BWV 846, The Well Tempered Clavier Book 1, No 1 - 1. Prelude in C - JS Bach ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ version 1 - original tab by Jurgen / David Atkinson, various updates, in C version 2 - Karl Wolff arrangement, in A major, Drop D tuning (DADGBE) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Prelude No 1 in C major - BWV 846/1 - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) (from Book 1 of the The Well Tempered Clavier) tab by Jurgen / David Atkinson (kaum0@central.susx.ac.uk) last updated 23 Dec 2008 (see Notes below for details) *** ALL MEASURES ARE REPEATED (PLAYED TWICE) EXCEPT FOR MEASURES 33-35 *** Allegro 1 C Dm/C G7/B C E|---------0-----0-|---------1-----1-|---------1-----1-|---------0-----0-| B|-------1-----1---|-------3-----3---|-------3-----3---|-------1-----1---| G|-----0-----0-----|-----2-----2-----|-----0-----0-----|-----0-----0-----| D|---2-------------|---0-------------|---0-------------|---2-------------| A|-3---------------|-3---------------|-2---------------|-3---------------| D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| II&V........ 5 Am/C D/C G/B C/B E|---------5-----5-|-----------------|---------3-----3-|-----------------| B|-------5-----5---|---------3-----3-|-------3-----3---|---------1-----1-| G|-----2-----2-----|-------2-----2---|-----0-----0-----|-------0-----0---| D|---2-------------|---0h4-----4-----|---0-------------|-----2-----2-----| A|-3---------------|-3---------------|-2---------------|-2h3-------------| D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| V................ 9 Am7 D7 G Gdim7 E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| B|---------1-----1-|-----------------|---------0-----0-|-----------------| G|-------0-----0---|---------5-----5-|-------0-----0---|---------6-----6-| D|-----2-----2-----|-----0-4-----4---|-----0-----0-----|-------5-----5---| A|-0h3-------------|---0-------5-----|---2-------------|-----7-----7-----| D|-----------------|-0---------------|-5---------------|-5h8-------------| III.............. II.&..V......... I............... 13 Dm/F Fdim7 C/E F/E E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------1-----1-| B|---------3-----3-|-----------------|-----------------|-------1-----1---| G|-------2-----2---|---------4-----4-|---------5-----5-|-----2-----2-----| D|-----0-----0-----|-------3-----3---|-------5-----5---|-2h3-------------| A|---0-------------|-----5-----5-----|-----3-----3-----|-----------------| D|-3---------------|-3h6-------------|-2h5-------------|-----------------| I................ 17 Dm7 G7 C C7 E|---------1-----1-|---------1-----1-|---------0-----0-|---------0-----0-| B|-------1-----1---|-------0-----0---|-------1-----1---|-------1-----1---| G|-----2-----2-----|-----0-----0-----|-----0-----0-----|---0h3-----3-----| D|-0-3-------------|---0-------------|---2-------------|-----------------| A|-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|-3---------------| D|-----------------|-5---------------|-----------------|-----------------| [see below for alternative fingering] III.................................................. 21 Fmaj7 F#dim7 Dm7b5/13 G7 E|---------0-----0-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| B|-------1-----1---|---------4-----4-|---------3-----3-|---------3-----3-| G|-----2-----2-----|-------5-----5---|-----4-5---4-5---|-------4-----4---| D|---3-------------|-----7-----7-----|---3-------------|---3h5-----5-----| A|-----------------|---3-------------|-----------------|-----------------| D|-3---------------|-4---------------|-6---------------|-5---------------| 2 1 4 3 1 4 3 1 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 p i m i a m i a V................................. V............... 25 C/G G7sus G7 F#dim7/G E|-----------------|-----------------|---------1-----1-|-----------------| B|---------5-----5-|---------6-----6-|-------0-----0---|---------7-----7-| G|-------5-----5---|-------5-----5---|-----0-----0-----|-------5-----5---| D|-----5-----5-----|-----5-----5-----|---0-------------|-----7-----7-----| A|---7-------------|---5-------------|-----------------|---6-------------| D|-5---------------|-5---------------|-5---------------|-5---------------| V.................................. III.............. 29 C/G G7sus G7 C7 E|-----------------|-----------------|---------1-----1-|-----------------| B|---------8-----8-|---------6-----6-|-------0-----0---|---------5-----5-| G|-------5-----5---|-------5-----5---|-----0-----0-----|-------3-----3---| D|-----5-----5-----|-----5-----5-----|---0-------------|-----5-----5-----| A|---7-------------|---5-------------|-----------------|-3-3-------------| D|-5---------------|-5---------------|-5---------------|-----------------| I........... III....................... 33 F/C Dm7 G7/B E|-----------1-----------------------|-----------1-----------------------| B|---------1---1----1----------------|-------0-3---3-0-3-0---0-----------| G|-------2-------2----2---2----------|-----0---------------0-------------| D|-----3----------------3---3-0-3-0--|-------------------------0-3-2-0---| A|-3-3-------------------------------|-3-2-------------------------------| D|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------| 35 C E|------------------|| B|-1----------------|| G|-0----------------|| D|-2----------------|| A|-3----------------|| D|------------------|| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Notes ~~~~~ From: cso@cth.u-psud.fr (Equipe CSO) Retabulated by correction of 'Jurgen's' post. Looking at the original piano score I noticed some disparities between it and Jurgen's tabulation. I have therefore attempted to correct it. Also, the low E must be tuned down to D. There may well be alternative positions that can be used so please don't take what I've written as law!!! Experiment... Have fun. - David Atkinson (email: kaum0@central.susx.ac.uk). It is Jurgen's from here on: "Prelude #1 was originally written as an exercise for Bach's students and is probably one of the most famous preludes from "The Well-Tempered Clavier". Every classically-trained pianist knows it, but it is also a beautiful piece for guitar. It consists of a series of arpeggio's and it should be played as smoothly as possible. Every measure must be played twice, except for the last three. I jotted down this transcription a few years ago. I think it was in a guitar-magazine in 1986 or 1987 or so and I didn't write down the names of the transcriber and the magazine, so I hope I don't violate copyright- laws with this posting. Well, here it comes:" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ amended by Weed 23rd December 2001 - weed@wussu.com various changes including - old bar 23 (from Schwencke's MS of 1783) removed old bar 35 split into new bars 34 and 35 thanx to Jim Molloy for help & advice - James.Molloy@amermsx.med.ge.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ further amended by Weed 3rd October 2005 - weed@wussu.com measure 23 fingering further revised thanks to Peter Kosenko -- kosenko@netwood.net the original tab had the following fingering for measures 22 and 23 - E|-----------------|-----------------| B|-------1-4---1-4-|-----0-----0-----| G|-----2-----2-----|-------5-7---5-7-| D|-----------------|-----------------| A|---3-------------|---8-------------| D|-4---------------|-6---------------| the corrected tab had - E|-----------------|-----------------| B|---------4-----4-|-----------------| G|-------5-----5---|---------7-----7-| D|-----7-----7-----|-----9-10--9-10--| A|---3-------------|---8-------------| D|-4---------------|-6---------------| 2 1 4 3 1 4 3 1 1 3 4 4 2 4 4 2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ see below the tab for the extra measure which composer Christian Frederich Gottlieb Schwencke inserted between measures 22 and 23 thanks to Toby Floyer 10th May 2008 - toby_floyer@yahoo.co.uk the extra measure inserted between measures 22 and 23 by Schwencke is - III.............. Cm7 E|-----------------| B|---------4-----4-| G|-----4-5---4-5---| D|-----------------| A|---6-------------| D|-5---------------| 3 4 1 2 1 1 2 1 ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude and Fugue No.1, BWV 846 Transcribed by Karl Wolff see Notes and Legend below - 11 November 2023 audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6Q2CqvrpKQ - Karl Wolff tuning: D A D G B E key: A major time: 4/4 1/2CIX~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1 p p i ma 1 ma e|-----------9----9----------9----9--|-----------10----10----------10----10--| B|---------10---10---------10---10---|---------12----12----------12----12----| G|--------9----9----------9----9-----|-------11----11----------11----11------| D|------11--------------11-----------|------9-----------------9--------------| A|--<12>------------<12>-------------|--<12>--------------<12>---------------| D|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------| 4 3 1 2 4 1 3 4 2 4/4 3 1/2CIX~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ p p a i m a i m e|--------10----10-------10----10--|--------0------0------------0-----0------| B|------12----12-------12----12----|-----------14-----14-----------14----14--| G|-----9-----9--------9-----9------|---------14-----14-----------14----14----| D|----9--------------9-------------|-----11------------------11--------------| A|--11-------------11--------------|-<12>----------------<12>----------------| D|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------| 3 4 2 4 1 3 4 2 5 1/2CXI~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1/2CVII~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ e|------------14----14----------14----14--|---------7---7--------7---7--| B|----------14----14----------14----14----|--------7---7--------7---7---| G|--------11----11----------11----11------|-------8---8--------8---8----| D|------11----------------11--------------|------9------------9---------| A|--<12>--------------<12>----------------|--<12>---------<12>----------| D|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------| 2 3 4 2 32 4 7 1/2CIX~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1/2CV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ e|--------12---12-------12---12--|--------5---5-------5---5--| B|------12---12-------12---12----|-------5---5-------5---5---| G|-----9----9--------9----9------|------6---6-------6---6----| D|----9-------------9------------|--6h7---------6h7----------| A|--11------------11-------------|---------------------------| D|-------------------------------|---------------------------| 2 3 4 2 3 2 9 1/2CV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ e|----------5-----5--------5-----5--|----------5-----5--------5-----5--| B|--------5-----5--------5-----5----|--------4-----4--------4-----4----| G|------6-----6--------6-----6------|------4-----4--------4-----4------| D|----7--------------7--------------|----4--------------4--------------| A|--9--------------9----------------|--2--------------2----------------| D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 4 3 2 1 3 3 3 4 11 ppi a m i a m e|------0-4---4-----0-4---4--|------0-----0-------0-----0----| B|-----0-----5-----0-----5---|-------11----11------11----11--| G|----------4-----------4----|----6-----6-------6-----6------| D|---6-----------6-----------|---8-------------8-------------| A|--7-----------7------------|--7-------------7--------------| D|---------------------------|-------------------------------| 43 1 121 231 4 13 1/2CIV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1/2CIII~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ e|------7---7-----7---7--|--------4---4-------4---4--| B|-----7---7-----7---7---|-------3---3-------3---3---| G|----4---4-----4---4----|------4---4-------4---4----| D|---4---------4---------|--0h3---------0h3----------| A|--5---------5----------|---------------------------| D|-----------------------|---------------------------| 2 44 1 324 15 1/2CII~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ e|------5---5-----5---5--|---------------------------| B|-----5---5-----5---5---|--------3---3-------3---3--| G|----2---2-----2---2----|-------2---2-------2---2---| D|---2---------2---------|------4---4-------4---4----| A|--4---------4----------|--4/5---------4/5----------| D|-----------------------|---------------------------| 2 34 4 4 312 17 1/2CII~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ e|---------------------------|-----------------------| B|--------3---3-------3---3--|------3---3-----3---3--| G|-------2---2-------2---2---|-----1---1-----1---1---| D|------4---4-------4---4----|----2---2-----2---2----| A|--2h5---------2h5----------|---2---------2---------| D|---------------------------|--2---------2----------| 1 4 312 22314 19 e|---------------------------|---------------------------| B|--------2---2-------2---2--|--------2---2-------2---2--| G|-------2---2-------2---2---|-------2---2-------2---2---| D|------2---2-------2---2----|----2h5---5-----2h5---5----| A|--0h4---------0h4----------|--0-----------0------------| D|---------------------------|---------------------------| 3 111 1 411 21 e|-----------------------|-----------------------| B|------2---2-----2---2--|------1---1-----1---1--| G|-----2---2-----2---2---|-----2---2-----2---2---| D|----4---4-----4---4----|----4---4-----4---4----| A|---5---------5---------|---0---------0---------| D|--0---------0----------|--1---------1----------| 4311 1 421 23 e|-----------------------|-----------------------------| B|------0---0-----0---0--|---------0---0--------0---0--| G|-----2---2-----2---2---|--------1---1--------1---1---| D|----6---6-----6---6----|----0h2----2-----0h2----2----| A|---5---------5---------|-----------------------------| D|--3---------3----------|--2------------2-------------| 2341 2 3 1 25 CII~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ e|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------| B|------2---2-----2---2--|------3---3-----3---3--|------3---3-----3---3--| G|-----2---2-----2---2---|-----2---2-----2---2---|-----1---1-----1---1---| D|----2---2-----2---2----|----2---2-----2---2----|----2---2-----2---2----| A|---4---------4---------|---2---------2---------|---2---------2---------| D|--2---------2----------|--2---------2----------|--2---------2----------| 13111 2 28 e|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------| B|------4---4-----4---4--|------5---5-----5---5--|------3---3-----3---3--| G|-----2---2-----2---2---|-----2---2-----2---2---|-----2---2-----2---2---| D|----4---4-----4---4----|----2---2-----2---2----|----2---2-----2---2----| A|---3---------3---------|---4---------4---------|---2---------2---------| D|--2---------2----------|--2---------2----------|--2---------2----------| 12314 13114 31 e|-----------------------|---------------------------| B|------3---3-----3---3--|--------2---2-------2---2--| G|-----1---1-----1---1---|-------0---0-------0---0---| D|----2---2-----2---2----|------2---2-------2---2----| A|---2---------2---------|--0-0---------0-0----------| D|--2---------2----------|---------------------------| 3 2 33 p ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ e|-----------------------------------| B|------------3----------------------| G|----------2---2---2----------------| D|------0-4-------4---4-0-4-0---0----| A|--0-0-----------------------2---2--| D|-----------------------------------| 3 1 2 34 F. e|----------7-10-7---7----------------|--5----|| B|--------9--------9---9---9-------0--|--5----|| G|------9----------------9-----7-6----|--6----|| D|----6----------------------9--------|-------|| A|--0---------------------------------|--0----|| D|------------------------------------|-------|| 1 3 4 2 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Notes and Legend ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ left hand fingering (LHF) right hand fingering (RHF) 1 - index finger p - thumb 2 - middle finger i - index finger (forefinger) 3 - ring finger m - middle finger 4 - little finger a - ring finger (annular) CII barre on the 2nd fret CIII barre on the 3rd fret CIV barre on the 4th fret CV barre on the 5th fret CVII barre on the 7th fret CIX barre on the 9th fret CXI barre on the 11th fret h - hammer-on / - slide up F. - Fermata - pause, notes held for longer than their value <12> - natural harmonic on the 12th fret ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ the latest version of this tab can be found at http://www.classtab.org ******************************************************************************* *******************************************************************************