Bach - Invention No. 1 in C Major, BWV 772 with Sheet Music

Welcome to Little Black Dots, where you can follow the notes as you listen! Or you can just sit back and enjoy the music, it's all up to you.
This is Bach's Invention No. 1 in C Major. It's a fairly short piece, so the piece plays through twice (with the sheet music following along both times).
Please note that to better view the music, it helps to click on the "Full Screen" icon in the lower right-hand corner of the viewing screen above.
Also note that this has been uploaded under Law of Fair Use. It is for educational purposes only and no copyrights infringements intended.
Enjoy and Subscribe if you like to find more like it!

[@ItsmeEyan]

"Is the melody in the left or the right hand?" "Yes".

[@bbessler]

In both alternately

[@Danterobo]

Damn counterpoints

[@shxx_x]

I think it’s in both

[@dottore0078]

In both of them arternately

[@mehooguitar]

Imagine playing this on guitar... I am trying to learn the melody, but holy fuck, this didint help me, its even harder now, end my life guys, please

[@JSB15Inventions]

This piece was not made to perform BUT is hands down the very best composition EVER created for practicing how to play clearly and musically. It is chock full of music (as much is possible) while following an incredibly ingenious construction. Over 100 years later Hanon’s boring finger exercise No. 7 copies the seven note simple "motif". However, Bach does not stay on the white keys but instead develops this whole piece by using this simple structure "CDEFDEC" as a building block, playing it in different modes, in different keys, turning it upside down, playing the first four notes at half the speed, playing it backwards, combining fragments of it together etc. and while being constricted by those 7 degrees STILL MAKES MUSIC! Most of the greatest composers loved and played Bach regularly.

[@ericdufresne6991]

Yeah ... I was told this was a great example of polyphonic rhythm.

[@tomjones2348]

At 58 I took up classical piano (having an extensive violin background). After learning the "easy" Mozart Sonata K545, I realized I needed to take my right hand to the gym. In violin, the right hand is kept very loose and relaxed....so all my dexterity was in the left hand. I mention this because of your comment about Hannon's. I took the first 20 exercises, played them in all keys including harmonic and melodic minors, with harmonized 3rd in the right hand and left hand alternatively. I think Hannon's can be what you want it to be, depending on what you do with it. I'm now working on Mozart K457, with the first movement well in hand. That said, I will be adding this Bach piece to my daily warm up. Thanks for posting it.

[@joashyeow6545]

Longest comment ever

[@jeremywang7747]

Shortest comment I’ve seen.

[@pianosbloxworld4460]

How to get a Bach sound: Good melody, contrapuntal texture, some fugue elements, a couple of scales or broken chords, let simmer. Add ornaments for taste. Mix well. Let cool for 5 minutes. I’d say “eat” if this was an actual recipe for food. Yeah, it’s piano exercise food.

[@n.giorgio2210]

For 10 years I've been playing the piano but somehow I still sound like a novice... So after some recommendations I decided to start playing some Bach and just now I realized how bad I actually am. Let's hope I get better with this piece!

[@agneteht]

Never beat yourself up. I sound shit as well but it is the intention and the discipline that counts. I am picking up piano at 44 after not having played for about 22 years. If I can muster the courage you can.

[@n.giorgio2210]

@@agneteht You're right. Thanks for your words, it makes me feel more motivated! I guess having the right mentality is just as important as practicing the right pieces

[@JoeLinux2000]

Practice slowly and learn to relax. First play just one hand at a time before trying to put them together. Work up small sections at a time, and then fit them together. It's like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. Make your own exercises based on the areas where you are having difficulty. Work it up slowly using a metronome. These days smartphones have very good metronome apps. Work to make the music flow like gentile waves on the ocean. Avoid pounding and rigidity.

[@TheHeavyModd]

@@n.giorgio2210 If you're serious about learning, never stop challenging yourself and setting the bar higher. Playing the same songs over and over is the same as halting improvement

[@Cookerab]

@@agneteht 42 and have not played since college. Last piece I tried to learn was Fantasie Impromptu. Now I am playing Bach beginner music lol.

[@shibumi-tanuki]

“Try Bach,” my mom said, “it’ll be a nice change of style,” she said.

[@ashleygamingrblxyt9091]

0:35

[@slavtrooper3851]

played this in 2th grade... I'll never forget how my grandma looked at me with pride and joy...

[@literal_pain]

I think my teacher is just trying to bully me when she gave these inventions.

[@weitang558]

William Cheng haha

[@weitang558]

William Cheng I can so relate 😂

[@annikajawanda8032]

Yeahhh played this in fifth grade and I’m still mad about it

[@agastyaraul6710]

Yeah dude I’m in 3rd and it’s killing me

[@LordAndiso]

you have no idea how much this sucks... this is only my 3rd month and my teacher bullies me already with this

[@bachpregil5902]

my name is Bach but I didnt invent this but its so lovely. I play this now everyday.

[@sonar7685]

lol. hi Bach

[@bachpregil5902]

@@sonar7685 Hi. =0)

[@sonar7685]

@@bachpregil5902 hewo

[@lindu9609]

Hey Bach I thought u died a long time ago!😂

[@Curtisdoy]

Hello theory people

[@josephyossi781]

not here for theory oopsie just here to learn it

[@fidulario]

Two o'clock past midnight and still chasing the Easter eggs hidden in its counterpoint.

[@cathychan9689]

josephyossi I agreee COMPLETELY

[@fanach]

Can some1 explain me about theory of this piece or smth?

[@furiouspizza699]

Fanach theory is for rcm music it’s basically in a study book and you have to listen to specific songs in one unit and this one of them

[@nategries1047]

i remember playing this song when I was much younger but I couldn't remember the name. I searched "song that goes cdefdeg" and somehow google found this song for me. This is such a great piece for learning and it reminds me of my time playing piano.

[@liuzhixin1]

CdefdeC* lol

[@karnikaavelumani]

such a sweet memory ☺️

[@bitterflies12350]

I'm here for my theory class 😂

[@annieg07]

SShadowFoxyy Same!

[@shawnchen750]

omg wat a coincidence

[@shxx_x]

Whose not??! 😂

[@idyllmc]

same here!

[@shireend2723]

Same, for grade 6 theory😂😂

[@JoseTorres-fd8jm]

I am studying this. Really beautiful!

[@vladandrei2483]

Me too

[@lorenchristopher]

Same

[@marinayiannakou9122]

Me too

[@JoseTorres-fd8jm]

@@literal_pain Do you not realize that the opinion of your kind of people means nothing to rest of the world happily?

[@ryxk._.]

+1.

[@Flaky1916]

this song is permanently burned into my brain because it was the default demo song on my family's Yamaha growing up lol

[@revronep]

How good or how bad you are is relative. There is always someone better and there's always someone worse, haha! Spend a little time with the instrument and you will be surprised at how well it treats you back.

[@spoiledeggnog]

damn i just started this piece and thought it was gonna be a walk in the park but playing this is way harder than i thought, especially the mordents because i have these tacky ass plastic keys

[@SuperGraciemom]

You finish?

[@spoiledeggnog]

@@SuperGraciemom yes, i did finish. i learned all the notes in about a week and a half, and then polished and refined it afterwards.

[@SuperGraciemom]

@@spoiledeggnog awesome!

[@okumay]

tacky plastic keys gang! makes it hard for me to get motivated, but i guess i learned guitar on a cheap guitar and could only justify getting a nice one when i felt i was good enough - hopefully piano will be the same and i can do well despite the state of my keyboard

[@sagar1992]

I feel ya

[@animalistiktiero3835]

I am learning the 1st invention about 3 month now and still just can play the first half of the first page.

[@beevondewitz2794]

Am starting now....teacher asks me to clap instead of playing..... shoot me now...😂😂

[@animalistiktiero3835]

@@beevondewitz2794 For getting the rythm it is good, but in my oppinion it would be better to play it. So good luck :)

[@DougHanson2769]

Start extremely slow. L A R G O or S L O W E R. Good for your bicameral mind.

[@nataliaduarte2161]

I'm going to be learning this piece! So excited!

[@moon-qx5bw]

oh you should NEVER be EXCITED!!! my teacher gave me this piece and i have been play non stop. its all about the shaping and tempo. its a living hell to play

[@noronha_piano]

@@moon-qx5bw ahahah wtf

[@Chana-m3h]

I can play the right hand of this. I always thought it was shubert, but i hummed into google and it found it! My mom would play it to "warm up" and I must have heard it thousands of times! My mom has dementia and I don't think she would remember unless I could play it for her. I'm so excited to try asking her if she remembers, it's so hard to connect with her sometimes

[@fengliang8541]

First I thought that it would be hard to play but it is actually easy. Bravo🎉🎉🎉

[@jonasmutter457]

Dude, I completely underestimated the piece... It's actually hard

[@jonasmutter457]

Actually it's not hard anymore... 😅

[@justinlim7506]

@@jonasmutter457 yeah its actually pretty easy

[@okumay]

ive been playing guitar for almost a decade now. decided to try and add piano to my arsenal - learning how to read sheet music, luckily i picked up a lot of theory from guitar, im practicing so i can be able to play this, hopefully i can play it in a few months

[@DedForThreeYearsInsideNow]

H e you learned it yet?

[@ji8138]

Have you?

[@nonsusname6169]

Generally mordents are played by starting on the principle note and then alternating either up or down depending on the type of mordent and then returning to the principle note, but these are baroque mordents due to the aging of this piece and they're played exactly like trills

[@amadeurpianist3326]

Splendid rendition!

[@mattbod]

I used to think the Inventions were a bore as a kid: I just wanted to get them out of the way so I could learn the organ and teacher said I needed these firstH:what a fool I was. I love them now.

[@markmorrison5046]

Invention 1 c maj 3 ⅛ pick up notes [an 4 an ] followed by 3 .1/8 {or 3 qrtr notes with ornaments} 1 ah 2 ah 3 long, Rhythm is accented in set of 4 then 2 while melody is phrased in sets of three. The entrance of the motif begins with 3 pick-up notes landing on the downbeat of 1 which gives a play like tag, as one ends one simultaneously begins. :35 hint at new tonal center(sec dom type thang). :50 complete 1st phrase (cadence) quickly begins 2nd -sense of eagerness, anticipation of upcoming development. )If this is instructed or interpreted i am not sure yet.) Copy answer by octaves, sequencing (ex. 1-4 2-5 3-6) type thang, Bottom speaks in 1/4’s lead in double time at ⅛’s, together in similar motion (3rds or 6ths), fine’ w/ per cad (Auth cad?) V-I where sap voices 7 to 8, bass 5-1 opposite motion and 4-3 res in inner voice.

[@keineahnung9078]

Ich habe noch nie bei dieser Musik Müsli gegessen

[@todorokishouto7491]

Ich komischerweise auch noch nicht

[@michi_gbr]

same aber frage mich schon wieso😂🤝

[@larielmatira3164]

I'm learning this song! It's pretty easy.👍😊

[@annavalenzano5610]

Bellissima melodia la volevo semplicemente ascoltare perché la sto studiando per un concerto e quando l'ho sentita tutta sono rimasta scioccata

[@raymondtan4290]

I like Bach Invention No. 1.

[@namyyyv]

Does it count that i have been rick rolled by your profile picture?

[@tansy69]

I’m learning this song, and I watch this vid to learn from it, cuz it’s so good!

[@Michevangelo03]

Omg its a composition not a song.

[@darkhafgor]

@@tansy69 Songs have words, this is a piece, or a composition

[@K1LL14N]

@@Michevangelo03 Or just be happy someone is playing a nice piece.. (A song is also a composition because they are both composed)

[@Michevangelo03]

@@K1LL14N Yeah but they are fundamentally different.

[@K1LL14N]

@@Michevangelo03 Composition is not a form. It is a result. A symphony and a song are entirely different froms, but they are both music and they are both compositions. A composition only implies that it is 'composed' by a composer.

[@ayadawas4395]

Y'all complaining about getting this peice from your teachers already knowing piano ........ I just started 2 months ago :/

[@anothrnoml]

Good luck

[@im_not_important4628]

Haha me too and when I play it it just sounds just sooo much worse😂😕

[@fakeotaku5788]

Ah back at it again with the Baroque Bach.

[@thepotatoportal69]

*bach at it again

[@CalebePriester]

That final chord feels so satisfying! Oh my God! How do you learn to do thrills like that? My thrills doesn't sound good as the ones in this.

[@erayozer5185]

I guess the sound was produced with an MIDI

[@yorusaka3554]

@@erayozer5185 I'm almost sure that this is not MIDI, and even if it is doing trills that cleanly is not that hard, just a matter of practice

[@kiraletsplay4930]

OMG 😮

[@II-im3wd]

What a beautiful ending

[@greenworld966]

What in the- why am I learning this this feels way above my skill level considering I was playing au clair de la lune like a few weeks ago? Is my teacher trying to torture me or sum👁️👁️

[@aesthetic_user_1019]

OMG NO WAY i’m playing clair de lune and this for my session lol

[@dawae7288]

I remember struggling at this piece so much, but now, listening back, I feel like such an idiot struggling on such a simple piece.

[@zoe.h.nelson04]

I'm taking a break from piano exams to re-discover my love of piano, and I decided to work through Yamaha's 50 Greats for the Piano. This is the first piece and I'm super excited to get in to the classics like this one! Sorry, this is super nerdy and not at all normal for a 14 year old girl. Whatever. Anyway, thanks for this video, I always need to hear the rhythm before learning the piece other wise I always find a way to mess it up, haha.

[@hayatsayir7139]

Zoe Nelson omg you’re like me!!! i have yamaha’s 50 greats piano and it’s pieces! it’s super amazing

[@cinimod621]

@@hayatsayir7139 Me too. Nice to read comments like that :)

[@benyu3180]

I have a similar book, Casio's Music Library Piano Scores, and I feel the same lol

[@athiyyaannur3664]

Omg sameee

[@Boxxxxxxxxx]

Gorgeous.

[@DougHanson2769]

Difficult to play Great for practice I didn’t believe I’d be able to play it after 3 hours. Then it kind of clicked. Hard to explain. Left Right 2 part- counterpoint. Finally after 30 years. Kidding

[@josephyossi781]

"moderato" at least we now know what fast meant in the 1800s..

[@literal_pain]

You mean 1700s.

[@josephyossi781]

@Michael Tang oops im sorry im stupid tang

[@gongcheng5601]

I am 42, just starts piano for self leaning. took me 1 day to finish first page. Hope I can be younger now...

[@-cloudsaboveuscrying-6805]

you did very well then! take it easy, we all can learn! :) wish you the best!

[@alexl4849]

measure 22 is supposed to have each note go right after each other; not be played all at the same time! there is clearly a sign to point at that

[@JoeLinux2000]

Baroque music was frequently embellished by the performer you are free to follow your own musical tastes. If it sounds good, it is good. However special attention must be paid to the conclusion of any piece. Abrupt endings are not generally desirable unless it is to add an element of surprise.

[@Whatismusic123]

This is played on a piano not a harpsichord, arpeggios do not sound as great

[@gwenjiang307]

I like the it

[@summerlavender17]

I'm almost done with getting this piece down-it's been about a year (I'm kind of a beginner and I don't practice enough). I think my family members have this seared into their brains forever. But my trills (or whatever they're called) are not happening. I really want to get them good. I know, keep practicing!!

[@SuperMrAlucard]

bar 20 is missing a trill for the 2 part invention. (on E near the end of the bar).

[@anonymous-jf4jc]

"moderato"

[@Johanov01]

BlueLlamaFlyingInTheUniverse it’s actually allegro moderato.

[@klop4228]

I don't see the issue. This is a very moderate tempo.

[@bokorlilla1573]

No, Bach did not wrote the right hand a third up. You made me curious, so I looked up the manuscript, and you passed by an important detail: the clef. The right hand in the manuscript do have a clef, and it's soprano clef, not treble clef. That's why you see that the notes are "third up", while as a matter of fact, they are not. They are the very same notes as you see in this score. (With a few exception, because that's true, that there are some differences in ornamentation.) Look up the different clefs, they are substantial if you engage yourself with Bach's music!

[@lufocity9339]

Scrub

[@retner3716]

THIS IS ALLEGRO

[@fredericchopin4234]

Yes, but can you play Etude Op.10 No.4 otherwise known as Torrent.

[@solarean]

The poor Chopin guy flexing on us with torrent and there’s Alkan just watching from a distance, laughing silently as he composes his etudes.

[@luka-gr1qx]

it is easier than this invention. I am able to learn and improve no 4 pretty quickly, but this invention goes too hard and I really can't understand how to joon my hands

[@sha6ar6oon]

My favorite version so far

[@frankzeng8629]

wot

[@Unsqeakable]

Me: requesting this song when my teacher let us play music Other 8th graders: old town road shit

[@MMMMCMLXXXII]

😳Bro fr??😳 I bet you’re so fun to be around😅🤡

[@AniProGuy]

Its crazy, this is the A Silent Voice soundtrack. I cannot believe it

[@miked5163]

Ok time to get good

[@dumbygumby595]

I'm not the only one listening for my theory exam...

[@Vaii_shh]

SAME, u know the fucking rhytmic of the first three beats?

[@literal_pain]

Ahem, language!

[@dumbygumby595]

@@literal_pain lmaooooo

[@literal_pain]

What does Imaooooooo mean

[@MMMMCMLXXXII]

@@literal_pain lmao

[@kjl3080]

great piece to learn hand independance

[@emanlee2003]

I learned the 8th invention first. Now, I'm learning this and have such a hard time fitting in the trills

[@windtorch]

Amazing

[@samuelbohn1880]

Wow 😲

[@minhdoan18]

Me: my kid already started playing piano Me: gave my kid "invention No.1" Kid: took 1 year to do it right

[@melikegunes2884]

Schön 💝😇

[@awakeamericanow]

Note perfect, time perfect, I was really trying to listen to the dialogue between the two parts. It was there somewhere, probably, I think.

[@paulvictory7265]

I am learning this in suzuki piano book 5

[@hldnemisis2587]

I’m here for class

[@sabinemauras8297]

fire

[@harnold986]

Zajebiste na biwe, pozdrawiam z rodziną.

[@kaitlynsvideodiary]

Who else is here from therie? Lol

[@maplestoryinchinese]

You mean theory?

[@kaitlynsvideodiary]

꧁SocialismWorks꧂ 😒

[@rafaele.zavalacamero3099]

Right here.

[@strikezunited4852]

🔥🔥🔥

[@guangyuzhu1036]

Good☺

[@josephjones2653]

im here because my instructor said i should have this piece for my rep this semester 😃

[@MonkeyDLuffy-ro3ge]

"Is the melody in the left or the right hand?"

[@jordanlosper5761]

yes

[@27alex30]

yes

[@lucaandre723]

1:08 1:08 1:08 1:08

[@georgemilne6453]

Anyone know “the musical character conveyed in the performance you heard”

[@berryuumi2961]

It's pretty easy, i played it some time ago

[@Jasmine-hy5rx]

Easy you say? Hmm..

[@usertyfoon]

Would you share with us your version?

[@nonlosoharow497]

0:34 0:40 0:41 0:48 1:01 1:07

[@jasoncai7329]

I honestly feel awkward when he flip the page cause the old one just disappears and gets replaced with a new one in a split second

[@reyx7866]

can you tell me the time?

[@reyx7866]

i found it! 1:15! thank me later

[@reyx7866]

wait..... there 2 flips and its 1:17

[@emmar6304]

Ugh help me I'm learning it😯

[@richardszalai5230]

Help me to ! :)

[@Jasmine-hy5rx]

Here’s some tips (They aren’t professional, but eh) 1. When you’re practicing (if you have one or have a app) use a metronome. It really keeps you steady and helps you with your tempo. 2. Don’t go as fast as the normal piece goes for, try keeping a slow and steady tempo. 3. Don’t play the whole entire piece. Try section by section before you go for the whole entire piece! 4. Don’t focus on details in the beginning (such as piano, mezzo forte, forte, fortesimo, etc.) just try improving the notes to the piece before you dig deeper! 5. Review the sections together and try to improve them! And there you go, hopefully you can improve a lot :D

[@ravindrabanchhod1579]

@@Jasmine-hy5rx those tips are so generic, especially 5. Here is a good tip: keep doing the first bar over and over until you can do it mindlessly, then move on to the next bar (until you can do it mindlessly), then do first and second bar together (until mindless) and keep doing it until you learn the song. Use a metronome at all times.

[@xerthus345]

Last chord arpeggio...

[@hazok4351]

I've been learning piano for about three months and my teacher gave me this to try. Does he want me to give up or what?

[@sopht420]

Don’t worry if you suck. There is always a five-year-old Asian kid better than u don’t worry

[@shikichanofficial]

thanks for the reminder 😒

[@yingchan7634]

good

[@kyna1336]

im here cuz I need to show my class Bach songs for a project

[@shikichanofficial]

i played this song when i was 12, anyone else?

[@DougHanson2769]

No. My teacher liked me

[@samuelebissa2231]

Very beautiful

[@armandoarmangoTheMango]

What the heck I played kadosky kick on my piano and it took me here

[@toninrm7555]

1 year playing piano and my teacher show me this for play It for Christmas.... Ok....

[@teresa6387]

0:07 0:22 0:34

[@sarahb8147]

Why does my version say quarter note = 120?! Is it trying to kill me? I used to play it this speed and am glad to realize I don’t need to actually play it at a breakneck speed

[@승희-l8k]

지굼 학원에서 배우는 곡인데 넘 어려워여 흑흑 😭

[@user-pianojam]

Good

[@alexbackues1666]

Gooooooooooooood. 😀

[@temporaryname4121]

Alex Backues koala to the max dot com

[@melikegunes2884]

Schon 💖

[@melikegunes2884]

Schön 💝

[@perry750]

dam

[@perry750]

dam

[@thesecretlifeofbuns4336]

E

[@Nobluetoday]

i just started piano lessons but already knew the basics from theory of music and violin… i was given a week to learn this which i think is an exaggeration. still struggling. lets see how this goes. p.s. i hate this

[@leannesarubbi4979]

Did you end up learning it in a week? Or at all?

[@gtyrone83]

This song is basically the definition of contrapuntal.

[@wersenchannel6168]

Probably this is the simplest at the same time the fanciest music I ever heard.

[@EricSmith-ce4mv]

Anybody have a suggested tempo for learn this piece

[@adityamachiroutu1066]

learning 80 performing go up to 144

[@OliversElevators]

@@adityamachiroutu1066 I assume you mean 8th note = 144, not quarter note = 144? That would be insanely fast!

[@hiromutanaka5259]

0:36

[@hiromutanaka5259]

For Ractice

[@samcolvin8294]

No hate to this piece whatsoever, but I just cannot for the life of me enjoy it. I find I learn pieces quite fast when they’re ones I want to enjoy, but I just can’t bring myself to learn this in my time between lessons, I just don’t find myself even caring if I learn the next parts because I have no attachment to the melody. Tbh I don’t know if im asking for some magical reason to like the song, just venting if anything

[@TrwHustlerss]

0.25

[@dauntaviosgreenhouse6390]

Motorola Ringtone.

[@hiromutanaka5259]

33

[@biancazhu8805]

My teacher can play this the same way,