Here are Bach’s 15 Sinfonias ranked from easiest to hardest on Road to Virtuosity.

  1. Bach - Sinfonia No. 5 - BWV 791
    157,000 Points · Level 8
  2. Bach - Sinfonia No. 1 - BWV 787
    165,000 Points · Level 8
  3. Bach - Sinfonia No. 4 - BWV 790
    174,000 Points · Level 8
  4. Bach - Sinfonia No. 11 - BWV 797
    178,000 Points · Level 8
  5. Bach - Sinfonia No. 2 - BWV 788
    182,000 Points · Level 8
  6. Bach - Sinfonia No. 6 - BWV 792
    187,500 Points · Level 8
  7. Bach - Sinfonia No. 9 - BWV 795
    195,000 Points · Level 8
  8. Bach - Sinfonia No. 14 - BWV 800
    198,000 Points · Level 8
  9. Bach - Sinfonia No. 13 - BWV 799
    208,000 Points · Level 8
  10. Bach - Sinfonia No. 7 - BWV 793
    212,000 Points · Level 8
  11. Bach - Sinfonia No. 15 - BWV 801
    224,000 Points · Level 8
  12. Bach - Sinfonia No. 8 - BWV 794
    240,000 Points · Level 8
  13. Bach - Sinfonia No. 3 - BWV 789
    243,000 Points · Level 8
  14. Bach - Sinfonia No. 10 - BWV 796
    249,000 Points · Level 8
  15. Bach - Sinfonia No. 12 - BWV 798
    262,000 Points · Level 8

Quick facts from the RTV ranking

The easiest Bach Sinfonia on this list is Sinfonia No. 5 - BWV 791, with 157,000 RTV points.

The hardest Bach Sinfonia on this list is Sinfonia No. 12 - BWV 798, with 262,000 RTV points.

All 15 Bach Sinfonias are listed as Level 8 on Road to Virtuosity.

Because all of the Sinfonias are Level 8, the RTV point values are especially useful. They show the smaller difficulty differences inside the same broad level.

The original order does not match the RTV difficulty order. For example, Sinfonia No. 5 is currently ranked as the easiest, while Sinfonia No. 12 is currently ranked as the hardest.

The Sinfonias are a clear step beyond the Bach Two-Part Inventions because they require the pianist to manage three independent voices instead of two.

Bach Sinfonias in original order

  • Sinfonia No. 1 - BWV 787
    View piece — 165,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 2 - BWV 788
    View piece — 182,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 3 - BWV 789
    View piece — 243,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 4 - BWV 790
    View piece — 174,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 5 - BWV 791
    View piece — 157,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 6 - BWV 792
    View piece — 187,500 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 7 - BWV 793
    View piece — 212,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 8 - BWV 794
    View piece — 240,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 9 - BWV 795
    View piece — 195,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 10 - BWV 796
    View piece — 249,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 11 - BWV 797
    View piece — 178,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 12 - BWV 798
    View piece — 262,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 13 - BWV 799
    View piece — 208,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 14 - BWV 800
    View piece — 198,000 points — Level 8
  • Sinfonia No. 15 - BWV 801
    View piece — 224,000 points — Level 8

About RTV points and levels

Road to Virtuosity uses both points and levels to show difficulty. Levels give a broad category, while RTV points give a more specific ranking within that category.

RTV points are based on the overall difficulty of learning and performing a piece. This can include factors such as length, tempo, rhythm, hand coordination, contrapuntal texture, voicing, articulation, independence between the hands, and the amount of control needed to play the piece accurately.

Because points are more detailed than levels, two pieces can have the same level but still have different RTV point values. The piece with more RTV points is ranked as more difficult.

About Bach’s Sinfonias

Bach’s Sinfonias, BWV 787–801, are often called three-part inventions. They are short keyboard works built around three independent musical voices.

This makes them more demanding than simple melody-and-accompaniment pieces. The pianist must listen horizontally, follow several lines at once, and make each voice clear without letting the texture become heavy or confused.

The Sinfonias are important because they train a pianist to think contrapuntally. They develop touch, independence, voicing, articulation, rhythm, and musical awareness in a very concentrated way.

Why this ranking is useful

Many pianists study the Bach Sinfonias after the Two-Part Inventions. But even though all 15 Sinfonias belong to the same collection, they do not feel equally difficult.

Some are more compact and comfortable under the fingers. Others require more advanced control of imitation, voice-leading, hand coordination, and musical balance.

This is where RTV points help. Instead of treating all 15 Sinfonias as the same difficulty, each one receives its own point value inside Level 8.

That makes it easier for teachers and students to choose a good first Sinfonia, plan a progression through the set, and understand why one Bach piece may feel harder than another even when both are in the same level.