18 Kleine Präludien

Johann Sebastian Bach

BaroqueWell-knownpreludeinvention
H3
Henle (estimated)
RCM 3ABRSM 4

About this piece

These are short, contrapuntal pieces that serve as excellent introductions to Baroque polyphony and keyboard technique. They are characterized by their clarity, structure, and often charming melodic ideas.

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Teacher notes

Focus on developing independence of the hands and clear voicing of melodic lines.

Technical focus

counterpointfinger-independencevoicing

Mood

intellectualprecisecontemplative

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Frequently asked questions

How hard is 18 Kleine Präludien by Johann Sebastian Bach?

18 Kleine Präludien is rated Henle level 3 of 9 — late beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 4–5. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 3.

What level do I need to play 18 Kleine Präludien?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 3 — meaning you can already play level 2–3 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

Where can I get free sheet music for 18 Kleine Präludien?

18 Kleine Präludien is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.