Here are Bach’s 15 Two-Part Inventions, BWV 772–786, ranked from easiest to hardest on Road to Virtuosity.

  1. Bach - Invention No. 14 - BWV 785
    65,500 Points · Level 7
  2. Bach - Invention No. 10 - BWV 781
    70,400 Points · Level 7
  3. Bach - Invention No. 1 - BWV 772
    71,800 Points · Level 7
  4. Bach - Invention No. 4 - BWV 775
    72,320 Points · Level 7
  5. Bach - Invention No. 8 - BWV 779
    79,500 Points · Level 7
  6. Bach - Invention No. 13 - BWV 784
    85,900 Points · Level 7
  7. Bach - Invention No. 2 - BWV 773
    102,500 Points · Level 7
  8. Bach - Invention No. 3 - BWV 774
    108,200 Points · Level 7
  9. Bach - Invention No. 6 - BWV 777
    125,780 Points · Level 7
  10. Bach - Invention No. 7 - BWV 778
    130,100 Points · Level 7
  11. Bach - Invention No. 9 - BWV 780
    135,000 Points · Level 7
  12. Bach - Invention No. 15 - BWV 786
    141,000 Points · Level 7
  13. Bach - Invention No. 5 - BWV 776
    143,660 Points · Level 7
  14. Bach - Invention No. 12 - BWV 783
    179,200 Points · Level 8
  15. Bach - Invention No. 11 - BWV 782
    182,000 Points · Level 8

Quick facts from the RTV ranking

The easiest Bach Invention on this list is Invention No. 14 - BWV 785, with 65,500 RTV points.

The hardest Bach Invention on this list is Invention No. 11 - BWV 782, with 182,000 RTV points.

Most of Bach’s Two-Part Inventions are listed as Level 7 on Road to Virtuosity.

Only two Inventions on this list reach Level 8: Invention No. 12 - BWV 783 and Invention No. 11 - BWV 782.

The original order does not match the RTV difficulty order. Invention No. 1 is not the easiest, and Invention No. 15 is not the hardest.

The Inventions are usually studied before the Bach Sinfonias because they use two independent voices instead of three.

Bach Inventions in original order

  • Invention No. 1 - BWV 772
    View piece — 71,800 points — Level 7
  • Invention No. 2 - BWV 773
    View piece — 102,500 points — Level 7
  • Invention No. 3 - BWV 774
    View piece — 108,200 points — Level 7
  • Invention No. 4 - BWV 775
    View piece — 72,320 points — Level 7
  • Invention No. 5 - BWV 776
    View piece — 143,660 points — Level 7
  • Invention No. 6 - BWV 777
    View piece — 125,780 points — Level 7
  • Invention No. 7 - BWV 778
    View piece — 130,100 points — Level 7
  • Invention No. 8 - BWV 779
    View piece — 79,500 points — Level 7
  • Invention No. 9 - BWV 780
    View piece — 135,000 points — Level 7
  • Invention No. 10 - BWV 781
    View piece — 70,400 points — Level 7
  • Invention No. 11 - BWV 782
    View piece — 182,000 points — Level 8
  • Invention No. 12 - BWV 783
    View piece — 179,200 points — Level 8
  • Invention No. 13 - BWV 784
    View piece — 85,900 points — Level 7
  • Invention No. 14 - BWV 785
    View piece — 65,500 points — Level 7
  • Invention No. 15 - BWV 786
    View piece — 141,000 points — Level 7

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 Two-Part Inventions

Bach’s 15 Two-Part Inventions, BWV 772–786, are short keyboard works built around two independent musical voices.

They are not melody-and-accompaniment pieces. Both hands take part in the musical argument, passing motives back and forth through imitation, sequences, rhythmic patterns, and contrapuntal dialogue.

This makes the Inventions important study pieces for pianists. They develop finger control, articulation, rhythmic steadiness, hand independence, voicing, and the ability to listen to more than one musical line at the same time.

Why this ranking is useful

Many students study the Bach Inventions before moving on to the Sinfonias. But even though all 15 Inventions belong to the same collection, they do not feel equally difficult.

Some are shorter and more comfortable under the fingers. Others require more control, faster passagework, more complex imitation, or greater independence between the hands.

This is where RTV points help. Instead of treating all 15 Inventions as the same difficulty, each one receives its own point value and level.

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