
| Time | 3/4 |
| Tempo | 152 quarter-note beats a minute, as the app starts it (it can go slower) |
| Length | 145 measures, about 2:52 |
| Hands | both hands |
| Right hand | F4 to F♯6 |
| Left hand | B1 to G4 |
It reaches past the staff: see ledger lines explained.
Levels in the app
| Version | Grade | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Waltz in B minor, Op. 69 No. 2 | 6 of 8 | Melody, Melody and bass, Full |
Practice notes
Chopin wrote this waltz as a young man, around 1829, and never published it; it appeared after his death, with the late opus number 69. It is one of his most approachable waltzes: wistful and singing, in B minor (two sharps) and 3/4.
How it is built. The tune opens on a long F sharp, then turns, G F sharp C sharp, and sinks through D and B to A sharp: a sigh. The left hand plays a waltz bass: a low bass note on beat 1, then the chord above it on beats 2 and 3. In the middle the key signature changes to five sharps, and a brighter section in B major follows, before the opening returns.
The tricky parts
- The waltz bass. A leap from bass note to chord in every measure, often more than an octave. Find the chords by feel.
- Accidentals. A sharp, B minor's leading note, is everywhere; the middle section adds five sharps in the key signature.
- Singing tone. The tune is on top and should sing, with the left hand's chords soft.
- Rubato. Chopin's waltzes breathe: a little give at the ends of phrases, then back to time.
Practice plan
- Left hand alone in Wait for me, then in Play along, until the leaps are secure.
- The tune alone with the Melody level.
- Both hands, section by section with the loop, at 50% speed; then raise it.
Before you start: Octotune's path through Unit 11, which teaches F sharp and chords. The other sharps go beyond it.
Questions
Is Chopin's Waltz in B minor easy?
It is one of the easier Chopin waltzes, an intermediate piece, Octotune grade 6 of 8. The left hand's waltz bass leaps widely, and the middle section in B major has five sharps.
When did Chopin write the Waltz in B minor?
As a young man, around 1829. It was published only after his death, which is why it has a late opus number, 69.
Credits and license
- Music: Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
- Typeset by Roland Goretzki for the Mutopia Project
- License: Public Domain
- Source and printable sheet music: the Mutopia Project’s page for this piece