Amazing Grace Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Amazing Grace in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: A7 – D – G – D
Amazing Grace sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A7 is A, C#, E and G; D is D, F# and A; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
A7V7DIGIVDI
- A7A · C# · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- GG · B · D
106 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Waltz stride
A deep bass, a chord above, then the octave: a leaping waltz. Musicians call it stride (3/4) (stride & boom-chick), a medium pattern heard in 215 songs of the library.
Waltz strideStride & boom-chick · WaltzLeft handMedium
3
Right hand: Sleepy waltz chords
A long chord, then a double on beat 3: a lazy, rocking waltz. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Sleepy waltz chordsSyncopated chords · WaltzRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 63 BPM
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
5
Ending: G – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD
- AA · C# · E

What chords are in Amazing Grace?

The loop is A7 – D – G – D (V7 – I – IV – I) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.

What key is Amazing Grace in?

D major, at about 63 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in Amazing Grace?

Waltz stride: stride (3/4), a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Amazing Grace easy to play on piano?

It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.