Play along to Clair de Lune at 80 BPM
Debussy
Clair de Lune is an intermediate-advanced piano piece by Debussy, played at 80 BPM in D-flat major. You can play it free in your browser on this page — slow it to any tempo, play hands separately, or connect a MIDI piano.
Plays in your browser — no signup.
Practice tips
The opening melody (bars 1-14) must sing above the accompanying thirds — practice the top voice alone until you can shape it as a complete, breathing phrase.
The sweeping arpeggiated middle section (bar 27 onward) demands smooth cross-hand technique — practice the left hand crossing over the right at a glacial tempo.
Pedaling is everything: use half-pedaling and flutter-pedaling in the dense harmonic passages to maintain resonance without blurring the colors together.
About this piece
Debussy's impressionist masterpiece paints moonlight in sound through lush harmonies and fluid rubato. The piece requires exceptional control of tone color and pedaling to create its signature shimmering quality.
Common mistake
Playing the middle section's arpeggios as a technical exercise rather than a crescendo of emotion — the dynamics should swell like ocean waves, not stay flat.
How long to learn
Not sure Clair de Lune matches your level? Take the free 2-minute piano level quiz — or settle it directly: upload the sheet music and play it back at half speed to see how it feels under your hands.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Clair de Lune to play on piano?
Clair de Lune is rated Intermediate-Advanced. Debussy's impressionist masterpiece paints moonlight in sound through lush harmonies and fluid rubato.
How long does it take to learn Clair de Lune?
For a beginner, expect 12-16 weeks. An intermediate player can learn it in 4-6 weeks.
What is the BPM of Clair de Lune?
Clair de Lune is typically played at 80 BPM, in D-flat major.
What key is Clair de Lune in?
Clair de Lune is in D-flat major, typically performed at around 80 BPM.
What's the most common mistake when learning Clair de Lune?
Playing the middle section's arpeggios as a technical exercise rather than a crescendo of emotion — the dynamics should swell like ocean waves, not stay flat.
Can I play Clair de Lune online for free?
Yes. This page has a free browser player for Clair de Lune — no signup and nothing to install. You can slow it to any tempo, play hands separately, and connect a MIDI keyboard to play along.
Where to find the sheet music
Free public-domain editions of works like Beethoven, Chopin, and Debussy are on IMSLP. For contemporary works, MuseScore has community arrangements.
Got the PDF? Upload it to Piano Nova — a photo of a printed page works too — and play Clair de Lune straight from that edition, at your own tempo.
Ready to practice Clair de Lune?
Upload your sheet music and start learning — at your tempo, hands separately, looping the hard parts.
Upload your sheet music — freeFree to start — no card needed. Runs in your browser.