Minuetto by Mozart for Ukulele

This charming Minuetto by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart comes from his opera Don Giovanni. The opera, listed as K.527 in Mozart’s works, was completed in 1788 in Vienna and is a dramma giocoso. It thus blended together comedy and drama to form one of the greatest operas ever written.

This dance occurs along with two others at the end of the ballroom scene in Act 1. The minuet, in 3/4 time, accompanies the dancing of the main characters.

Bringing the Minuetto by Mozart to Ukulele

Jeff’s arrangement is in Low-G tuning and in the key of D. There are two sections, each of which repeat, and the sections are eight bars long. This is typical of dance music from this time and creates really even, symmetrical phrases that mirror one another. It fits quite well on the ukulele in D Major and allows us to capture the main elements of the chamber ensemble original.

The composition is at a Grade 3 level and brings together many elements of technique that we  first learn in the beginning stages. It works on chords, position shifts, slur technique, and dotted rhythms.

Download the TAB + Sheet Music

Performance Notes:

  • There is a wonderful phrase of moving 3rds intervals in the last line with added bass notes. Work on the piece slowly measure by measure.
  • The open E notes in measure 6 could be played on the 3rd string 4th fret with the 3rd finger if you prefer. Use index and ring to play the & of 1 and beat 2 if using this fingering. The & of 4 uses PIA.
  • For the quick shift in measure 15, use the 2nd finger in the left hand on 7th fret of the 1st string. This frees up the 1st and 4th fingers for the next chord in 2nd position.

Download the TAB + Sheet Music

Classical Music for Ukulele Volume 2

Classical Music for Ukulele

This wonderful music by Mozart is part of our Graded Repertoire for Classical Ukulele: Volume 2. A follow-up to Volume 1, this book includes nearly fifty masterpieces of classical music, all expertly arranged for Low-G ukulele by Jeff Peterson. The book is carefully ordered into eight grades of increasing difficulty. Starting with simple famous melodies like Bach’s Minuet you progress step-by-step all the way through to classical favorites such as Faure’s Pavane and Asturias by Issac Albéniz.

Go here to purchase your copy of Graded Repertoire for Classical Ukulele: Volume 2.