Here are Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Op. 28, ranked from easiest to hardest on Road to Virtuosity.

  1. Chopin - Prelude No. 20 - Op. 28, No. 20
    17,000 Points · Level 6
  2. Chopin - Prelude No. 4 - Op. 28, No. 4
    20,200 Points · Level 6
  3. Chopin - Prelude No. 7 - Op. 28, No. 7
    22,000 Points · Level 6
  4. Chopin - Prelude No. 6 - Op. 28, No. 6
    22,500 Points · Level 6
  5. Chopin - Prelude No. 2 - Op. 28, No. 2
    40,000 Points · Level 6
  6. Chopin - Prelude No. 9 - Op. 28, No. 9
    60,000 Points · Level 7
  7. Chopin - Prelude No. 14 - Op. 28, No. 14
    75,000 Points · Level 7
  8. Chopin - Prelude No. 1 - Op. 28, No. 1
    88,000 Points · Level 7
  9. Chopin - Prelude No. 10 - Op. 28, No. 10
    90,000 Points · Level 7
  10. Chopin - Prelude No. 11 - Op. 28, No. 11
    93,000 Points · Level 7
  11. Chopin - Prelude No. 23 - Op. 28, No. 23
    95,000 Points · Level 7
  12. Chopin - Prelude No. 3 - Op. 28, No. 3
    135,000 Points · Level 7
  13. Chopin - Prelude No. 13 - Op. 28, No. 13
    150,000 Points · Level 8
  14. Chopin - Prelude No. 5 - Op. 28, No. 5
    190,000 Points · Level 8
  15. Chopin - Prelude No. 17 - Op. 28, No. 17
    250,000 Points · Level 8
  16. Chopin - Prelude No. 15 - Op. 28, No. 15 - Raindrop
    350,000 Points · Level 8
  17. Chopin - Prelude No. 18 - Op. 28, No. 18
    390,000 Points · Level 8
  18. Chopin - Prelude No. 21 - Op. 28, No. 21
    400,000 Points · Level 8
  19. Chopin - Prelude No. 19 - Op. 28, No. 19
    440,000 Points · Level 8
  20. Chopin - Prelude No. 22 - Op. 28, No. 22
    480,000 Points · Level 8
  21. Chopin - Prelude No. 8 - Op. 28, No. 8
    800,000 Points · Level 9
  22. Chopin - Prelude No. 12 - Op. 28, No. 12
    865,000 Points · Level 9
  23. Chopin - Prelude No. 24 - Op. 28, No. 24
    980,000 Points · Level 9
  24. Chopin - Prelude No. 16 - Op. 28, No. 16
    1,000,000 Points · Level 9

Quick facts from the RTV ranking

The easiest Chopin prelude on this list is Op. 28, No. 20, with 17,000 RTV points.

The hardest Chopin prelude on this list is Op. 28, No. 16, with 1,000,000 RTV points.

The famous Raindrop Prelude is not one of the hardest Chopin preludes on RTV. It is listed at 350,000 points and Level 8.

Most of Chopin’s preludes in this ranking fall between Level 6 and Level 8, but four of them reach Level 9.

The original order of the preludes does not determine their difficulty. Chopin’s Op. 28 set moves through all 24 keys, but the technical challenge rises and falls throughout the collection.

Some of the shortest preludes are among the most difficult, while some of the slower and more famous preludes are more approachable than pianists might expect.

Chopin Preludes in original order

Op. 28 Preludes

  • Op. 28, No. 1 in C Major
    View piece — 88,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 28, No. 2 in A Minor
    View piece — 40,000 points — Level 6
  • Op. 28, No. 3 in G Major
    View piece — 135,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 28, No. 4 in E Minor
    View piece — 20,200 points — Level 6
  • Op. 28, No. 5 in D Major
    View piece — 190,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 28, No. 6 in B Minor
    View piece — 22,500 points — Level 6
  • Op. 28, No. 7 in A Major
    View piece — 22,000 points — Level 6
  • Op. 28, No. 8 in F-sharp Minor
    View piece — 800,000 points — Level 9
  • Op. 28, No. 9 in E Major
    View piece — 60,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 28, No. 10 in C-sharp Minor
    View piece — 90,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 28, No. 11 in B Major
    View piece — 93,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 28, No. 12 in G-sharp Minor
    View piece — 865,000 points — Level 9
  • Op. 28, No. 13 in F-sharp Major
    View piece — 150,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 28, No. 14 in E-flat Minor
    View piece — 75,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 28, No. 15 in D-flat Major - Raindrop
    View piece — 350,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 28, No. 16 in B-flat Minor
    View piece — 1,000,000 points — Level 9
  • Op. 28, No. 17 in A-flat Major
    View piece — 250,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 28, No. 18 in F Minor
    View piece — 390,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 28, No. 19 in E-flat Major
    View piece — 440,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 28, No. 20 in C Minor
    View piece — 17,000 points — Level 6
  • Op. 28, No. 21 in B-flat Major
    View piece — 400,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 28, No. 22 in G Minor
    View piece — 480,000 points — Level 8
  • Op. 28, No. 23 in F Major
    View piece — 95,000 points — Level 7
  • Op. 28, No. 24 in D Minor
    View piece — 980,000 points — Level 9

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 Chopin’s 24 Preludes

Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Op. 28, are one of the most important collections in the Romantic piano repertoire. Each prelude is short, but the set covers a wide range of musical characters, textures, moods, and technical demands.

The Preludes move through all 24 major and minor keys. Unlike a method book or progressive collection, they were not written from easiest to hardest. A short prelude can be highly advanced, while a famous slow prelude may be much more approachable.

The range is wide. Some preludes are quiet and simple in texture, while others require advanced speed, voicing, endurance, hand coordination, and musical control.

Why this ranking is useful

The title “prelude” can be misleading. It suggests something short or introductory, but short does not always mean easy.

Some of Chopin’s preludes are only one or two pages long, but still require great accuracy, control, and confidence. Others are slower and more famous, but not necessarily the hardest pieces in the set.

This is where the RTV ranking helps. Instead of treating all 24 preludes 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 Chopin prelude at the right stage of study.

Complete book on RTV

View Chopin - 24 Preludes - Op. 28 on Road to Virtuosity

The complete RTV edition includes all 24 Preludes, Op. 28 by Frédéric Chopin, engraved in a clean, modern format for study and performance.