Bach for Classical Guitar – Sheet Music, Lessons, and Info

J.S. Bach for Classical Guitar: Music, Biography, and Sheet Music

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) is one of the greatest composers in Western music and an essential part of the classical guitar repertoire. Although he never wrote specifically for the modern classical guitar, his music is often performed on the instrument through transcriptions and arrangements. Today, guitarists around the world study and perform Bach’s works for their musical depth, complexity, expressive beauty, and technical challenges.

On this page you’ll find an introduction to Bach’s music for classical guitar, recommended pieces for every level, and links to sheet music and lessons.

Did Bach compose for the guitar?

Although Bach never specifically wrote for the classical guitar there is plenty of evidence that he regularly interacted with lute players including Sylvius Leopold Weiss. There is documentation that they improvised fugues together and Bach even included some of Weiss’s music in his works.

The so called Lute Suites were most likely written on a lute-harpsichord instrument the lautenwerck, but the texture is reduced that it is not inconceivable that a lute would have been a possible instrumentation. Some works exist in period lute tablature and it is well documented that Bach regularly rearranged his music for various instruments so enjoy exploring and interpreting his music as it is an accepted practice in his time and ours.

Who Was J.S. Bach?

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer and organist of the Baroque period. He spent much of his career working as a church musician, court composer, and teacher, producing an extraordinary body of music that includes keyboard works, orchestral suites, concertos, chamber music, cantatas, and sacred vocal music.

Although Bach was highly respected during his lifetime as an organist, his compositions became even more influential after his death. Today they form the foundation of musical education for performers on virtually every instrument. The musical depth and complexity of his works are monumental.

PDF Sheet Music Editions with Videos & Lessons

Intermediate Works & Arrangements

• Air ‘On the G String’ by Bach, Grade 4
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach, Grade 4
• Minuet in G, Anh.114 by Bach/Petzold, Grade 4
• Sinfonia (Arioso) from Cantata BWV 156 by Bach, Grade 5
• Bouree from BWV 996 by Bach, Grade 6, Free
• Sheep May Safely Graze, BWV 208 by Bach, Grade 6

Late-Intermediate Works

• Prelude in D minor, BWV 999 by Bach, Grade 7
• Prelude from Cello Suite BWV 1007 by Bach, Grade 7
• Prelude in D minor, BWV 999 by Bach, Grade 7 – Recommended Starter
• Prelude from Cello Suite BWV 1007 by Bach, Grade 7

• Suite in E Minor BWV 996 by Bach (Complete), Advanced
• Cello Suite No.2, BWV1008 by Bach (Complete), Early-Advanced
• Prelude in E Major, Lute Suite BWV1006a by Bach, Advanced

Video of Bach on Guitar

• See all videos and articles about Bach

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Bach write for the classical guitar?
No. The modern classical guitar had not yet been developed during Bach’s lifetime. Guitarists perform arrangements and transcriptions of his music. That said, the lute was still a well known instrument of his day and as I mention above Bach had plenty of exposure to it and was often arranging his music for a variety of new settings.

Which Bach piece should I learn first?
There are no beginner works for Bach so I often recommend people play some duets of his music with their teacher or a friend to start the experience. Many players begin with the Bourrée in E Minor (BWV 996) or the Prelude in D Minor (BWV 999), depending on their experience and technical level. But those are clearly in the late intermediate level. You may wish to start with some of my arrangements at the grade 4 level first.

Why is Bach important for classical guitar?
Bach’s music is the height of what we now think of the Baroque era style of composition encompassing modern tonal harmony, complex counterpoint and intricate textures, as well as phrasing, independence between voices, rhythm, and musical understanding. It ends up providing some of the most satisfying repertoire available to guitarists in a style that generally was never composed for classical guitar.

Where can I find Bach sheet music?
Browse our collection of professionally engraved Bach editions, including studies, preludes, suites, and other works for classical guitar.

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Recommended Editions from Others

Bach Lute Suites (Koonce) via Amazon – This collection edited by Frank Koonce features transcriptions of the complete solo lute works by J. S. Bach in a modern guitar notation. This revised second edition provides a thoughtful combination of scholarship and practical performance solutions. It includes not only historical data, articles discussing aspects of baroque performance, and facsimiles of the original manuscripts, but also authoritative fingerings, interpretative remarks, and convenient foldout pages. This collection is an essential learning tool for guitar students, and a wonderful addition to any professional guitar’s repertoire.

Keep in mind that:

• BWV 995 – Suite in G minor is a transcription of Cello Suite No. 5, BWV 1011
• BWV 1000 – Fugue in G minor is a transcription from Violin Sonata No. 1, BWV 1001
• BWV 1006a is a transcription from Partita No. 3 in E major BWV 1006 for solo violin