The timeless hymn Amazing Grace is one of the most beloved songs in the world, and it has a powerful story behind it. It’s a great song to learn on the ukulele, not only because of its simple and beautiful melody, but also because of the story behind it. In this ukulele lesson, we’ll dive into the background of Amazing Grace and teach you how to play it. Whether you prefer fingerpicking or strumming chords, we’ll cover both versions to suit your playing style. At the end of the article, you’ll find free PDF downloads, including sheet music, to help you practice and master the song!
History of Amazing Grace
The song’s origins date back to the 18th century and was written by John Newton, a former slave trader who underwent a profound spiritual transformation after surviving a terrifying storm at sea in 1748. During the storm, Newton cried out for God’s mercy, and that moment marked the beginning of his journey of faith. Although he initially continued to work in the slave trade, Newton eventually renounced it and became a passionate advocate for the abolition of slavery. His experience of redemption and personal transformation is deeply reflected in the lyrics of Amazing Grace which he wrote in 1772.
The hymn wasn’t set to its familiar melody New Britain until the early 19th century, but once it was, it became an enduring piece of musical history. Over time, Amazing Grace has transcended its religious origins to become a universal anthem of hope and renewal.
Ukulele Tabs for Amazing Grace
Each song can be played in a variety of ways, from simple versions with basic chords and strumming or fingerpicking to more complex arrangements. For advanced ukulele players, a more challenging version may be preferable, offering a richer, fuller melody and a higher level of difficulty. However, when introducing the song to young beginners, it’s important to start with an easy version.
We’ll start by learning how to fingerpick the melody. This basic approach focuses on the first three strings of the ukulele, picking one string at a time. Make sure you start slowly, which means slowing down the tempo and learning the melody line by line.
Here are the ukulele tabs for playing the nursery rhyme on the first three strings:
We recorded this simple version of Amazing Grace on the ukulele. Check it out to see if your playing sounds similar to our recording. You can also slow down the tempo to play along while you practice.
Ukulele Chords for Amazing Grace
Fingerpicking is a great technique for learning a new melody of a song on the ukulele. However, if you plan to sing along while playing, it’s helpful to play some simple chords. The song can be played in a variety of keys, but for this lesson we’ll focus on the key of G. Not only does this key work well for beginners, but it’s also comfortable for singing along with the melody.
The chords that you need for Amazing Grace are the basic chords G, C, Em and D.
Here are the chord diagrams for the required chords:
Guitar Chords are illustrated in guitar chords diagram. They are a simplified illustration of the guitar neck and it tells you where to put which finger on which string. Learn more about how to read guitar chords!
If you’re already familiar with the basic ukulele chords and can change between them easily, Amazing Grace will be easy for you! But if you’re still working on mastering chord transitions, start by practicing the individual chords G, C, Em, and D until you feel confident playing them. Then focus on the first chords sequence G-C-G-Em-D, repeating it with simple downstrokes until the transitions feel smooth and natural.
For beginners, it’s important to take it slow when learning a new song. Start by making a single downstroke with each chord change, giving yourself plenty of time to transition between chords without the pressure of complicated strumming patterns. This approach also makes it easier to sing along because you’re only strumming once per chord. Once you feel more comfortable, you can begin to explore more advanced strumming techniques to enhance the rhythm.
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.
Ukulele Sheet Music for Amazing Grace
Sheet music provides a detailed roadmap for mastering a song by breaking down all the details of a song, notes, rhythms, chords, and so on. However, for beginners-especially young children-sheet music can be a bit challenging because it requires some familiarity with music theory and the ability to read music. That’s why many beginners prefer to use ukulele tabs or chord-based lyrics, which are much more accessible and easier to follow in the beginning. However, if you can read music, you should use it, and if you are ready to learn music, our simple version of Amazing Grace is a great introduction song!
Guitar Chords are illustrated in guitar chords diagram. They are a simplified illustration of the guitar neck and it tells you where to put which finger on which string. Learn more about how to read guitar chords!
Here is the sheet music for Amazing Grace:
Free Ukulele Printables for Amazing Grace
Feel free to download the chords, tabs, and sheet music as a free PDF for your practice sessions or ukulele lessons!
Interested in instruments other than the ukulele? You can also find a free lesson on how to play the Yankee Doodle on the guitar, piano and recorder.
