What was Bach's IQ?

There is no doubt that Bach was a musical genius, but what clues did he leave behind to reveal his actual IQ? 165. That's the number music scholars and scientists have landed upon for their best guess as to J.S. Bach's IQ.

classicfm.com - What was Bach's IQ and was he really a genius? - Classic FM

What 4 chords are in every song guitar?

The 'four chord song' has been around since Pachelbel's Canon around the turn of the 18th century. These four chords are the magic I, IV, V and vi....

Last updated May 8, 2019

What piano book should I buy?

The 6 Best Piano Books for Beginners Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course. Alfred's Basic Piano Library. Primer Level – Lesson Book: Piano Adventures....

Last updated May 21, 2021

Promotion

What was Bach's IQ and was he really a genius?

J.S. Bach – a musical genius. Picture: IMSLP / Getty

By Sofia Rizzi

There is no doubt that Bach was a musical genius, but what clues did he leave behind to reveal his actual IQ?

165. That's the number music scholars and scientists have landed upon for their best guess as to J.S. Bach's IQ. While we can’t measure exactly what Johann Sebastian Bach’s IQ was, the IQ score that is widely accepted amongst studies is 165. Going by today's IQ measurements, this would land him in the ‘very superior’ IQ classification. In other words, he was scientifically classified as a genius.

We're not really surprised though, a man who could improvise a six-part fugue: what else would you expect?

Bach's IQ would be in the top 0.25% of today's population. Picture: Classic FM An IQ of 165 means that Bach would be among the brightest 0.25 per cent of today's population. This would have been an even smaller percentage in Bach's lifetime because not everyone had access to education. Unfortunately, we can’t accurately measure Bach’s exact IQ today, but we can hear the proof of his genius in his music. He even left us some more clues in his work… We could write essays upon essays about Bach's mastery of fugue and counterpoint. But instead, here are a few of the golden nuggets of genius that Bach left in his work:

The BACH motif

This trick stems from Bach's surname. In Germany, where Bach lived, B naturals are called 'H' and B flats are simply called 'B'. So, B-A-C-H translates to a four-note motif:

B flat – A – C – B natural.

Bach managed to fit this sneaky motif into much of his work and it became a sort of signature. Think of it as the musical genius' equivalent to a hidden word puzzle

Signing off in style

By using two treble clefs, tenor clef, and an alto clef, the BACH motif can be written out in the form of a cross using one note intersecting four staves. Although Bach himself didn't use this as his signature, this cross also reflects Bach's deep devotion to God – something present in all his music.

Number symbolism

By replacing each letter of Bach's name with its number equivalent in the alphabet, Bach's name translates into 2+1+3+8=14. Bach's playful manipulation of the number 14, for example in the 14 canons of the Goldberg Variations, occurs time and time again throughout his prolific career. The number seven was also important to him, and it is often presented in pairs in his work. The number seven stands for perfection and completeness in Christian theology, and Bach was a devout Christian. So, as well as being a musical genius, it seems that he was a mathematical whizz too. Although, as he put it, he had no interest in displaying his intellect through his music – “The aim and the final reason of all music should be nothing else but the glory of God and the refreshment of the human spirit.”

What voice is attractive to guys?

Their study revealed that males find female voices that indicate a smaller body size—high-pitched, breathy voices with wide formant spacing—most...

Last updated Dec 31, 2021

How much does Simply Piano cost per month?

Simply Piano has a slightly different pricing structure. You can start with a seven-day free trial to help you see if this is the app for teaching...

Last updated Oct 23, 2022

Promotion

Should I use an app to learn piano?

Overall, I recommend Simply Piano to students and beginner players looking to learn. It really will help your technique and performance skills. The...

Last updated Jul 28, 2020

What key is Easy Commodores?

A♭ Major Easy is written in the key of A♭ Major.

Last updated Mar 10, 2020

Promotion

How hard is it to read sheet music?

It is actually very simple and the notes can be broken down into easy-to-learn pieces. Musical composition isn't just a form of art, its also based...

Last updated Apr 30, 2021

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Promotion

Do pianists get carpal tunnel?

For piano players, the possibility of developing carpal tunnel is a real concern. Most people who play the piano, professionally or as a hobby,...

Last updated Jul 5, 2018