Bagpipe Lesson 26: How to Play "Amazing Grace"!

[@JACKHAMMER82A1]

I started pipe lesson in May and began watching this video in June and have learn to play this song. We havent gotten to this yet in class cant wait to surprise my teacher thanks Matt for such an informative how to lesson. Now I need you to make a lesson on Marine Corp Hymn 😁

[@randygroom527]

Matt - This approach worked. I’m only 2 months in my learning journey, working through your videos and following the DojoU curriculum. Through this video, I can play a presentable Amazing Grace - the only tune (or even partial) that I have memorized. Keep up the great work.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Fantastic!

[@randygroom527]

@@MattWillisBagpiper- at some point I will also have a “build/review” of a Nanuk 935 travel pipe case that I will post on your Pelican 1510 review video. The Nanuk seems to have everything the Pelican does - with the addition of several things you “wanted” - like locking latches. I modified your foam template a bit for the Nanuk (though I won’t pick up my Wallace pipes until Sept - in person at the maker’s shop)

[@MrZen42]

Haha, what a great idea Matt ! it's sufficiently easy to train learning without reading, that's awesome !

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Glad you think so!

[@jozefelfahel1551]

Hey Matt! That was very helpful and I did learn the song the right way and it was so easy with your way of teaching! Can you either do a video and teach scotland the brave, rowan tree, wings and other popular songs?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

I’ll eventually get to all the classics. The next few tunes will be other beginning tunes for my Basics Series. 👍👍

[@kathrynjoy3349]

Thanks for the tutorial, and the MP3's. Like a lot of people, this tune is the reason why I decided to learn the bagpipes. Little did I know what I was getting myself in for, but it's been a great journey! Thanks again.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Glad I could help!

[@alexmorneau770]

Great way to learn the music by heart! I've always dreaded that aspect of the instrument, but you managed to make it easy. Thank you

[@pemacal57]

Great work, as always! A beautiful tune and song. The song was written by some John Newton, an XVIIIth English slave trader who had a religious conversion. The melody is for sure much older, probably a Scottish or Northumbrian tune.

[@curts_uniquecomposites]

Amazing Grace was meant for the Bagpipes! That's why I got started!

[@MrCphelps]

Matt, just wanted to say thank you for this video. I'm a returning beginner and by that I mean that I have had several start stops to learning the bagpipes and I am currently on my third and hopefully final attempt. This video really helped me to learn Amazing Grace. I picked it up in mostly one day, finishing the last line on the second day. Its a great method and I hope you make more videos like this one, perhaps Scotland the Brave would be a good choice for a next video. Thanks again Matt.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Glad you found the video! I’ll eventually have a Scotland the Brave video, but that tune is orders of magnitude harder than Amazing Grace.

[@joannedenison7650]

I love how you make everything look so very easy. gives me hope.

[@michaelmcdaniel4315]

Hey Matt!!! Just recently started on this awesome journey!!! This video was super helpful and intuitive as I am a visual type of guy!! Never knew the transition from a Saxophone to the Pipes would be this easy, but between your videos and some help from a family member I'm well on my way!! Keep up the good work!! Cheers!!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Great to hear and glad you found the channel!

[@greyhound6375]

As a long-time flautist who reads sheet music fluently, I've found it's much easier for me to learn tunes this way for some reason since if I start a tune on sheet music I have an extremely difficult time escaping the sheet music. Alec Chisholm's group Get Bagpipe Ready has been a godsend since this is how he teaches a large selection of tunes, so if this method worked well for you, check Alec out.

[@johnlydick9173]

Yeah Buddy. Great job, awesome addition to this big tune!

[@mandyl1751]

Thanks much Matt, Great instruction. With the pandemic lockdown, picked up a chanter, learned the complete tune in 10 days. Would love to see instruction video on , going home, highland cathedral, and the lament. Please keep the videos coming. Great work

[@user-dq3mz4gf4r]

Thanks Matt. Using this version for my friends memorial service. I'm a bit of a novice, so this was amazingly helpful. Also used your bagpipe tuning video. Man I cannot say thanks enough...

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

My condolences on your loss and glad my videos have helped. ♥️

[@krustybrooking7142]

This is amazing! Very cool method of teaching! Can’t wait to try it!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Glad you found it useful!

[@RobertShroder]

Amazing learning tool! Thank you.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

You’re very welcome!

[@brianjohnson1985]

Thank you so much. Your videos really help!!!!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

You are so welcome!

[@brianjohnson1985]

omg i got it i kept at it and bam it just finally came together.

[@HavelockFalcon]

Fantastic vid matt

[@patrickjoly8993]

thank's really helpul. I've just discovered your chanel ! good job ! of course i subscribe right now Joe from france ! merci beaucoup !!!!!

[@carlhayman5643]

Great video, sir...as always. Folks, give the man a like, subscribe, and it you have some extra dosh, I’m sure Matt would appreciate some more Patreon support. He puts out excellent material...let’s help him keep up the good work.

[@christinewardyn6768]

Superb Matt, love your video!!!🤗🤗

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DanielSiddons]

Hi daniel

[@erikbrazzale6978]

When playing Amazing Grace at a funeral how many times do you play the 4 lines?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Good question. Really depends. I'd say twice through the whole tune most of the time.

[@marykuhn7510]

i loved the song they played that song at my dads funaral. thank u.

[@robertgougeon6533]

Yes! Got it ....a bit dizzy

[@thehardyguit-boys6388]

Can you play Wild Mountain Thyme please? I recently fell in love with that tune. Would love to play it eventually!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Great melody! No plans to get to it soon, but seeing as I'm posting two videos a week, at some point, I'll need more material!

[@thehardyguit-boys6388]

Matt Willis Bagpiper I know you’re busy. Whenever you can. By the way, this video was very easy to follow. I was intimidated without the sheet music but you’re right. Gotta get this one in the soul. Excellent!

[@sujalthapa4]

Hey matt please do cover of dear god from evenged sevenfold in bagpipes please its a big surprise for if you do

[@Aroundthehouse.]

I am attempting to learn ..biggest incentive...to be able to hear this without tearing up!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

25 years into playing, it’s no longer the tune, but rather the moments I’m chosen to perform this great piece that make me tear up. But no one hires a piper to see them cry!

[@nvdawahyaify]

I know it's not how it's normally played but i like playing the low g when moving from e to d in this song. It sounds like a catch in the throat while singing. It makes the song sound like it's being sung by someone who is crying.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Interesting idea...

[@nvdawahyaify]

@@MattWillisBagpiper thank you for reading my comment. I appreciate it.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Sure! I try to read every comment. 👍👍

[@Skipsterist]

Greetings Matt. I have been studying about trying to play the pipes for years. I know I'm capable of anything; however, I'm illiterate of any type of musical instrument, or even what you mean by the notes. I wanted to join my local pipe school/band to learn but obviously COVID kinda complicated all of that. I love your video because I guess I need to get a practice chanter first to see if I can even do it. Do you have any recommendations?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Hello! I think the long twist-trap practice chanter by R.G. Hardie is a good first chanter (and very much yes, you must start on a practice chanter).

[@Skipsterist]

@@MattWillisBagpiper Thank you sir!

[@nono3hd390]

do you have any tip how to get an decent set of bagpipe?

[@dimuthuruwan476]

Hi matt..its a super video

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Glad you liked it!

[@matthewdavidson8675]

Great song to learn. You use a G grace note going from the D to the F between the first and second bar. Most sheet music I see uses a double F. Does it matter? The double F sounds off to me.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

I find the F doubling a bit too busy. Prefer a single gracenote. But either way is fine.

[@sujalthapa4]

Hello matt can you please play a cover of (DEAR GOD) from evenged sevenfold on bagpipes

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Lemme see if'n that can squeeze onto the pipes...

[@marykuhn7510]

oh ya matt i really like how u teach

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Thanks! Anything in particular?

[@hunters.5627]

On the top hand I play with my outer most pads on my fingers but I find some embellishments to be hard to play. But I will sometimes play with my pads in the middle of my fingers. Is there a certain part of my fingers that I should be using to cover the wholes?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

I go over all that in this video: Getting Started with the Practice Chanter - The Basics Series #1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJfTlnVthsmUaqc

[@frankcapirchio6739]

Thanks!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

You bet!

[@Reedc16]

Do you go slow on the song with the practice chanter that way you can show beginners how to play amazing grace?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Did you watch the video? I do go slowly, but I do point out other videos to help with specific technique.

[@Reedc16]

Matt Willis Bagpiper yes I did

[@Reedc16]

Matt Willis Bagpiper you know what I could slow down the video that will help

[@benjaminphillips3351]

Great video! I have been hopping you would teach amazing grace.

[@Reedc16]

Matt Willis Bagpiper do you know Michael Lancaster he plays bagpipes

[@gregoryalee2457]

Someone told me not to look at the sheet music and he was correct.

[@lesliethomson2441]

Attn Patreon Supporters an extra perk we have is .... We can be the FIRST to like and comment on YT

[@mohandabubaker5344]

Do highland laddie

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

That one is a bit away from a lesson-style video, but here's a recording of me performing it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKPYfpRne96AsNE

[@Gazetteworld96]

Please provide notes too. It will help

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

You can find the notes any number of places online (simple Google search). This video is about a different approach not using written music, as many aspiring pipers rely too heavily on written music.

[@heretichunter74]

If I hear this tune one more time I’m going scream. I know it’s an industry standard but why not Hector the Hero, Dark Isle, Skyeboat Song, etc? 😩 I always say I never heard of it. Or in Scotland they don’t play that. Only for tourists.

[@joannedenison7650]

Ok, no music, but can anyone just write this out?

[@dxk2393]

15:17

[@geraldm7435]

Way more embellishments than I thought would be in this tune! Not complaining, just my amateur observation, lol.

[@Bpboggan]

bagpipe her? I hardly know her

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Ha!