Amazing Grace
Written 1772, published 1779. Public domain in all jurisdictions.
Verse 1
GAmazing G7grace, how Csweet the Gsound
That Gsaved a Gwretch like Dme
I Gonce was lost, but Cnow am Gfound
Was Gblind, but D7now I Gsee
Verse 2
'Twas Ggrace that G7taught my Cheart to Gfear
And Ggrace my Gfears reDlieved
How Gprecious did that Cgrace apGpear
The Ghour I D7first beGlieved
Verse 3
Through Gmany G7dangers, Ctoils and Gsnares
I Ghave alGready Dcome
'Tis Ggrace hath G7brought me Csafe this Gfar
And Ggrace will D7lead me Ghome
Verse 4
When Gwe've been G7there ten Cthousand Gyears
Bright Gshining as the Dsun
We've Gno less G7days to Csing God's Gpraise
Than Gwhen we D7first beGgun
Playing Tips
🎸 Strum Pattern — Verse
Amazing Grace is in 3/4, so we play a waltz-feel pattern with one main downstroke per beat. Keep the strum gentle on verse 1. Let it breathe. The congregation tends to come alive by verse 3, so save the bigger strum for then.
🔊 Dynamics
We always start Amazing Grace quietly. Just voice and acoustic guitar on verse 1 works beautifully. Add keys or bass on verse 2, and bring the full team in on verse 3. If you want a memorable close, try verse 4 a cappella before the final chord.
🎵 Band Direction
Piano or acoustic guitar is the natural lead for this hymn. Keep the arrangement simple. A gentle walking bass line through the verses adds warmth without competing with the melody. If drums come in, use brushes on snare rather than sticks.
🎤 Vocal
Key of G is the most common congregational key for Amazing Grace. Both male and female voices sit well here. The melody peaks at the D note, which is comfortable for most singers. If your worship leader has a higher voice, try A or Bb instead.
→ Transitions
We sometimes play verse 4 a cappella, stopping all instruments on the second beat of the last line before the final chord. The silence before "Than when we first begun" tends to catch the congregation off guard in the best way and brings the room to a hush.