- Polyphony: Bach's music often features multiple independent melodic lines played simultaneously. This creates a rich and complex texture that is characteristic of Baroque music.
- Contrapuntal texture: Bach's music is often composed using counterpoint, a technique in which multiple melodic lines are played against each other. This creates a sense of balance and symmetry in the music.
- Use of fugue: Bach was a master of the fugue, a contrapuntal form in which a main theme is introduced and then developed through a series of imitative entries. Bach's fugues are often complex and intricate, and they demonstrate his mastery of counterpoint and compositional technique.
- Use of ornamentation: Bach's music often includes ornamentation, such as trills, mordents, and turns. This ornamentation adds embellishment to the melody and helps to create a more expressive sound.
- Chromaticism: Bach sometimes uses chromaticism, the use of notes that are not part of the diatonic scale, to create a sense of tension and drama in his music.
- Use of keyboard instruments: Bach was a virtuoso keyboard player, and he wrote a significant amount of music for keyboard instruments, including the harpsichord, organ, and clavichord. His keyboard works often explore the full range of possibilities offered by these instruments, and they demonstrate his technical mastery and musical imagination.
Overall, Bach's style is characterized by its complexity, its focus on counterpoint and polyphony, its use of fugue and ornamentation, and its exploration of the full range of possibilities offered by keyboard instruments.