Minuet in G, BWV Anh. 114
Christian Petzold · German, 1725 · long attributed to J. S. Bach · solo guitar
Techniques
Two voices: melody and bass
bars 1–16 →The melody runs on the top strings while a separate bass line moves under it. Play the bass with the thumb and the melody with the fingers, and keep both lines going without cutting each other short.
Up to the fifth fret
bars 17–18 →The second half opens in the fifth position and comes back down in bar 18. Shift on the beat, with the hand moving as one unit.
The turn to D major
bars 19–24 →A major chords in bars 20 and 21 lead the music to D major. Listen for the C♯, the note that tells you the key has changed.
Key and harmony
G major; the second half moves towards D major before it comes home. The shading on the circle of fifths shows how many of the 32 bars use each chord.
Chords and positions
Practice plan
Four steps, about a week each at 15 minutes a day. Each link opens the player at that bar and tempo.
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STEP 190 BPM
The first eight bars
Play the melody alone, then add the bass. Count three to each bar.
Open bars 1–8 at 90 BPM → -
STEP 2100 BPM
The end of the first half
Bars 9 to 16 repeat the opening and close in G.
Open bars 9–16 at 100 BPM → -
STEP 3110 BPM
The second half
Learn the shift to the fifth position and the turn to D major.
Open bars 17–24 at 110 BPM → -
STEP 4136 BPM
The whole minuet
Play both halves through and bring the tempo up to a light, dancing pace.
Open bars 1–32 at 136 BPM →
Related pieces
Tab by easytabs.studio from the Mutopia Project edition #102 (public domain).