J.S. Bach Prelude BWV 846 finally playable originally on a nylonstring MIDI guitar

[Eddie Nuenning]

Dear classical guitarists,

after having been underwhelmed by the existing transcriptions of this piece, I finally came up with this version played on a Frameworks classical MIDI guitar built by Frank Krocker in Germany.
Thus I can play all the notes of the original composition and even sustain the bass notes (notes/tabs are shown on screen).
I hope you like it.

https://youtu.be/snCRmI51nqo

[canuck7]

Very nice [emoji106]!! One of these days I might learn that piece. Really enjoyed watching/listening…some impressive fingering!

[Eddie Nuenning]

Originally Posted by canuck7

Very nice [emoji106]!! One of these days I might learn that piece. Really enjoyed watching/listening…some impressive fingering!

Thank you - I am glad you like it. It was quite a challenge but also great fun in the end. I hope the transcription will be of good use to you!

[evanpyle]

Originally Posted by Eddie Nuenning

Dear classical guitarists,

after having been underwhelmed by the existing transcriptions of this piece, I finally came up with this version played on a Frameworks classical MIDI guitar built by Frank Krocker in Germany.
Thus I can play all the notes of the original composition and even sustain the bass notes (notes/tabs are shown on screen).
I hope you like it.

https://youtu.be/snCRmI51nqo

How interesting. How can you sustain those notes you don't fret for the duration?

[Eddie Nuenning]

Originally Posted by evanpyle

How interesting. How can you sustain those notes you don't fret for the duration?

I don’t know if you have watched the video yet - as I convert the guitar notes to a piano sound with the MIDI guitar/MIDI interface the attached piano sustain pedal lets me hold the bass notes. I find this to be essential for the overall build-up of the harmonies in each measure and this isn’t possible to do on a regular guitar in the key of C major.
The truest transcription to the original on a classical guitar is the one by Xuefei Yang - but that one is played on a seven-string and not in C major.

[Gitfiddlemann]

Originally Posted by Eddie Nuenning

Dear classical guitarists,

after having been underwhelmed by the existing transcriptions of this piece, I finally came up with this version played on a Frameworks classical MIDI guitar built by Frank Krocker in Germany.
Thus I can play all the notes of the original composition and even sustain the bass notes (notes/tabs are shown on screen).
I hope you like it.

https://youtu.be/snCRmI51nqo

That was excellent. Like watching/hearing someone play a stand-up Steinway!
Congrats on having found an ingenious way to play this piece in the manner you envisioned.
I love this piece and it's currently in my "rotation", so I'm very aware of the limitations you are talking about as it relates to the 6 string guitar. I did find a pretty good transcription for it but have modified some of the fingerings to achieve a better sounding flow. It's a sweet melody, but a challenge for the regular guitar, no doubt.
I'm sure Bach would heartily approve of your version!
Thanks for sharing.

[Eddie Nuenning]

Originally Posted by AndreF

That was excellent. Like watching/hearing someone play a stand-up Steinway!
Congrats on having found an ingenious way to play this piece in the manner you envisioned.
I love this piece and it's currently in my "rotation", so I'm very aware of the limitations you are talking about as it relates to the 6 string guitar. I did find a pretty good transcription for it but have modified some of the fingerings to achieve a better sounding flow. It's a sweet melody, but a challenge for the regular guitar, no doubt.
I'm sure Bach would heartily approve of your version!
Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for your kind appreciative words - I am glad that you share my enthusiasm for the solution that I have come up with. I really wanted to make this piece work in an adequate way for six-string guitar even though the final sound is that of a piano again.
I wish you a lot of fun with your own Bach endeavors!