Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Amazing Grace Guitar Lesson – Blues Version – How To Play Amazing Grace on Guitar – EP258

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a bluesy version of the song “Amazing Grace”. This is played solo guitar, so no accompaniment is required and it works on acoustic or electric guitar. In addition to showing you how to play the song, I’ll explain my thought process for creating a composition like this from a common melody so that you can start to create your own.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

    • Patrick H says

      Brian, as always, an excellent lesson. Really hope you return to the old backdrop, or at least a dark one. I have a problem with the white backgrounds, (light sensitivity) and it makes it much harder to watch. I have my system set up to use a dark background and your using one also helped me to gravitate to you. Watched your vids for years before I first subscribed to you lessons. I won’t bail, but really appreciate the darker backdrop for my eyes. Keep up the great work.

      Peace, Whisky

      • George r says

        Very nice. Appreciate your doing these lessons. I don’t know if you try to play some licks that your members ask but Marty Stuart plays a piece on a song he and Merle haggard sang on you tube while he had his show from a song Tb blues. If you could play that and break it down for us it would be great. Again, thank you for your help. Unclerick

  5. JimD says

    Wow. This one sounds great and is already really fun to play. I know that copyright issues can hold you back in most cases, but songs like this with recognizable melodies are a nice change when it comes to playing for others. Great job, Brian!

  6. Bobs Ultra-339 Electric Guitar Level 2 Vintage Sun says

    I like all your arrangements , it seems easier to learn when I already know the melody. Would love to have something in Western swing
    Like stardust melody, Or similar song.
    Thanks for all the great lessons you do, just wish something like this was available 30 years ago.
    But maybe it’s best , I probably couldn’t have kept a job and done this at the same time.

  9. Slawek says

    That’s a great lesson. There is another lesson on Amazing Grace way back, almost at the beginning of the Active Melody. That is one of the first lessons I think. In my opinion white background looks much better then the black one. It gives a lot of freshness and of course a better contrast. I love it. Thank you. Have a happy Memorial Day weekend. 🙂

  10. Dietmar S says

    Great lesson, but I’m not happy with the new, white background.
    It’s far too bright in my opionion, which makes it difficult to concentrate on the guitar and fretboard.
    There was nothing wrong with the black background, if you ask me.
    In fact, I most like the background of your cosy living room with Arlo snoaring on the couch.

  11. Lefteris B says

    A very nice lesson, as always, Brian. A brilliant mixture with bluesy sounds. As for the background I Agree with what Dietmar S said. White is cold and not an approachable “color” if you know what I mean. It doesn’t give a friendly gesture from my point of view. But I’m sure we all get used to it quickly and would be no problem. Thanks a lot.

  12. Olivier B says

    Great interpretation, and great lesson Brian !

    But I agree with Dietmar, the new white background is too bright and makes it more difficult to focus on the fretboard. Also it’s probably just a matter of getting used to it.

  15. benny l says

    LOVE THIS LESSON BRIAN!! I WILL WORK ON THIS AND TRY TO PLAY IT THIS WEEKEND AT CHURCH! SORRY FOR STEALING YOU’RE LICKS LOL!
    HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!!!!

  16. Darren G says

    You must have read my mind, Brian.
    I’d been looking for something new to learn and have always dug this tune.
    I knew the chords and such, but never a stand alone piece. Given that it’s a bluesy version makes it even better..
    Thanks for what you do..

  18. Micky51.(Paul) says

    Thanks for another great lesson, Brian. Your explanation of the process of developing the chords and links around a given melody is really useful and interesting. Hope to have this one down by the end of the weekend!

  20. kurt neumann says

    White background, black background, dog…. I’m wondering how you pick the hat, t-shirt or collared shirt, and if to shave or not. i can’t figure out if it fits the lessons or is random!!

  23. Aussie Rick says

    Beautiful chord melody composition Brian. These are great in that they are stand alone pieces requiring no accompaniment.Thanks for explaining the process you used for creating it; I’m already looking about for an existing melody that I like, from which I can create my own. Great stuff – thanks again.
    Rick

  29. Roger D says

    Been trying for ages to play this song in E. Thanks Bryan for your fantastic version and all your lessons.. Keep the basic ones like this coming. Kinda like the black background better though but use what you wish. It’s your excellent teaching that matters.

  32. Biker13 says

    Great lesson Brian. Sounds beautiful and so easy to play. Rarely do I find that to be the case. Nicely done. Thank you!!!
    As far as the complaints about the white background go – I think the problem was your lights. A little too hot. Looked like you were broadcasting from Heaven. I think once you dial in the lighting and adjust the contrast (too flat now) the murmuring will die down and everyone will get used to it. I will admit, though, that even I found it jarring at first.

  34. San Luis Rey says

    The third guitar did the trick. Couldn’t get the bends right on the acoustic. The Dot was too bright but the top two pickups on the Strat were as close as I’m getting to a Little Sister sweet tone. Thanks for another great lesson Brian!

  38. George K says

    Hello Brian. Great idea to pick a suitable old classic & give it the blues touch or jazzy. The scope is endless here, ”Summertime” is also good. Nice change in background. Thanks George

  41. Andreas D says

    This one is soooo cool … please make some more known songs in your lessons … this is defenetly my favorite for the next weeks 😉
    By the way , i liked the black background more as it was easier for me to follow your fingers … but with the taped video i can slow it down anyway, so its ok … Great lesson !!!

  45. Radar says

    Brian. Excellent song – it moves to the top of my list to learn. I really appreciate the explanation of “what” to play but also the “why” you are playing it Great job. Thanks

  46. Martin G says

    White background is a winner….very easy on the eyes…….finally, a recognizable tune……beautiful arrangement!! Not crazy difficult……all things told, a great lesson. More of this please…..

    Marty

  48. Paul S says

    This is a great example that shows that the music is not in the equipment. It’s in his fingers. The techniques he uses make a timeless classic sound great on an electric guitar. Very impressive indeed.

  50. STEWART C says

    Lovely approach to this piece of music ! This is a great type of lesson for me with so many takeaways.
    However, I find the new white background very bright (and distracting) for my old eyes. I had to turn down
    my screen brightness, which makes my screen quite noticeably dull for other general use.
    I was happy with the old black background.

  54. clay says

    Yeah-LOVE the lesson-and would love more of this type of lesson……..your take on familiar songs, People Get Ready (suggested above); Johnnie B Goode; Just a Closer Walk with Thee (Bluesy); Before You Accuse Me, Bright Lights Big City……..etc.

    I vote for the dark background……..preferred it over the bright white version…….

  55. Dory says

    Well this might be some bad advice on the back ground, but if you really want some flexibility try a ‘green screen’ and project any image you would like ! (friend works at a local TV station and when we’re bored we’ve been known to get a little crazy with this) yup, anything goes. Now about the lesson, are you sick of hearing ‘wow Brian, just great!’ good! another fun one to pin down.. and lastly anything played on Little Sister, well what can one say.. just AMAZING

  56. AlbertoGunz says

    Lesson is awesome. The white background looks great (so did the black). the quality of your videos the topics you cover, and your instruction is always best-in-class. I could care less what color you use, as long as you’re happy with it that’s all that maters… lol.

  57. rjwheeler says

    Fabulous lesson; love the song and the arrangement is fun and interesting; loved the part about choosing a key and the scales used; also love the white back ground. I would love more arrangements of familiar songs along with your own fun lessons.

  59. clay says

    After playing it a bunch of times-it is a really nice arrangement…….and sounds great. Not a very good key for singing though……..although I know thats not your focus…….exact same arrangement in E would have been perfect singing key…….

  60. timothy9 says

    Thank you for explaining why A is such a great guitar key. Now I know why my hand goes to that half barred A position more or less automatically. I’ve noticed that John Hammond plays a lot of things in A.
    Outstanding lesson as usual. We are so spoiled!

  61. Nev L says

    Hi Brian, been a member for 18 months and really enjoying the lessons.
    Been playing country double stops for years and find now that I have to train my fingers to learn a whole new skill! It’s taken me 6 weeks to learn 2 bars of EP117 and really love EP250.
    Thanks for the great work, keep it up!

    Nev (from Queensland, Australia)

  62. Alan S says

    Having hard time getting the PDF file to print within a standard page. Always wants to print twice as large. Anything on your side that is making that happen. Otherwise looking forward to this lesson. Keep up the good work!

    • Alan S says

      Having hard time getting the PDF file to print within a standard page. Always wants to print twice as large. Anything on your side that is making that happen. Otherwise looking forward to this lesson. Keep up the good work!

      Solved the problem I had to download the file and then open file in PDF reader and set to fit page. Work perfect!

  65. Gregory J says

    Man Brian, Tommy Emmanuel has nothing on that rendition. . .terrific. I can think of several likewise soulful songs like Leonard Cohen’s Stranger Song, I wish you’d arrange similarly.

  69. Dick S says

    Not absolutely sold on the new background…..seems a bit too bright. Perhaps a shade of gray. But beyond that the lesson was great. Always easier playing a familiar song. Thank you.

  70. mitchellwolfson says

    Brian, in the 2nd part of the lesson, you label the fingering of strings 1-3 on the 9th fret as an E6 and on fret and the fingering of strings 1-3 on the 7th fret as an E9. If you strum strings 1-3 on the 9th fret, isn’t that a voicing of a C sharp minor and on the 7th fret, a voicing of B minor?

    Mitchell

  73. craig7220 says

    Hey Brian. Love the lesson. I picked up my Little Sister yesterday and it’s the sweetest playing guitar I’ve ever owned. And after playing for the last 50 Year’s that’s a lot of Fenders and Gibson’s. Fit and finish of this guitar is excellent and the tone is sooo sweet. I did let those at B&G know that I heard about the guitar from you. Matter of fact I’m selling a bunch of my other guitars and will be ordering another one.

  74. mikepcse says

    I love the song. I like the way you put it together and easy to play. And I like the white background. I think it makes you and your guitar stand out more. Thanks for the music.

  75. freddie h says

    Sitting on the balcony at Orange Beach watching the sun rise and I finally played it all the way through. You have given us a gift with this arrangement. Thanks for being so good at what you do.

  76. strattastic says

    Great lesson well taught. It’s a song i thought I’d never want to hear again but put this into my favourites and will start on it tomorrow. Aiming to play it at an acoustic night next month.

    The background seems a bit bright. I prefer your room as background as its more personal, but change take a while to settle.

    Thanks

    George

  82. Richard says

    Good grief. I can’t believe all the comments on the background. When you can lay out a system of teaching a song as tastefully as this as this I don’t care if the background is white, black, or scrolling paisley. Where is your focus people?
    Beautiful job, Brian. I signed on for a year instantly upon watching this.

  86. Tom says

    I’m surprised at just how much my playing of this is so different than what Brian did. Same timing, but once memorized and the endless practice things just sort of changed without my meaning to. I just went back to review and was shocked. I learned it note for note from the lesson but now it is different and I didn’t mean to. Either you are making me a better guitar player Brian or I am an idiot. I chose to believe the former.

  89. Bernard M says

    bonjour
    j’aime bien, je prends ma guitare et très vite j’arrive à jouer plusieurs phrases. Bon j’arrive à comprendre 70% de ce que dit Brian , cela me fait travailler mon anglais 🙂

    Bon swing

  90. DABEE says

    Hi Brian, thanks for the lesson. I wanted to ask about this MP3 download. Seems my media player will not allow me to have this song. Is there a reason you now this happens? I can download it, it plays once or twice, then it goes away

  93. Cardo says

    I went back to this lesson after singing it in church this morning. I like the discussion about the process of arranging an instrumental composition around a melody. I would point out that the melody notes to Amazing Grace are all contained in the major pentatonic scale which is why the scale works for it. However many songs contain notes that are outside the pentatonic scales and although this may be obvious to some players it’s a good thing to know when you’re working out a melody on guitar.

  94. Rodney F says

    Thanks Brian,

    I enjoyed learning this song, and I do like the ‘Blues Version’…

    Could you give us another Blues Style Gospel song, maybe, ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’ ?

    Best Regard,

    Rodney

  95. Scott B says

    I love this bluesy version of amazing grace; however, you go to fast in your instruction. You need to slow down and show how you make all your notes. This lesson came up as a beginner lesson and I think it is much more advanced, but I am determined play this piece of music, but I just wish I could see you make each of the individual notes.

  97. Frank S says

    Played in HS and college then long hiatus. Coming back in 60s and after a few months something started to “click” that never did when I was young. When young the chords barre and open and scales were what my teacher drilled into my lessons. I kind of got stuck there I guess so little parts of chords were not something I was used to using. The triads and chord inversions and CAGE system and all has really helped. I could play many chord forms in full barre format but those were slow and clunky with fills etc. So am now picking up things that at first seemed like I was never going to get them. This arrangement is a great example. I love blues and gospel and tried this arrangement of Brian’s initially and just couldn’t get it. I then did a few weeks of lessons on basics in fingerstyle, other chord shapes, some scales etc and lots of slow steady repetition (boom/chick and thumb finger independence) and now things are coming together. They are even starting to make sense. When I was young it all seemed very mechanical. Now lots of bits and pieces are starting to flow. Didn’t honestly expect to learn new things at this age. I just wanted to recapture some measure of what I could do when I was young. Loving the lessons and the way they are explained and laid out. The video and the tabs flowing together are great. Keep pumping out these excellent arrangements and lessons. Old dogs can learn new licks 🙂

  101. Dorothy S Guinn says

    Love this arrangement . You are such a great guitarist . The bright white background hurts my eyes and is distracting . If you don’t like the black ? Can you please find something more mellow ? I finally have time to use this site .. please make it more comfy for those of us with sensitive eyes .

  103. John R says

    Brian, the first A7 in this composition – you reference a Robert Johnson tune that I immediately recognized by the brief finger picking you did there – what do you say about giving us that very same RJ tune in finger style? I’d sure love to have your cover or variations on that. Thanks!

  104. robert g says

    I thought I would go back and review some of the lessons I have learned. I just reviewed and was surprised how much that I have missed 1st time around.
    I recommend all students might want to think about doing this. It is worth the polish. Your so gifted.

  109. Stan says

    Hey Brian Want to say I am really enjoying the Lessons so Glad I Joined your Site. I have improved in Leaps and Bounds. Its really great to have all this knowledge at my fingertips. and be able to practice and advance at my own pace, Thanks a Bunch Stan…

  112. David Duncan says

    Just signed up today and excited about it…
    Finally got the second half of Amazing Grace!
    Not sure anyone noticed, but you referred to your (at that time) new, white background as “a little less hostage video looking”.
    I’m funny, and I know funny. That, Brian, was funny.

  113. Ben R says

    Every time you do a run through of a piece at the start of a video I think :”Wow that’s beyond what I could do,” then `I get stuck in and a few hours later I’ve got it and cant believe it wasn’t twice as long. They say it ‘s not magic once you know what the magician knows….and I mean that in a good way. Learning the pieces is also a great way to embed CAGED and triads into you head and fingers

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