Piano chords · Classical salon
How to play How Great Thou Art on piano
Artist unknown
- A major
- 4/4
- 69 BPM
- V7–I–V7–I loop
- 1953
- Easy
Learn How Great Thou Art in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E7 – A – E7 – A
How Great Thou Art sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E7 is E, G#, B and D; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
E7V7AIE7V7AI- E7E · G# · B · D
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Little steps
Up the chord and back, one step at a time. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5-3 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 304 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 69 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: A – E7 – A
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AE7A
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Questions about How Great Thou Art
What chords are in How Great Thou Art?
The loop is E7 – A – E7 – A (V7 – I – V7 – I) in A major, and the song ends on A – E7 – A.
What key is How Great Thou Art in?
A major, at about 69 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in How Great Thou Art?
Little steps: broken chord 1-3-5-3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is How Great Thou Art easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.