Amazing Grace — open D
Traditionnel (John Newton, 1779) · Level 2 (Beginner) · traditional · Guitar, sheet music and tablature
The hymn tune “New Britain” to John Newton’s words (1779), in D major and open D: the tune sings on the 1st string over ringing open basses. John Fahey recorded it during the sessions for America (1971); the track came out on the complete 1998 reissue.
▶ Play this piece with the interactive score
How to practise it
- Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
- Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
- Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
- The tune stays on the 1st string (frets 0, 2, 4 and 7): slide your finger from fret 4 to fret 7 for a “slide” effect. Bar 3: B bass (5th string, 2nd fret), then G (6th string, 5th fret). The site also has a version in C in standard tuning: compare the two colours.