Your Free Lesson: How to Play Amazing Grace on Mandolin Tremolo

Welcome back to another Acoustic Shoppe Mandolin Sessions! Today, we're building on our previous lessons on this classic hymn and exploring a beautiful technique: tremolo. In this free lesson, Jeremy Chapman shows you how to play Amazing Grace on mandolin using the tremolo technique, which adds a sustained, violin-like quality to the melody. This intermediate-level lesson is a great way to expand your skills in the key of G and master one of the most iconic mandolin sounds.

The Journey of a Timeless Tune: "Amazing Grace" Beyond the Hymnal

While John Newton's powerful words have a well-documented history, the melody we universally associate with "Amazing Grace" has a story of its own—one that perfectly mirrors the folk and acoustic traditions that a mandolin is so at home in. The tune, widely known as "New Britain," is believed to be an American folk melody that predates its pairing with Newton's lyrics. It's a testament to the oral tradition of music, passed down through generations of singers and instrumentalists.

This simple yet profound melody found its way into popular American consciousness through the practice of "shape-note singing," a system designed to help congregations and communities learn to read music. The ease with which the tune could be learned by ear and sung in harmony made it a staple at camp meetings and revivals across the American South. This is how "New Britain" became cemented as the aural identity of "Amazing Grace," a powerful and portable piece of culture.

Over time, this hymn transcended its religious roots and became a powerful anthem for social change. In the mid-20th century, it was adopted by the American Civil Rights Movement, sung at marches and protests as a spiritual and unifying call for justice. This ability to speak to a broader human experience—of struggle, hope, and eventual redemption—is what has made "Amazing Grace" one of the most enduring songs in the history of music. It is a song that has evolved from a deeply personal testimony to a collective expression of faith and resilience, a legacy that continues to resonate with players of acoustic music and audiences all over the world.

Key Takeaways from This Lesson: Unlocking Tremolo for "Amazing Grace"

This lesson is a fantastic introduction to a technique that is synonymous with the mandolin. Here are the key takeaways from Jeremy's lesson on how to play Amazing Grace on mandolin with tremolo:

• Understanding Tremolo: Tremolo is a rapid down-up-down movement of the pick, creating a sustained note. It's the mandolin's way of holding a long note, similar to a violin's bow. Jeremy suggests holding the pick lightly to allow it to glide across the strings without getting stuck.

• The Broader Stroke: Jeremy recommends using a broader stroke with your pick, which he demonstrates by letting his pick almost touch the D and E strings while tremolo-ing on the A string.

• Melody is Identical: The notes and fingering for this tremolo version are the exact same as the basic melody solo. The only difference is the technique used to sustain the notes.

• Tremolo on Beat 1: For this arrangement, you will use tremolo on the first beat of each measure to sustain the note. You will then stop the tremolo on the second beat and play a single note on the third beat.

• Chord Rhythm in 3/4 Time: When playing rhythm, this song is in 3/4 time, which means there are three beats per measure. You'll play on the second and third beats, with a pause on the first beat to create a "one, two, three" waltz feel.

• Preparing for the Solo: To transition back to the solo from the rhythm chords, you should omit the last measure of the final G chord to give yourself time to get ready for the first downbeat of the melody.

  
  

  
  

Mandolin TAB/Chord Chart for "Amazing Grace"

To help you learn how to play Amazing Grace on mandolin with tremolo, we've prepared a high-quality TAB for this lesson's melody solo. The TAB is designed to be clear and easy to follow, allowing you to see the exact finger positions and rhythms Jeremy teaches in the video.

[Download a high-quality PDF version of the TAB here!]

Practice Tips for Success with "Amazing Grace"

Mastering the tremolo technique requires consistent and thoughtful practice. Here are some tips to help you along with this lesson:

• Practice Tremolo on a Single String: Start by sitting and practicing the rapid down-up-down motion on a single set of strings. This will help you develop the muscle memory and feel for the technique without the complexity of the melody.

• Hold the Pick Lightly: As Jeremy notes, the lighter you hold your pick, the better your tremolo will sound. Practice holding the pick so that it feels like it's almost going to fall out of your hand.

• Don't Be "Small and Precise": Avoid trying to make a small, precise tremolo motion, as this can sound bad. Instead, aim for a broader stroke that glides across the strings.

• Listen to the Sustain: The tremolo is used to add sustain that the mandolin sometimes lacks. Pay attention to how this technique helps notes ring out for the full duration of a measure.

• Connect to Previous Lessons: This lesson is a direct follow-up to our first two lessons on "Amazing Grace." If you haven't watched them or need a refresher, check out the links below to ensure you have the basic melody down before adding the tremolo.
  
  

• How to Play Amazing Grace on Mandolin | Free Lesson

Gear Used in This Lesson

In this free mandolin lesson, Jeremy demonstrates how to play Amazing Grace on mandolin using some excellent gear available at The Acoustic Shoppe. Here's what he's playing:

• Eastman MD515 TV-WN Mandolin: Jeremy plays the Eastman MD515 with a "true vintage" TV finish and a wide nut (WN). This model is known for its incredible tone and playability. You can learn more about this specific model here.

  
  

  
  

• Tone Guard: He uses a Tone Guard with a Deco design on the back of his mandolin. This accessory helps prevent your body from dampening the back of the instrument, allowing it to resonate more freely and produce a fuller sound.

• Tone-Gard Mandolin - Deco

  

  $79.99

  The Tone-Gard™ is designed to isolate the back of a mandolin (or any similar instrument) from the player's body, producing more volume and enhancing the tone. You can test the concept right now without a Gard. Play your instrument normally,… Learn more...

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• Jeremy Chapman Signature Model Pick from Tone Slabs: Jeremy's pick of choice is his own signature model from Tone Slabs. Using a high-quality pick can significantly impact your tone and playability for acoustic music.

• ToneSlabs Darth Tone Series *Jeremy Chapman* Signature XL Tri Corner Guitar Pick - 1.3 mm

  

  $35.00

  *Jeremy Chapman's Signature is engraved on these picks*Darth Tone series of picks offer the same shapes and thicknesses that you love. The particular Imide ToneSlabs uses for these, offers more bass response while still maintaining ultimate clarity. Size 33mm corner… Learn more...

  See Product Details

• D'Addario Eclipse Tuner: To ensure his instrument stays perfectly in tune, Jeremy uses a D'Addario Eclipse tuner. A reliable tuner is an essential tool for any musician.

• D'Addario Planet Waves Eclipse Headstock Tuner - Black (PW-CT-17BK)

  

  $14.99

  Affordable no longer means compromise. Introducing the D’Addario Eclipse Tuner—the modestly-priced tuner with unparalleled performance. The Eclipse chromatic clip-on tuner offers fast, accurate chromatic tuning on and off the stage. The tuner features a full color vertical display, auto power-off,… Learn more...

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All of these high-quality acoustic music products are available at The Acoustic Shoppe. Read our blog on How to Choose Your Perfect Mandolin Store. 

Continue Your Journey with Free Mandolin Lessons!

Learning how to play Amazing Grace on mandolin with tremolo is just one step on your exciting musical journey. The Acoustic Shoppe is committed to providing valuable resources to help you grow as a mandolin player. Keep exploring new tunes and techniques with Jeremy Chapman!

• Previous Lesson: First, master the basic melody by checking out our foundational lesson on [How to Play Amazing Grace on Mandolin | Free Lesson]

• More Lessons: You can find [all of our other free mandolin lessons here]

We hope this lesson helps you add a beautiful new technique to your playing. Keep an eye on The Acoustic Shoppe for more great acoustic music content and free mandolin lessons!

About Your Instructor: Jeremy Chapman

Your mandolin journey at The Acoustic Shoppe is guided by Jeremy Chapman, a musician who truly lives and breathes acoustic music. Jeremy spent over 25 years touring and performing with his family's bluegrass band, The Chapmans, even gracing the iconic stage of the Grand Ole Opry. With two decades of experience teaching private mandolin lessons, he's helped countless students find their way around the fretboard. Jeremy is also the author of the popular Do-It-Yourself Mandolin book (Hal Leonard), known for making learning accessible and fun. As President and CEO of The Acoustic Shoppe, he's dedicated to bringing the joy of music to players everywhere.

Do-It-Yourself MANDOLIN Book by Jeremy Chapman

$24.99

Do-It-Yourself MANDOLIN is a fun way to get started playing on your own. Using well-known bluegrass, country, pop, Celtic, gospel, and traditional tunes, you will be given step-by-step instructions on what you need to know to get started sounding like… Learn more...

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