Bach's keyboard suites, still frequently performed today, were composed or revised in the 1720s-1730s. Although their exact genesis is unknown, the English Suites are considered the earliest among them. The title became established during the 18th century, after J. C. Forkel, Bach's first biographer, noted that they were "composed for an English nobleman." While verification of this fact is impossible, Forkel's words, given his close relationship with Bach's sons, must be acknowledged as having a certain persuasive power.

However, the common belief that the six suites exhibit English characteristics is not stylistically accurate. If the French Suites sound more refined compared to the English Suites, it is likely because the former were written with a greater awareness of the contemporary galant style, employing many conventional idioms. In any case, what the composer likely aimed for through the late keyboard suites, beginning with the English Suites, was to fuse a German sound with traditional genres of French origin; in short, to integrate imitative counterpoint into a texture where harmonic elements predominated. This was an unparalleled endeavor by Bach, reaching its culmination in the Six Partitas. Furthermore, as Bach himself called them "suites with preludes," each of the English Suites features a lengthy prelude. In the preludes of the five suites excluding the first, one can find formal principles of Italian concertos or da capo arias, while simultaneously encompassing intricate motivic development through two-part contrapuntal writing. This could also be described as a fusion of Italian and German sounds. In any case, the name "English Suites" cannot be considered to have a significance beyond its extramusical origin.

All of the English Suites consist of six movements in the same order: Prelude - Allemande - French Courante - Sarabande - inserted dance - Gigue. However, the choice of keys and the arrangement of the six suites do not show the same consistency or logic as seen in the French Suites or Partitas; some suggest they were simply ordered according to their composition date or difficulty.

Furthermore, some of the dances show clear similarities to the Six Suites (1701) by Charles Dieupart (ca. 1667-ca. 1740), a French musician who was also active in London. Bach copied several of Dieupart's works, and since Dieupart's Six Suites also begin with an overture, there is no doubt that this collection played a role in the genesis of the English Suites.

3. G minor: Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gavotte I-II (Musette), Gigue / BWV 808

A musette was originally a small bagpipe, and dances employing this instrument were also called by this name. It describes the character of a pastoral dance with a drone (sustained bass).