Early intermediate piece
How to play Greensleeves on piano
An English folk tune known since the 1500s. It has a lilting rocking rhythm in six and a dark, wistful sound from the minor key, which makes it a good piece for learning to shape a phrase.
- Composer
- Traditional (English)
- Level
- Early intermediate
- Key
- A minor or E minor, depending on the book
- Time signature
- 6/8 in most books
- Hands
- Both hands
What makes it tricky
- The sharps that appear in the second half. Look for accidentals before you start the line.
- The 6/8 feel. Count two big beats, with three small ones inside each.
- Phrasing. Let each line rise and fall rather than keeping the same volume.
A three-step practice plan
- Tap the 6/8 rhythm on your knee while counting.
- Right hand alone, one phrase at a time.
- Add the left hand, and listen for the shape of each phrase.