HEY PIANO 4UPlay Prelude in C (Bach) on Piano Online Free
Prelude in C (Bach) is ready to play. Press the button below and the trainer opens with this song loaded: the keys you need light up in order with a countdown, so you can learn it without reading music. It runs in your browser with no sign-up and no download, and you can use your mouse, a touch screen, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard.
About the tune
This prelude opens the first book of J. S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, completed in 1722. It is a stream of broken chords, one note at a time, over a series of changing harmonies. The same harmonies were later used by Charles Gounod as the accompaniment of his “Ave Maria”.
How it is arranged here
The arrangement is simplified for learning and is written in 4/4 time at about 72 beats per minute. It has about 9 bars and 129 steps in Any-key mode, where one press plays the whole step. The right hand has 133 notes and the left hand has 10. The lowest note is C2 and the highest is A5.
How to learn it
- Open the song and choose Watch to see and hear it once.
- Switch to Follow. The song waits for you to press each lit key, so there is no timing pressure.
- When Follow feels easy, try Play along and aim for 90% or better. The speed dial lets you start slow, and the coach loops any bars that gave you trouble.
Practice tips
- The pattern repeats in every bar: the same shape of notes over a new chord. Learn the shape once and you can recognise it throughout.
- It is long and steady. Choose the Organ voice, which holds every note for exactly as long as you press the key.
Try it on organ or choir
This tune sounds especially good with held notes. Turn the instrument dial to Organ or Choir and every note will sustain for as long as you hold the key. See how the synth choir works or how drawbar organs work.
Is it free to use and share?
Bach died in 1750, so the composition is in the public domain. Our arrangement is simplified, and it is written for practice rather than as a published edition. See our guide to public-domain music for what that means.
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Questions
Do I need a piano to play Prelude in C (Bach)?
No. You can use the on-screen keys with a mouse or touch screen, the computer keyboard (the A row plays white keys and the W row black keys), or a USB MIDI keyboard in Chrome or Edge.
How hard is Prelude in C (Bach)?
We rate this arrangement intermediate. Follow mode makes any song easier because it waits for you.
Can I play it slower?
Yes. The speed dial goes from 40% to 100%, and the coach can loop a few bars at a slower speed.