The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1 - No 1 Prelude In C Major Bwv 846

BWV 846 - Prelude No 1 in C - Well Tempered Clavier Book I
I have included the left (LH) and right (RH) hand fingering.
p = pulgar = thumb
i = indice = index
m = medio = middle
a = anular = ring

1

LH 3 2   1     1     3   2 4 1 2 4 1   2     4 1   4 1
RH p p i m a i m a   p p i m a i m a   p p i m a i m a

1

LH 3 2   1      1    2 1 1 4 4 1 4 4   2   4 1 3 4 1 3
RH p p i m a i m a   p p i m a i m a   p i   m a i m a

7

LH 1     3 4   3 4   2h3 2   1 2   1     3 2   1 2   1
RH p p i m a i m a   p   i m a i m a   p   i m a i m a

10

LH 2     3 1   3 1   4 3               4 1 3   2 3   2
RH p p i m a i m a   p p i m a i m a   p p i m a i m a

13

LH 1     3 4   3 4   1   3     3         3 2   1 2   1
RH p p i m a i m a   p i   m a i m a   p p i m a i m a

16

LH 2^3 2 1 1           3 2 1 1 2 1 1   3       1     1
RH p   i m a i m a   p   i m a i m a   p p i m a i m a

19

LH 3 2   1     1     3   4 1   4 1     1 4 3 2   3 2
RH p p i m a i m a   p i   m a i m a   p p i m a i m a

19

LH 1 2 3 2 4 3 2 4   1 3 1 4 1 1 4 1   1 1 3 2 1 3 2 1
RH p p i m a i m a   p p i m a i m a   p i   m a i m a

19

LH 3 2   1     1     3     1 1   1 1   4       2     2
RH p p i m a i m a   p p i m a i m a   p p i m a i m a

19

LH 4 1 3 1 2 3 1 2   3 2   1 4   1 4   3     1 1   1 1
RH p p i m a i m a   p p i m a i m a   p i   m a i m a

19

LH 3       1     1   1 1 3 1 4 3 1 4  3 3 4 2 1 1 1 2 1
RH p p i m a i m a   p p i m a i m a  p p p i m a m i m

33

LH 2 4 3 4   4   3 2     4 1 4   4         3 2
RH i p i p p p p p p i m m a m m i m i m p p p p
"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". In this exercise you can explore
more on the plucking pattern "ppimaima" and how to make your
guitar flow.
Technique:
For the Right hand, it is pretty straight forward "ppimaima"
going at a constantly speed. ppimaima consists of 8 successive
notes plucked from the fingers. You cannot play this song with
a pick no matter how awesome you are.  For the Left hand,
it takes some practise. Since this is a piano piece, it
 translates onto the guitar fairly kindly except for 2
monster chords I have marked in asterisk. Make absolutely
sure you suspend the first 2 bass notes at all times.
Tip:
Prelude consists of a series of arpeggio's. You now know
arpeggios and patterns like "ppimaima" go together. Explore
further by playing any chords you like with appreggios.

33

Take note of the pinky. It bars the last
2 treble strings.