Amazing Grace is the world’s best-loved hymn, and this easy C major arrangement is built around the interactive player below: hear it at half speed, watch the notes and keys light up, and drag the score to replay any phrase. The sheet music, fingering for both hands, and free printable PDF come next.
Learn it with the interactive player
- Slow it down: x0.5 or x0.75 while you learn the notes, back to x1 once they flow.
- Pause anywhere: the current keys stay lit so you can find them on your own piano.
- Drag the score left or right, or use the 15s buttons, to replay a phrase.
The sheet music, section by section
Set the player to x0.5 for Section A: the melody rises from C through E to G in the signature ascending arc, then reaches A4 in the second phrase - practice that small position shift on its own. Count the 3/4 sway steadily: 1-2-3, 1-2-3.
Section B follows the same melodic shape with gentler dynamics: start softer, build toward the middle, then settle to a quiet close on C as the hymn resolves.
The full score
Take the full score at 50 BPM at first - the dotted half notes in 3/4 time deserve careful counting - then let it grow toward a calm, hymn-like 80 BPM.
Note by note: keys and fingering
- Right hand: C4, D4, E4, F4, G4, A4, C5 - Starts in C position, then shifts up to reach A4 and C5.
- Left hand: C3, E3, F3, G3 - Half notes and dotted half notes following chord changes.
| Note | On the Staff | On the Keyboard | Finger |
|---|---|---|---|
| C4 (Middle C) | One ledger line below treble staff | White key left of two black keys, center | RH Thumb (1) |
| D4 | Just below bottom line of treble staff | Between the two black keys | RH Index (2) |
| E4 | On the bottom line of treble staff | Right of two black keys | RH Middle (3) |
| F4 | First space of treble staff | Left of three black keys | RH Ring (4) |
| G4 | Second line of treble staff | Between first two of three black keys | RH Pinky (5) |
| A4 | Second space of treble staff | Between last two of three black keys | RH Ring (4) shifted |
| C3 | Two ledger lines below bass staff | One octave below middle C | LH Pinky (5) |
| E3 | Fourth line of bass staff | Right of two black keys, below middle C | LH Middle (3) |
| F3 | Fourth space of bass staff | Left of three black keys, below middle C | LH Index (2) |
| G3 | Top line of bass staff | Between first two of three black keys | LH Thumb (1) |
Prefer a video? Watch the keys light up
Same color code as the player: green marks the right hand, blue the left hand, with the score and keyboard in one vertical video.
The story behind Amazing Grace
John Newton wrote the words of Amazing Grace for the 1779 collection Olney Hymns. Newton had been a slave trader; a violent storm at sea in 1748 began the spiritual awakening that eventually made him a clergyman and, late in life, a supporter of the abolitionist cause. The words met the melody we sing today, a tune called New Britain, in an American songbook in 1835, and the pairing went on to become one of the most recorded songs in history. In gentle 3/4 time, its swaying phrases reward the patient, singing style this easy arrangement is written to encourage.
Get the printable PDF
The printable PDF of Amazing Grace - full score, hand positions, and a step-by-step practice guide - ships inside our free Level 3 pack together with four other well-loved melodies.
Hymns invite long, unhurried practice, and an Adjustable Piano Bench with Back Support set to your exact height makes those quiet sessions much more comfortable.
FAQ
How hard is Amazing Grace on piano?
It is a comfortable early-intermediate beginner piece - Level 3 in our free collection. The right hand starts in C position and shifts up to reach A4 and C5, while the left hand plays half notes and dotted half notes on C3, E3, F3, and G3. The 3/4 time signature is the main new skill.
How long does it take to learn Amazing Grace?
Plan on two to three weeks of regular practice if you already play simple hands-together pieces. The 24-measure form is longer than most beginner arrangements, and counting dotted half notes in 3/4 takes a few sessions to feel natural. The slow 80 BPM Andante tempo works in your favor.
What level is Amazing Grace?
This arrangement sits in the Level 3 pack of our free sheet collection, the level where both hands play together with simple accompaniment. It introduces 3/4 time, a small right-hand position shift up to A4, and a bass line that follows the I-IV-V chord changes.
What are the notes for Amazing Grace on piano?
The opening phrase rises through the C-E-G ascending arc that gives the hymn its shape, and the melody reaches A4 in the second phrase before settling back to C. The left hand plays chord roots C, F, and G in half notes, with the root on beat 1. The full note-by-note table is above.