Amazing Grace

The chord names are written above the words to show where they're played in the song, like this:

  A   /   /    A  /  /    D  /  /    A  /  /
Ama  -  zing grace  how sweet  the sound

In this song each bar lasts for three beats. Play the chord once where it is written and then once more for each of these: /

Because the lyrics speed up and slow down, some of the gaps between strums are bigger than others, making it look like a more random beat. Nevertheless, you still want each strum to last the same length of time just as if it was written like this:

A  /  /  A  /  /  D  /  /  A  /  /

Don't be surprised if it takes a bit of practise before you can keep the beat steady and change chords fast enough, but don't let that stop you. It's best to spend a while just playing the chords once each so that you can get better at changing between them in time. Its always hard to begin with but if you can learn the chord changes in this song you'll find that you use them over and over again in any other songs you decide to learn.

Bearing this in mind, have a go at playing the first verse. If you can get hold of a copy of the song it's handy to have a listen so that you can hear what it sounds like and it'll be easier to know what you're meant to be doing.

  A   /   /   A  /   /    D  /  /   A    /  /
Ama  -  zing Grace, how sweet  the sound   that

 D  /  /   D  /  /   E  /  /  E  /  /
Saved  a wretch like me,            I

 A  /  /  A  /  /   D  /  /  A  /   /
Once was lost  but now   am found, was

 A  /  /   E  /  /  A  /  /
Blind but now    I see.