Why Bach's Prelude is a Masterclass in Chord Progressions

Not only did Bach know all the chords but he could also make them cry and sing.

It never ceases to amaze me how the great mathematician of music finds the most profound human qualities: grief, empathy, tenderness and comfort, just from a progression of chords. Played beautifully, this seemingly simple piece can keep you on a knife edge between its logic and its passion.

My first song on piano. At age 64, during the COVID lockdown, with a mask on, I purchased a Yamaha digital piano at Walmart and with Piano for Dummies in one hand and internet in the other, I learned this piece. Obviously composed as a teaching song for children like me. Thank you for the guided tour of the progression, and making it more magic that is already is.

Bach was an absolute master of harmony. He was in complete control when it came to creating harmonic tension and then beautifully resolving that tension. His status as greatest composer might be up for debate, but not for me. I adore his music.

I love your "C over B" and "F over E" nomenclature. It brings an intuitive simplicity into it and puts into words what Bach was doing.

Finally someone who analyse harmony properly :)

What a beautiful and eloquent analysis

Warm thanks from a guitarist who wanted to play this particular piece one day. The description in terms of slash cords is exactly what I needed!

This "child's practice piece" is so incredibly advanced in spite of (and because of) its simplicity. No one else writes music this way, and it's amazing to think this is over 300 years old. I think Chopin perhaps got the closest, with his E minor Prelude - simple and easy but WOW amazing harmonies.

Love this tune. I bought an electric piano many years ago just because I wanted to play it. I bought an acoustic guitar just because I wanted to play Blackbird.

Apparently JS Bach initially wrote this Prelude as an instructional piece for his son, Wilhelm Friedmann, who was then 11 in about 1721! JS Bach then expanded the concept by composing additional works in all of the other keys to form his collection of works 'The Well Tempered Clavier' incorporating both a Prelude and a Fugue in each key. The Fugues in particular are an order of magnitude greater in difficulty requiring, as the Fugue form requires, the simultaneous voicing of different, concurrent melodies. Thank you for such a clear and concise explanation of what initially appears to be such a simple piece and helps explain its timeless appeal some 300-years later!!

Well done!! One of Bach's most compelling compositions. Short but full of wonderful harmonic movement. And VERY beautiful. I remember where I was when I first heard it. Unforgettable.

I'm glad to find this channel. Explanation of the C Prelude is satisfying -- I first became serious about piano when I discovered this piece 62 years ago. It never gets old. It feels like the invitation of a wizard to step into his world, and I gladly yield.

Sokat gondolkodtam egyes hangzatokon, hogy annak mi a neve. A vőm se tudta. Most végre világossá vált. Nagyon hálás vagyok érte, köszönöm.

The best analysis of this prelude. Bach's genius is enhanced not diminished by understanding something of the nuts and bolts of the piece.

Just did this harmonic analysis myself. Yet it was a pleasure to watch your walk-through. As if I had done my homework and now watched a beloved teacher explaining it all to the class.

Bach's music definitely opens doors to certain styles of music and I've seen keyboardists playing his pieces more than any other master of the genre. Oscar Peterson himself was a fan of his music and recommended Bach's Art of the Fugue to all serious pianists.

I love when a good teacher helps me understand classical with the help of chord symbols and roman numeral analysis and a great explanation. This is one of the most clear and useful lessons I've seen on Bachs work. Really inspired now. Instant Subscriber. Thanks

One of my favorite Bach tune. As a self taught musician, I have deciphered it at the age of 14 and I have discovered a lot of things about harmony.

Watching this video was much like seeing the secrets behind a magician's tricks.