Bach Air Tutorial & Sheet Music

The "Air" from Johann Sebastian Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068, is one of his most famous and beloved works. Often referred to as "Air on the G String" due to an arrangement by violinist August Wilhelmj, the piece is known for its serene and flowing melody. The Air features a delicate interplay between strings, creating a calm, lyrical atmosphere that exudes grace and simplicity. Its gentle rhythm and rich harmonies evoke a sense of peaceful reflection, making it a favorite in both classical concerts and popular culture.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to play the original version of the work. It's in the key of D Major and 4/4 time. The trickiest thing about this piece is the rhythm. When deciphering tricky rhythms, first take out all of the ties, and then subdivide. Subdividing is breaking the notes down into their smallest common denominator. In this piece, the smallest note values are 32nd notes, so figure out how many 32nd notes fit within the larger note values and either play those out or have your metronome play them for you to figure out how long to hold each note. This piece does have a high C written in measure 17. I will be shifting to play this note but you can also stay in first position and reach it through a fourth finger extension. A note by note, in-depth tutorial of this piece is included inside of Learn Violin Online. Open enrollment is starting on November 29, so join the waitlist for first access to the program and a special freebie from me.