Amazing Grace (Both Hands)

The full hymn tune with open fifths in the left hand under a pentatonic melody.

Level:
4 of 6
Hands:
Both hands
Key:
C major
Notes:
63
Range:
F2 to G5
One run:
about 35 seconds at 80 bpm

The notes, in order

33 moments, 63 notes in total, some struck together.

  1. G4
  2. C3 + G3 + C5
  3. E5
  4. C5
  5. C3 + G3 + E5
  6. D5
  7. F2 + C3 + C5
  8. A4
  9. C3 + G3 + G4
  10. G4
  11. C3 + G3 + C5
  12. E5
  13. C5
  14. G2 + D3 + E5
  15. D5
  16. G2 + D3 + G5
  17. G2 + D3 + G5
  18. G5
  19. C3 + G3 + E5
  20. G5
  21. E5
  22. C3 + G3 + E5
  23. D5
  24. F2 + C3 + C5
  25. A4
  26. C3 + G3 + G4
  27. G4
  28. C3 + G3 + C5
  29. E5
  30. C5
  31. G2 + D3 + E5
  32. D5
  33. C3 + G3 + C5

How to practise it

  1. The left hand plays a bare fifth on beat one of every bar and holds it: C-G, F-C or G-D
  2. The melody is the whole point. Play the fifths half as loud as the tune
  3. Every phrase begins on beat three. Breathe there, the way a singer would

The scale behind it

This one is built on the C Major scale: C D E F G A B (no sharps or flats). Its right-hand fingering runs 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5, and the scale page has the full diagram if you want to hear the shape on its own first.

How to play it here

Play along on the keys with your mouse, your computer keyboard, a touch screen, or a MIDI keyboard you have plugged in. Every key can show its own name, and the metronome will hold the tempo while you work through the 63 notes.

What it trains

  • adult beginner
  • folk
  • pentatonic
  • chords
  • hands together
  • accompaniment
  • legato

More adult beginner course

Piano for adult beginners, in the order the method books teach it: black keys and finger numbers, Middle C, pentascales, primary chords, then real pieces with both hands.

All piano exercises