6 = b = Bach
To celebrate Johann Sebastian Bach’s 341st birthday, I am delighted to kick off the release of Take on Bach, the 6th book in the Pick Pluck Play! Series starting March 21st. To honor the year he was born, the launch price of 16.85 in all six major currencies will remain active through the end of the month, and adjusted for three currencies (17.50) until Thursday 16th April 2026 when we celebrate the 6th Anniversary of 3 Chord Thursday in Zoom. Thereafter, all prices will be revert to GBP 16.85 equivalent.
See YouTube Playlist of “Take on Bach”
Organists celebrate Bach’s birthday by giving all-Bach organ concerts throughout the entire month of March. Last year, I attended six such concerts in the Boston area—a fitting number for the journey toward this 6th book.
For ukulele players, mastering even a single piece by Bach can be a daunting challenge because of the instrument’s limited range. Take on Bach bridges this gap by providing accessible arrangements that retain the master’s spirit without requiring a cathedral-sized reach.
This new volume contains my arrangements of his most famous “easy” keyboard pieces—adapted for both high-G and low-G ukulele—alongside my own original compositions inspired by his music. It is by far the most substantial entry in the Pick Pluck Play! Series to date, offering a deep dive into the Baroque world for every kind of ukulele player.
“I highly recommend Anne Ku’s Pick Pluck Play! Take on Bach Fingerstyle Ukulele edition. It’s a treasure trove of music inspired by J.S. Bach specifically written for ukulele. These original pieces and arrangements are a delight to play and will challenge your musicianship in satisfying ways. I commend this Bach edition to any ukulele player interested in expanding their musical world!”
Keith A. Larsen, Assistant Director, Berkshire Ukulele Band
BSRCC Great Barrington, MA
What’s Inside?
Take a look under the hood. Click the image below to download the 12-page “Take on Bach” sampler and Table of Contents (1.7 MB PDF).
When Was Bach Born?
The exact date of Johann Sebastian Bach’s birth is a bit of a historical puzzle. Germany was transitioning between calendars at the time, meaning his “real” birthday depends on which system you use:
- March 21, 1685: The Julian calendar (used in his hometown of Eisenach).
- March 31, 1685: The Gregorian calendar (the one we use today).
Most biographers and musicians traditionally celebrate on March 21st, making it the perfect day for our launch.
Special Invitation: 3 Chord Thursday
To anticipate this book launch and birthday celebration, I have invited a true “Bach on the ukulele” virtuoso to our next 3 Chord Thursday session.
Our special guest, Sabine Walter, has published her own book on Bach’s work and has performed stunning presentations of his Violin Partitas on the uke. I was awed by her performances in Italy last October and delighted that she is willing to Zoom in from the Black Forest for our session.
Schedule:
- 3:00 PM EDT: Warm-up lesson. Livestream to YouTube Channel begins.
- Breakout Rooms: Practice and get acquainted.
- Main Session: Sabine Walter.
- 4:00 PM EDT: Close session. Recording ends. Stay after for questions and discussions.
Note: US daylight savings time change means that UK is 19:00 GMT and Europe is 20:00 CET; Hawaii is 9:00 AM HST
Register here to receive the Zoom link and reminders for this free one-hour monthly event.
Pick Pluck Play! Take On Bach gifts the uke world with an exploration of twelve wonderful
Katie Taylor, Leader, Ukulele Club of Chinatown
JS Bach pieces arranged for high and low-G ukulele. As you wend your way through this musical adventure, you will will uncover mysteries of the Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, decipher the hidden B-A-C-H code, unravel the differences between the minuet and the waltz, and much more. Great fun!
San Francisco, CA
P.S. Remember, the special launch price of 16.85 (honoring the year 1685!) is only available until the end of the month for AUD, YEN, CAD. I am currently putting the final touches on the digital and print versions—the Amazon link will appear on this page as soon as the book is ready. If you prefer not to transact with Amazon, please contact me directly to arrange a purchase.
Hot off the press! Click below to see the book on Amazon!
KINDLE Edition US $9.99 or equivalent
I’ve just signed up for Amazon Associates, which means I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. If you enjoy these arrangements, the biggest help you can provide—besides playing the music!—is leaving a review on Amazon. It helps other ukulele players find my work!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This will help me order author copies for myself.
Highlights from the Book
- Gounod-Bach Ave Maria (video)
- Little Prelude
- Counting Sheep to Sleep
- Err on the G String
- B-A-C-H in a Waltz (video)
- B-A-C-H in a Minuet (video)
- Minuet BWV Anh. 116 (video)
See YouTube Playlist of “Take on Bach”
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