Claire De Lune by Claude Debussy
47 people have learned this song
Easy piano arrangement in the key of C at 81 BPM. Difficulty: beginner. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.
This arrangement gives you a beautiful workout in smooth chord transitions — your left hand will cycle through thirteen different chord shapes including Am7, Dm7, G7, and a few moody ones like Cm and Fm that add Debussy's signature color.
At 81 BPM the tempo is gentle, but don't let that fool you: the real challenge is connecting chords like G7 to Cm or E to Am without audible gaps, so practice those specific transitions hands-separate and painfully slow before you string whole phrases together.
Watch your right hand's melody notes over the seventh chords — it's easy to rush through the sustained moments because they feel "empty," but that space is where the peaceful mood lives, so lean into it.
If you find the Fm or Cm shapes awkward, loop just those two bars ten times until your fingers stop hesitating.
This is the piece that will teach you to voice minor seventh chords with real confidence, and once that clicks, you'll carry it into everything else you play.
About “Claire De Lune”
- What key is "Claire De Lune" in?
- "Claire De Lune" by Claude Debussy is in the key of C with a tempo of 81 BPM. Difficulty: beginner.
- Is "Claire De Lune" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this arrangement is rated beginner, meaning it uses simple chord patterns and a manageable tempo. Most beginners can play through it in 1-3 practice sessions using our color-coded notes.
- Can I play "Claire De Lune" without reading sheet music?
- Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
- What chords are used in "Claire De Lune"?
- This arrangement of "Claire De Lune" uses 13 chords: Am, Am7, C, C7, Cm, Dm, Dm7, E, +5 more.
- How long does it take to learn "Claire De Lune" on piano?
- 1–3 short practice sessions for the basics; 2–3 weeks to perform confidently with both hands.
- What other songs by Claude Debussy can I play here?
- Try "En Bateau", "Clair de Lune", "Clair de Lune". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
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