Fingering on Bachs Prelude 1 in C Major

[DaveManDave]

Hello everyone! Ok I really want to learn this beautiful song and im using these tabs http://www.bassmasta.net/b/bach/102401.html Im only having one problem, i cant for the life of me figure out the fingering here! Do i have to make some mutant hand shape to play this?

[stevecrow74]

finger tapping!!! worked for me

[vin*tone]

The short answer is...yes. Mutant hand shapes are required.

The long answer is... you have to be a little imaginative in your fingering. eg: in the first bar finger: 2-1-3-4-2-3-4-3 (1 is index).

Don't be afraid to change the tabs if you can find a way to play it more comfortably a different way. JS Bach didn't sit down and write this out in bass tab .
Example: Check out the 3rd bar:

---------10----10---------10----10-|
-------12----12---------12----12---|
-----10----10---------10----10-----|
-7-10-------------7-10-------------|

You would probably finger the 2nd and 3rd notes (D+G) as a barre with the 3rd finger then move the hand up to catch the D on the 12th fret.

I prefer this:

-------7-10--7-10-------7-10---7-10-|
---------------------------------------|
-----10----10---------10----10-----|
-7-10-------------7-10--------------|

..playing the high D's in the 3rd bar on the G string keeping it all in the one position and making it FAR easier to get back to the root note on the B.

Nice piece.

[vin*tone]

Come to think of it.....
I'm changing at least half his fingerings I think they're really.... unnecessarily difficult

[buddyro57]

Bach wrote these for cello- hence the wide interval leaps.
JS

[DaveManDave]

Thanks guys!

[vin*tone]

Originally Posted by buddyro57

Bach wrote these for cello- hence the wide interval leaps.
JS

Piano/harpsichord actually.

There are also errors in the tab sheet when compared to the sheet music.

[bass12]

TABs for Bach? He's definitely rolling over somewhere! You don't specify which part of the piece is giving you trouble. If it's the D pedal section than try tapping. Use your thumb to pluck the D string while tapping on the G string with your index finger (not as difficult as it may sound). Good luck.

[Spaldo]

tab...yuk

[HaVIC5]

Originally Posted by bass12

TABs for Bach? He's definitely rolling over somewhere! You don't specify which part of the piece is giving you trouble. If it's the D pedal section than try tapping. Use your thumb to pluck the D string while tapping on the G string with your index finger (not as difficult as it may sound). Good luck.

You do realize that all of his Lute suites are traditionally read in lute tabulature? Fun fact. Another fun fact, Bach actually ocassionally WROTE using something called organ tablature, you can see the manuscript for yourself.

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Scores/...-Tablature.htm

[arielk]

BUMP...

But for a reason: figured I'd be being nicer if I didn't start a new thread.

This piece we're discussing is my favorite classical piece and I'm running into the same issue as the initial poster on this thread...has anyone tabbed this out in a reasonable way, a playable way?