Minuet in G minor
About this arrangement
The minuet sits in the 1725 notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, straight after the Minuet in G major, and was long thought to be by Bach. In 1980 Hans-Joachim Schulze identified the composer of both as Christian Petzold.
Watch the F sharps: they come and go as the tune moves between G minor and B flat major, so say them out loud the first few times through.
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 Is the Minuet in G minor good for beginners?
Yes. It's one of the most common first Baroque pieces. The left hand mostly plays one note at a time, and the right hand stays within a small range.
02 How long is the Minuet in G minor?
Our edition has 32 bars in 3/4, in two halves of 16 bars.
03 What should I practise first?
Learn each hand separately in 8-bar phrases, then put hands together at 50% tempo. Loop the second half, which moves further from the home key.
04 Did Bach write the Minuet in G minor?
No. It was copied into Anna Magdalena Bach's 1725 notebook, which is why it carries a BWV number, but it's by Christian Petzold. In the notebook it's played between two playings of the Minuet in G major.