Liebeskummer lohnt sich nicht - Sheet Music for Piano and Voice Siw Malmkvist

"Liebeskummer lohnt sich nicht" is one of the most well-known German Schlager hits of the 1960s — and now the piano and vocal sheet music is available for you to play yourself. This arrangement is aimed at players with approximately three years of lessons. The left hand regularly spans more than an octave, while a heavily syncopated rhythm drives the piece forward throughout.

Sheet Music "Liebeskummer lohnt sich nicht" — a lively Schlager number for piano & voice

Siw Malmkvist brought this song to success in 1962 — a catchy melody written by Georg Buschor and Christian Bruhn that spent weeks in the German charts. The piece revolves around the idea that heartache isn't worth losing sleep over — easier said than done, but as a melody, it's nearly impossible to shake. Bruhn was one of the most prolific German Schlager composers of his generation, and this song shows exactly why: the melody hooks you instantly.

F major gives the piece its bright, carefree character — consistently diatonic, with no unexpected accidentals, the harmony remains comfortably accessible throughout. The vocal line stays in the middle register, spanning just under an octave and a half — very singable, though the upper range calls for solid breath support. The phrasing follows the natural speech rhythm of the lyrics, which makes the melody easy to internalize. The piano accompaniment maintains a driving, steady pulse. Intermediate is a realistic assessment here: the left hand takes on octave passages at a brisk tempo, frequently shifting position — demanding both reach and coordination simultaneously. The arrangement comprises 44 bars with a repeat section.

• Vocal range: c' to eb'' (approximately an octave and a half)
• Main challenge: Left-hand octave passages at a fast tempo
• Additional challenge: Frequent position shifts in the left hand during octave passages
• Additional challenge: Heavily syncopated rhythm throughout the entire piece

Practicing the left hand in isolation first will quickly reveal where the octave leaps coincide with position shifts — these are precisely the spots that need extra attention before bringing both hands together. A common tempo trap lies right there: when combining both hands, the syncopated rhythm tempts you to rush — starting slowly and only building speed once the syncopations feel secure will pay off. The syncopations settle most reliably when you mentally keep the beat internally while your hands are playing. The vocal line stays comfortably in the middle register, but climbs higher at certain points — conscious breath support at those moments will keep the notes from losing their center.

A short audio preview is available — giving you a sense of the arrangement's character before you buy. Sheet music is available for immediate download after purchase. 100% legal & licensed.

Editorially reviewed by the notendownload.com team