Prelude and Fugue in G major, WTC II
About this arrangement
This is No. 15 in Book 2 of the Well-Tempered Clavier, compiled around 1742 in Leipzig.
Play the prelude hands separately, then together at a slow tempo. In the fugue, learn the subject alone and mark each entry. Loop the busiest bars at 50% before joining the voices.
Start with short loops.
Use the section list as a practice map. Start at 50% tempo, loop one section, then return to the full piece once the hand shape feels stable.
Choose Right or Left to focus on one hand. Wait for note checks the highlighted notes as you play them on the screen or a connected MIDI keyboard.
Before you practice.
01 How hard is Bach's Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 884?
Advanced. Both halves are long, and the fugue needs clear voice-leading at speed.
02 How long is BWV 884?
Our score writes the prelude's repeats out, so it has 96 prelude bars and 72 fugue bars, 168 in total. As printed with repeat signs, the prelude is 48 bars.
03 What should I practise first?
Start with the prelude, one hand at a time. Then learn the fugue subject alone before adding other voices.