Amazing Grace is a very well-known and popular hymn when it comes to religious and secular music. It’s a pretty old song, but it became popular again during the American folk music revival of the 1960s and has been recorded countless times during and since the 20th century. And frankly, it has a really nice and catchy melody that is well worth learning on the guitar, even if you are a beginner or teaching young students. We will at first deep a bit deeper into the history of this song and then show you how to play Amazing Grace on the guitar. There are different ways to play it but we also show you a very easy version of the song where you just need one string of your guitar in order to play the whole melody. So, this is a version that probably many people could learn without any guitar skills! But don’t worry, we also show you how to play the melody by using the other strings as well and how to play it with some basic guitar chords!
History and Origin of Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace is one of the most beloved and widely recognized hymns in the world, with a history dating back to the 18th century. The lyrics were written in 1772 by John Newton, a former slave trader who experienced a profound spiritual conversion after surviving a life-threatening storm at sea in 1748 where he called out to God for mercy. After this event, he began to treat his slaves better, devoted himself to the study of Christian theology, and eventually became a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery. It’s interesting to know that he actually grew up without strong religious beliefs.
The hymn was not set to a single tune until the early 19th century, when it became commonly associated with the tune New Britain the version most of us know today. Over the years, Amazing Grace has transcended its original religious context to become a symbol of hope and resilience, performed in a variety of genres from gospel to folk. Its universal themes and simple, poignant melody have made it a part of important events and ceremonies, from church services to civil rights marches.
Tabs for Amazing Grace
You can play a song on the guitar by either fingerpicking or strumming. It’s hard to say which is easier, because some beginners find it easier to learn to strum the first few notes, while others find it easier to pick the first few strings one at a time. But if you are really starting from scratch, fingerpicking might be easier if you keep it simple. That’s why we’ll start with the fingerpicking version first, and then show you how to play the song with some basic guitar chords.
1. Level: Playing only on One Guitar String
For the first version, we only need one guitar string to play all the notes of the song! Sure, this is not the way advanced guitarists would play the song, but for beginners it’s definitely a great way to get a feel for the melody and especially for students to get a quick sense of success. Because for beginners, getting a melody right on the guitar can be overwhelming and challenging, where many will lose motivation. If you break down a melody into its simplest form, you are doing every beginner a great favor.
So for this one-string version, we are going to focus on picking one string and moving just one finger of the left hand up and down on that string. And we are going to do a lot of up and down with the left hand because we are going to have to find all the notes we need on that one string. So let’s press down on the string with the index or middle finger of the left hand. Let’s pluck the string with the thumb of the right hand.
Here are the tabs for Amazing Grace on one string:
Check out the recording below of the one string guitar version of Amazing Grace and see if you got it right. You can play along and if it’s too fast, just slow it down.
And did you know that you can actually play the same pattern on any other guitar string as well. Try for example the 6th string (low E string) to have a low version of this melody.
2. Level: Playing on several Guitar Strings
Once you’ve mastered the melody on a single string, you can take it to the next level by playing the same melody on multiple strings. Or maybe you already know how to play the guitar quite well, in which case the following tabs are just right for you. Playing the melody on multiple strings adds a bit of complexity, but is actually a more typical and efficient way to play. The big advantage is that you don’t have to move your left hand down the neck as much. Although you’re now using more fingers and plucking different strings, it’s a great exercise to build your guitar skills.
Here are the tabs for playing the hymn on three strings:
You can also have a listen to the recording below in order to check your playing and see how it should sound.
Guitar Chords for Amazing Grace
Fingerpicking is fun and a great way to get familiar with a new melody. But some guitarists just prefer playing a song by strumming chords. And if you want to sing along playing a song with chords is much more common. The guitar chords you need for the song depend on the key and how many different chords you want to add to the song then. But we want to keep it simple and focus on basic guitar chords and we will play it in the key of G.
So, the chords that you need for Amazing Grace are the chords G, C and D.
If you already know these four guitar chords, you’re ready to dive into this song on your guitar! But if you’re still working on mastering them, start by practicing each chord individually. Once you can switch between them with ease, you’ll be ready to play the whole song.
It’s important for beginners to take things slowly at first. Concentrate on a single down strum with each chord change. This will give you plenty of time to make smooth transitions without the added challenge of complex strumming patterns, and to sing along if you like. As you gain confidence, you can add more down strums or just experiment with more complex strumming patterns.
And here are the other verses of the song, which follow the same chord sequence as the first verse:
2. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
and grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear,
the hour I first believed!
3. Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
’Twas grace that brought me safe thus far
and grace will lead me home.
4. The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
as long as life endures.
5. Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
and mortal life shall cease.
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.
6. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forbear to shine.
But God, who call’d me here below,
will be forever mine.
Sheet Music for Amazing Grace
Tabs and lyrics with chords are great for beginners, but advanced guitarists and music teachers often prefer sheet music. Sheet music provides all the information about a song. Sheet music provides essential details for playing a song, including the notes, rhythm, key signature, and dynamics, and tells you what to play, how long to play each note, and what chords to use for accompaniment. Sheet music can be quite daunting for young beginners, but even if sheet music is new to you, a simple song like Amazing Grace can be a great introduction to the world of reading music.
Free PDF Printables For Amazing Grace
If you need the chord version, tabs or sheet music as a PDF, you can find them below in order to use them for your practicing or guitar lessons!
Interested in instruments other than the guitar? You can also find a free lesson on how to play Amazing Grace on ukulele, piano and recorder.
