Early intermediate piece
How to play Amazing Grace on piano
The words were written by John Newton in 1779. The tune most people know is an American folk melody called "New Britain". It begins with a pickup note and uses a pentatonic shape, which helps the hand stay settled.
- Composer
- Traditional (words by John Newton)
- Level
- Early intermediate
- Key
- G major, F major or C major, depending on the book
- Time signature
- 3/4
- Hands
- Both hands
What makes it tricky
- The pickup note before bar 1. It is short and the stress falls on the next note.
- Moving in threes. The slow tempo makes it easy to lose the beat, so count out loud.
- Long notes tied across bars. Hold them for their full length before you move.
A three-step practice plan
- Count three beats and play only the right hand, slowly.
- Play the left hand alone until it is steady.
- Put the hands together phrase by phrase, not the whole piece at once.