How to play Prelude in C Major on piano
- Level
- Easy-intermediate
- Key
- C major
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Written
- 1722
The first prelude of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, written in 1722. Every bar is a single chord played as the same rippling pattern, so once you learn the pattern you only need to learn the chords.
Prelude in C Major letter notes
Press play to hear each line while the keys light up. Then play along, one line at a time.
Bar 1: C
CEGCEGCE
Bar 2: Dm7 over C
CDADFADF
Bar 3: G7 over B
BDGDFGDF
Bar 4: C
CEGCEGCE
Underlined notes are long notes: hold them for two beats or more.
Hand position
Each bar is one chord broken into a pattern. Left hand plays the first two notes, right hand the next three, then the right hand repeats.
Easy left-hand chords
Once the melody is comfortable, add these chords in your left hand, one per line or bar: C | Dm7/C | G7/B | C.
Chord diagrams: C major, D minor 7th, G dominant 7th.
Practice tips
- The pattern in every bar: two low notes held, then three high notes played twice.
- Learn the piece as a list of chords first: C, Dm7/C, G7/B, C.
- Keep it even and quiet. It should sound like water, not like exercises.
How to practice this song
- Listen to each line once with the play button.
- Play one line slowly with the right hand until you make no mistakes three times in a row.
- Join two lines together, then the whole song.
- Add the left-hand chords, at half speed, once the melody is automatic.