While My Guitar Gently Weeps by John Lennon String Quartet - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.749227

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YGzCML5OKY

For many years I laboured under the impression that George Harrison played guitar on this song as well as writing it, but it turns out to have been played by Eric Clapton.

This wonderful song is on the ‘100 Greatest Guitar Songs’ list, and number ten on ‘The Beatles 100 Greatest Songs’. None of this is a surprise! I have long wanted to arrange this for Capriccio String Quartet, and I am very proud of it. I think they give a tremendously passionate performance. 

I am aiming this one at the professional market as it is quite complex. However, with the usual modifications I feel sure that young players could tackle it. I recommend dropping the cello an octave for the first twelve bars but the rest of the cello part falls within expectations for ABRSM Grade 5. As usual the double stopping often contains an open string but it will be possible simply to miss out a note out where tuning could be difficult for young players. Choose from the Score the note that is not already played by one of the others. I am usually writing double stopping to thicken the texture rather than for harmonic considerations. The bowing is just a guide. Take as many bows and play as many open strings as you need to make the song feel comfortable.

There is a difficult page turn for viola who plays throughout, so two bars before G could be omitted if necessary as other parts have the note E. The other players have a page break on rests, and the cellist can play open strings and quickly turn with the left hand.

Please visit my Youtube Channel at Helen Marple-Horvat Songwriter, Arranger, Composer for playlists of all my arrangements, most of which have been recorded. All but three are available from Sheet Music Plus.