Here are Beethoven’s complete bagatelles ranked from easiest to hardest on Road to Virtuosity.

  1. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 119, No. 10
    1,690 Points · Level 3
  2. Beethoven - Bagatelle - WoO 61a
    8,500 Points · Level 5
  3. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 119, No. 9
    25,900 Points · Level 6
  4. Beethoven - Bagatelle - WoO 54
    32,000 Points · Level 6
  5. Beethoven - Bagatelle - WoO 59 - Für Elise
    40,000 Points · Level 6
  6. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 119, No. 8
    52,000 Points · Level 7
  7. Beethoven - Bagatelle - WoO 60
    57,000 Points · Level 7
  8. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 33, No. 4
    57,500 Points · Level 7
  9. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 119, No. 11
    58,000 Points · Level 7
  10. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 126, No. 5
    59,000 Points · Level 7
  11. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 126, No. 6
    59,000 Points · Level 7
  12. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 33, No. 3
    61,000 Points · Level 7
  13. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 119, No. 1
    62,000 Points · Level 7
  14. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 33, No. 1
    68,000 Points · Level 7
  15. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 119, No. 4
    69,500 Points · Level 7
  16. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 33, No. 6
    70,000 Points · Level 7
  17. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 119, No. 3
    79,500 Points · Level 7
  18. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 119, No. 2
    82,000 Points · Level 7
  19. Beethoven - Bagatelle - WoO 56
    86,000 Points · Level 7
  20. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 126, No. 1
    270,000 Points · Level 8
  21. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 126, No. 3
    315,000 Points · Level 8
  22. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 126, No. 2
    375,000 Points · Level 8
  23. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 33, No. 7
    388,000 Points · Level 8
  24. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 119, No. 5
    405,000 Points · Level 8
  25. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 33, No. 2
    410,000 Points · Level 8
  26. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 119, No. 7
    435,000 Points · Level 8
  27. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 33, No. 5
    480,000 Points · Level 8
  28. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 119, No. 6
    490,000 Points · Level 8
  29. Beethoven - Bagatelle - Op. 126, No. 4
    500,000 Points · Level 9
  30. Beethoven - Bagatelle - WoO 52
    520,000 Points · Level 9

Quick facts from the RTV ranking

The easiest Beethoven bagatelle on this list is Op. 119, No. 10, with 1,690 RTV points.

The hardest Beethoven bagatelle on this list is WoO 52, with 520,000 RTV points.

The famous Für Elise is not one of the hardest Beethoven bagatelles on RTV. It is listed at 40,000 points and Level 6.

Most of Beethoven’s bagatelles in this ranking fall between Level 7 and Level 8.

The original opus number does not determine the RTV difficulty order. Some early Op. 33 bagatelles rank higher than later works, while some Op. 119 pieces are much easier than others.

The late Op. 126 set is generally more advanced, but even within Op. 126 there is a wide spread of RTV points.

Beethoven Bagatelles in original order

Op. 33 Bagatelles

  • Op. 33, No. 1
    View piece — 68,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 33, No. 2
    View piece — 410,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 33, No. 3
    View piece — 61,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 33, No. 4
    View piece — 57,500 points — Level 7
  • Op. 33, No. 5
    View piece — 480,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 33, No. 6
    View piece — 70,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 33, No. 7
    View piece — 388,000 points — Level 8

Op. 119 Bagatelles

  • Op. 119, No. 1
    View piece — 62,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 119, No. 2
    View piece — 82,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 119, No. 3
    View piece — 79,500 points — Level 7
  • Op. 119, No. 4
    View piece — 69,500 points — Level 7
  • Op. 119, No. 5
    View piece — 405,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 119, No. 6
    View piece — 490,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 119, No. 7
    View piece — 435,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 119, No. 8
    View piece — 52,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 119, No. 9
    View piece — 25,900 points — Level 6
  • Op. 119, No. 10
    View piece — 1,690 points — Level 3
  • Op. 119, No. 11
    View piece — 58,000 points — Level 7

Op. 126 Bagatelles

  • Op. 126, No. 1
    View piece — 270,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 126, No. 2
    View piece — 375,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 126, No. 3
    View piece — 315,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 126, No. 4
    View piece — 500,000 points — Level 9
  • Op. 126, No. 5
    View piece — 59,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 126, No. 6
    View piece — 59,000 points — Level 7

WoO Bagatelles

  • WoO 52
    View piece — 520,000 points — Level 9
  • WoO 54
    View piece — 32,000 points — Level 6
  • WoO 56
    View piece — 86,000 points — Level 7
  • WoO 59 - Für Elise
    View piece — 40,000 points — Level 6
  • WoO 60
    View piece — 57,000 points — Level 7
  • WoO 61a
    View piece — 8,500 points — Level 5

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, articulation, voicing, repeated notes, jumps, musical control, and the amount of consistency needed to perform 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 Beethoven’s Bagatelles

A bagatelle is usually a short piano piece, but Beethoven’s bagatelles should not be dismissed as simple throwaway works. Some are brief and light, while others are compact but surprisingly demanding.

Beethoven’s complete bagatelles include pieces from Op. 33, Op. 119, Op. 126, and several WoO works, including the famous Für Elise.

The range is wide. Some bagatelles are useful for early intermediate study, while others require advanced control of articulation, speed, character, contrast, phrasing, and Classical style.

Why this ranking is useful

The title “bagatelle” can be misleading. It suggests something small, but small does not always mean easy.

Some of Beethoven’s bagatelles are short enough to learn quickly, but still difficult to perform with clean articulation, steady rhythm, clear voicing, and convincing musical character.

This is where the RTV ranking helps. Instead of treating all bagatelles as one difficulty category, each piece receives its own point value and level.

That makes it easier for pianists and teachers to choose the right Beethoven bagatelle at the right stage of study.

Complete book on RTV

View Beethoven - Complete Bagatelles on Road to Virtuosity

The complete RTV edition includes Beethoven’s bagatelles from Op. 33, Op. 119, Op. 126, and WoO 52–61a, including Für Elise.