Additional Gospel Piano Techniques For Amazing Grace
Do you want to learn even more gospel piano techniques to use on Amazing Grace and other hymns? Be sure to check out the following courses in our library:
This page allows you to filter by content type, skill level and learning focus.
Piano With Jonny offers three core content types:
Courses
Courses are comprised of lessons and are based on selected styles of music and learning focus topics. PWJ offers regular courses, workshops which include teacher interaction, and challenges which are divided into a 4 week learning format.
Lessons
Lessons are combined into courses. Most lessons build upon concepts of the previous lesson, with the exception of Quick Tips which stand alone.
Smartsheets
Smartsheets use the Soundslice sheet music player to give students digital access to all arrangements and lesson sheet music.
Piano With Jonny offers three core content types:
Courses
Courses are comprised of lessons and are based on selected styles of music and learning focus topics. PWJ offers regular courses, workshops which include teacher interaction, and challenges which are divided into a 4 week learning format.
Lessons
Lessons are combined into courses. Most lessons build upon concepts of the previous lesson, with the exception of Quick Tips which stand alone.
Smartsheets
Smartsheets use the Soundslice sheet music player to give students digital access to all arrangements and lesson sheet music.
Amazing Grace Piano Lesson
Would you like an Amazing grace piano tutorial? Well, youve come to the right place.
Today, I am going to teach you how to play an easy and fun version of one of the best songs of all time.
Youll learn how to play the right part and the Amazing Grace piano chords too . For ease of learning I break everything down step by step for you.
I want to make sure you really learn so this piano tutorial also includes a video piano lesson, a chord chart, and Amazing Grace sheet music too!
This specific arrangement is primarily for beginner piano students or people who have only take a few years of piano lessons. Lets get started learning now!
Amazing Grace Piano Tutorial Video
Why not take a few minutes and watch this video. You can listen to the whole arrangement and I break down step by step how to play the hymn.
Now, that youve watched the video lets check out the Amazing Grace Sheet Music. Ive also have extra tips to help you learn more on the bottom. Be sure to scroll down.
You May Like: Easy Piano Songs For Beginners
This Is Amazing Grace Chords / Audio :
Verse 1Bb Who breaks the power of sin and darkness Eb Whose love is mighty and so much stronger Gm F EbThe King of Glory, the King above all kingsBb Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder Eb Who leaves us breathless in awe and wonder Gm F EbThe King of Glory, the King above all kings Chorus Bb This is amazing grace Eb This is unfailing love Gm That You would take my place F That You would bear my cross Bb You would lay down Your life Eb That I would be set free Gm Jesus, I sing for F Bb All that You've done for me Verse 2Bb Who brings our chaos back into order Eb Who makes the orphan a son and daughter Gm F EbThe King of Glory, the King above all kings Bb Who rules the nations with truth and justice Eb Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance Gm F EbThe King of Glory, the King above all kings BridgeBb Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Eb Worthy is the King who conquered the grave Gm Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Eb Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Individual Amazing Grace Piano Chords

3. If you need more help learning some of the individual piano chords in this song you can check out this lesson on the C piano chord and the D piano chord.
4. If youre more of an advanced piano player I also recommend you check out this lesson on how to spice up your major piano chords. The chord tricks in that lesson will sound great in this arrangement.
Also Check: Pirates Of The Caribbean Theme Song Piano
Amazing Grace On The Piano For Beginners & For More Advanced Players
Good morning. This is Duane and today Id like to take a look at Amazing Grace on the piano. Were going to be able to play Amazing Grace with just three chords. If you are a beginner, or a semi beginner, you can get by with just three chords or with many, many chords, okay, and Ill just illustrate that. Say we play it in the key of F, then we base our playing on the scale of F, which just has one flat, B flat, right? The one chord in the key of F would be F of course, thats the F chord. The four chord would be B flat and the five chord would be C and we know from our previous studies that the three primary chords in any key are always one, four and five. Theyre the homeboy chords. Theyre the ones that belong in that key and theyre used far and away the most, okay? So, the in the key of F, the F key is obviously used more than any others. The second used chord is either the four chord or the five chord. Theyre both used a lot, okay? Now, that doesnt mean you cant use other chords. You can use many other chords, but those are the most likely to occur in any given song. Let me just play through Amazing Grace with just with the three chords. Thats the F chord, F. F, C, F.
Heres a great little book on chords and chord progressions on Amazon:
Here is the video on YouTube:
_____________________________________________
Amazing Grace Gospel Style
Get free weekly lessons, practice tips, and downloadable resources to your inbox!
What tune has been featured on over 1,100 albums, is performed over 10 million times each year and is considered a standard in gospel, folk and pop genres? Thats right, Amazing Grace is said to be the most recognizable tune of the English language. Therefore, as pianists, Amazing Grace is right up there with Happy Birthday in terms of must-knowtunes. In todays Quick Tip, PWJ instructor John Proulx will show you 3 simple piano techniques for adapting Amazing Grace from hymnal style into a soulful gospel arrangement. Youll learn:
- Walk-Ups and Walk-Downs
- Adding a Swing Feel
- Reharmonization Techniques
Youll love the way these gospel piano techniques sound on Amazing Grace. Youll also be able to adapt other tunes into a gospel style as well using these transferable techniques.
Read Also: Lean On Me Chords Piano
Amazing Grace Sheet Music And Chord Chart
Heres the for the Amazing Grace piano sheet music. I included the chord symbols and the notation of the exact piano chords I play in my left hand. You can play the chords exactly as notated or play your own version of the chords based off the chord symbol. Ultimately its about whatever is easier for you to learn from!
Now, lets learn some more strategies to help you play the hymn.
Hymnal Style Vs Gospel Style Harmonization
A very common question students ask is, How do I play hymns in a gospel style? The chart below demonstrates general differences in harmonic language between the two styles.
Transforming a tune from traditional hymn harmonization to gospel harmonization requires that we discover appropriate opportunities for the following:
- Add 7ths and chord extensions to primary chords
- Substitute primary chords with secondary chords
- Add passings chord movement
In order to apply these principles, you first must grasp the basic harmonic structure of the tune. When performing harmonic analysis, your objective is to assign the appropriate Roman numeral for each chord with reference to the primary key. This is also called functional analysis. Therefore, well begin by assigning a Roman numeral to each diatonic chord in F major. For example, F Major is the 1-chord, G minor is the 2-chord, and so on. For now, well just use triads.
Next, well identify each occurrence of the chords above as they appear in the sheet music. Then, be sure to write the corresponding Roman numeral. Incidentally, you can download and print the sheet music for todays lesson. The lesson sheet PDF appears at the bottom of this page after logging in with your membership. Now, here is an example of a harmonic analysis for the first two lines of Amazing Grace.
Now that you have a grasp of the harmony for Amazing Grace in its most basic form, youre ready to apply the gospel piano techniques identified above.
Don’t Miss: The Black Parade Piano Notes
Th Chords & Chord Extensions
Another one of the gospel piano techniques found in Johns Amazing Grace arrangement is the use of 7th chords and chord extensions. Well include sus chords in this category . In fact, dominant sus chords is a perfect place to start. The way you voice your dominant chords is perhaps the most significant harmonic transformation that must take place to play in a gospel style. Most hymnals will voice the dominant chord as a triad or perhaps a V7. Gospel pianists favor the V9sus4 sound as in measure 25 .
The 1-chord and 4-chord also frequently contain the major 7th in contemporary gospel music. However, not every 1-chord or 4-chord will work with the major 7th sound. It depends on what note is in the melody. For example, the major 7th sound works great on the 1-chord when the melody note contains the 5th of the chord .
What about chord extensions such as the 9th, 11th and 13th? Extensions beyond the 9th are not characteristic of the traditional gospel piano sound. However, you will find 9th, 11th and 13th extensions in contemporary gospel music. In fact, our Gospel Soul course is packed with examples of contemporary gospel piano chords that use each of the available chord extensions.
What If You Play With A Singer
8 If youre playing with a singer and youre not required to play the melody anymore you can just play the chords in both hands. Some singers like the melody played behind them but many do not!
9. In future lessons well talk about some more open chord voicings you can play to create a fuller sound. In the meantime you can just double the chords you have in the left hand in your right hand an octave higher.
10. In future lessons Ill also do teach you how to play some more advanced arrangement of Amazing grace on piano as well as some other hymns too. Keep checking back on the site.
You May Like: Joy To The World Piano Notes
How To Play Amazing Grace: Jazz Style
WikipediaThis past week I have received song requests for Amazing Grace. Whether you play it “bluesy” or “jazzy”, the song remains #1 in my book. I’ve played it many times in church, have heard it with bagpipes at memorial services and especially sung acapella. The harmony is wonderful. So, I’ll pause for a moment and take a break from the theory sessions on reharmonization and share some chord charts with you on this beautiful hymn. Learn to play the song, Amazing Grace, no matter what level your piano playing experience may be.1. Amazing Grace: Beginner ChordsJohn NewtonDD7GD/ABmE7A7DD7GD/ABmADGod
Easy Amazing Grace Chords

Learn how to play Amazing Grace in this Beginner Piano Lesson! Download my E-Book :
Piano used in this video:
Want to tip me?
Learn How To Sit At The Piano Learn Your Finger Numbers
Find And Play Middle C Learn The Musical Alphabet Label The White Piano Keys
WEEK THREELabel The Black Piano Keys
WEEK FOUR
Play The C Major Chord Play The G Major Chord Play The F Major Chord
WEEK SIXPlay The E Minor Chord Play The A Minor Chord Play The D Minor Chord
WEEK SEVENHow To Read A Chord Chart
WEEK EIGHT
Find Any Note On The Piano Ledger Lines Explained
Play Block Chords On The Staff Play Broken Chords On The Staff Play Hands Together
PLAYLIST LINK:
My name is Dylan Laine and my mission is to inspire you to play, write, and spread the light! I create tutorials for piano, ukulele, guitar, and songwriting. I also post original music, cover songs, and buying guides. In 2010 I received my degree in songwriting from Berklee College of Music, and enjoy teaching private music lessons in addition to making online content.
Business Inquiries: dylanlainemusic@gmail.com
You May Like: Piano Lessons For Beginners Free
Amazing Grace Piano Tutorial Notes Chords Sheet Music
Amazing Grace is a Christian hymn published in 1779, with words written in 1772 by the English poet and Anglican clergyman John Newton .
According to the Dictionary of American Hymnology, Amazing Grace is John Newtons spiritual autobiography in verse. It has been performed by various artists and most recently it was Andrea Bocelli who sang it on Easter Sunday during the 2020 COVID pandemic in front of an empty Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy.
On this page you can find a Piano Tutorial Video,Notes,Chords and Activities for the song, and a Printable PDF with Sheet Music for free Download.
Contents
Lesson 1: Amazing Grace In C F & G
“Amazing Grace” is a nice traditional tune, commonly sung in churches around the world. For the piano player just learning to play the melody, it provides four slightly different hand positions,which will help you continue developing your finger and keyboardawareness.
Instructions for learning Amazing Grace on the piano:
-play each line with right hand until it is easy and/or memorized.
-play each line with left hand until it is easy and/or memorized.
-play each line with both hands until it is easy and/or memorized.
-stringthe lines together until you can play the whole piece. Keep it slowuntil you are comfortable and familiar with it. Then, start playing itfaster, working up to an appropriate tempo for that piece.
-Regardless of tempo, relax your arms & shoulders and keep it smooth and flowing.
For a more complete understanding of how to build your piano-playing foundation, read
You May Like: The Final Countdown On Piano
Amazing Grace Chords / Audio :
Verse 1 G C G G D G Amazing grace how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me G G/B C G D G G I once was lost but now I'm found, Was blind but now I seeVerse 2 G C G G D G'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved G G/B C G D G GHow precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believedChorus G/B C G/B My chains are gone I've been set free C/E G DMy God my Savior has ransomed me G/B C G/B And like a flood His mercy reigns Am7 D7 GUnending love amazing graceVerse 3 G C G G D GThe Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures G G/B C G D G GHe will my shield and portion be, As long as life enduresVerse 4 G C G G D GThe earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine G G/B C G D G GBut God who called me here below, Will be forever mine D G G D G GWill be forever mine, You are forever mine
Primary Chords Vs Secondary Chords
Did you notice that our first excerpt of Amazing Grace in todays lesson only contained three chords? The chords were F major, B major and C major. We identified these chords as the 1-chord, 4-chord and 5-chord in F Major. These three specific chords represent an internal category of within the diatonic palette called primary chords.
The primary chords in any key are the tonic , sub-dominant and dominant chords. Primary chords establish the tonal center most clearly and unambiguously. However, that should not imply that they are always the most effective or interesting choice. In fact, the exclusive use of primary chords will generally sound like childrens nursery rhymes. Therefore, many popular styles of music also use secondary chords, which are sometimes called auxiliary chords. This second category includes the remaining diatonic chordsii, iii, vi and vii°. The diagram below shows the diatonic chords in F major in their primary and secondary functional categories.
primarysecondary
Youll notice that John Proulxs gospel arrangement includes both primary and secondary chords in F major. The list below contains common chord substitutions with reference to their occurrence in Johns arrangement:
- vi often substitutes for I
- iii often substitutes for I
- IV can be added to delay resolution to I
- ii can be added preceding V
Don’t Miss: Learn To Read Piano Music
This Is The Chord Progression Of Amazing Grace On Piano Guitar Ukulele And Keyboard
G C G D Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! G C G Em D G I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.
G C G DTwas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved, G C G Em D G How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
G C G D The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures, G C G Em D G He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.
G C G D Thru many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come, G C G Em D GTis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
G C G D When weve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, G C G Em D G Weve no less days to sing Gods praise than when wed first begun.
For corrections please use the comment box.