Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer and organist. Almost three centuries after his death in 1750, he remains one of the most-performed composers of all time. In fact, Bach is one of the first names most people associate with classical music. The composer was the youngest of eight children in a very musical family. His father, uncles and many siblings were working musicians, and he received much of his early musical training from his older brother Johann Christoph, who studied with the famous composer Johann Pachelbel. Bach went on to have 20 children of his own (sadly, many died early), including some who become well-regarded musicians in their own right.

Throughout his lifetime, Bach's many jobs included playing the organ and directing choirs and orchestras. A lifelong music obsessive, he once walked 190 miles from Arnstadt to Lübeck to hear the famous organist Dietrich Buxtehude perform, returning back home two months later than he originally promised. As a composer, Bach's music is often admired from a range of perspectives. His pieces are deeply emotional, yet also display great execution of advanced musical concepts, such as counterpoint, harmony, and structure.

To introduce you to Bach's rich musical world, we've rounded up eight essential pieces, all of which you can learn to play with the flowkey app.

1. Prelude No. 1 in C, BWV 846

Arpeggios galore

This piece is the first prelude in the first set of Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier series, compiled in 1722 while he was working for Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen. It features a series of arpeggios (or broken chords) that create a beautiful flowing melody. 

Because the chords are broken up, this prelude is a great choice if you're most comfortable reading one note at a time, rather than playing standard chords (where notes are stacked on top of each other). While learning this composition, challenge yourself to play the notes as evenly as possible in order to create smooth and connected phrases.

2. Musette in D, BWV anh. 126

A cheerful dance

Written as an educational piece for Bach's second wife, the "Musette in D" is great for pianists working on learning to play with both hands. In flowkey's beginner version, the accompaniment part is minimal and the melody is traded between the right and left hands.

If you have a bit more experience, the intermediate version is a great challenge to level up your playing. A musette is a dance originally accompanied by a small bagpipe, so don't forget to play with cheerfulness and enthusiasm.

3. Toccata in Dm, BWV 565 - Theme

A spooky favorite

Originally composed for organ, the theme of "Toccata in Dm" is a spooky favorite. It has appeared in the soundtrack of many iconic movies, including the 1931 film, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the 1940 Disney film Fantasia.

If you are looking for something to play one hand at a time, you can work on just the first six measures. But whether you're playing the whole piece or just the beginning, try playing with some dramatic dynamics to create intensity and suspense.

4. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring – Cantata No. 147

A joyful celebration

"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" is the chorale from Bach's 1723 Advent cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, or "Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life." This joyful tune is often played at weddings, Christmas, and Easter.

With its 9/8 time signature, this is a great piece to practice counting and subdividing rhythm into three beats (1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3). Another thing to focus on in this piece is balance — make sure your left hand accompaniment never overshadows your right hand melody.

5. Minuet I - Partita No. 1 in B♭, BWV 825

Practice reading horizontally

A Minuet is a type of dance for two people that originated in France, usually written in 3/4 time. This Minuet can be found in Bach's Partita No. 1 in B♭, which was published in 1726. Bach's Partitas (BWV 825-830) is his third and final set of keyboard suites. It's also his most challenging set.

"Minuet I" is a great finger workout for intermediate players. Make sure to keep the rhythms precise, as many players have the tendency to slow down when the notes are hard and speed up when they are easy.

6. Minuet II – Partita No. 1 in B♭, BWV 825

Practice reading vertically

This Minuet is the second in Bach's Partita No. 1 in B♭, published in 1726. Just like the first, it's in 3/4 time and most suitable for intermediate players. While the first Minuet has more fast-moving notes, this one features quite a few chords, making it a nice exercise for reading notes vertically. As you play this one, try emphasizing the top note of each chord a tiny bit in order to highlight the melody.

7. Badinerie - Suite No. 2 in Bm

A playful challenge

In French, the word badinerie means "banter," reflecting the playfulness heard here. This "Badinerie" is the final movement from Bach's second suite for orchestra, where the main melody is played by a flute. Luckily, arrangements for piano are available to learn with flowkey.

This piece is fast and virtuosic, offering a fun challenge for advanced players. Since you'll have to play all the instruments’ parts on piano, make sure the melody doesn’t get lost in a sea of notes.

8. Invention No. 1 in C., BWV 772

Intertwining melodies

Here's the first of 15 Inventions by J.S. Bach, written to help students master polyphony, which is the art of combining multiple melodic lines. In order to maintain the clarity of each melody in this piece, it's important to pay close attention to the balance of sound between your right and left hands.

"Invention No. 1 in C" is also a great piece to explore ornamentations (decorative flourishes), such as mordents. You could even get a bit experimental with it, as improvisational embellishments are an essential expressive element in Baroque music.

Learn to play new favorites with the flowkey app

If any of these pieces by Bach have inspired you, you can get started by downloading the flowkey app. With flowkey, you'll have access to a library of gorgeous piano music by Bach and more — at various levels and with all the tools you need to guide you through the learning process. Start learning today.