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Now I really need help. I am on Page 95 of Alfred's Adult Level One trying to play Amazing Grace. It seems everything I have read in the book so far I have forgotten and cannot find it to refer back to.

On the bottom line there is one measure with two beats to it which I understand finishes the opening measure which only had one measure in it. But this measure is followed by a heavy and a thin verticle line followed by two dots per clef. I think that the verticals means that that is the end of the first verse of the song and I am to go back and play from the start. But at what point then when I get near the end again to I cut over to the second or alternate ending, the five bars to the right of those vertical lines? I thought alternate endings were laid out differently.

More importantly, how do I play that second measure to the right of the verticals? I can't get my fingers (2,3,5) to hit on D sharp, E and G at one time, let alone arpeggiate them in what I gather is one third of a quarter note. Additionaly, those notes not only are hard to play but they don't sound very nice either.

The double lines are conventional repeat symbols, that between them is repeated. The double lines are not to be confused with measure barlines. Different concepts. Here they start at the 2/3 point within a measure, and there is a note about the second time.

I just pulled out my copy. Regarding playing the second measure of the repeat: After you hit the AC, move your hand immediately to the D#EG. Since you have the damper pedal down, you don't need to keep your hand on the AC for the whole two beats--hit it and move, and the damper pedal keeps the notes ringing for those two beats. The D#EG combo will sound dissonant because D# to E is a half-step; however, you move away from that pretty quickly (although, with the damper pedal depressed as indicated, you will hear the dissonance until you left and press it again at the beginning of the next measure.)

the dissonance is trying to replicate bagpipes?

I'm not sure in Amazing Grace. I'm working on The Campbells Are Coming, and the left hand has an F C, with kind of a grace note B that creates the dissonant bagpipe sound.

Lightnin, got it. Thanks. I understand it now.

Mark, I don't have pedals, just an electronic keyboard. However, you are right, if I move quickly away from the D# to the E it doesn't sound as bad as when they are played together. And after all, this chord is to be arpeggiated. I also read somewhere where sometimes a discordant note can be followed by a concordant note but that is getting a little deep for me at this point.

Back to the D# and E. I do find it quite a squeeze to get my fingers in there to properly play the notes. And that's where the skill formula comes into play: Practice. Practice. Practice.

It is a little awkward, but that's why, if you have a pedal, you can hit the preceding chord and get an extra second to kind of set up for the D#EG.

Keep practicing and you should get it. BTW, that version of Amazing Grace has been going through my head since I played those couple of measures yesterday. I'd appreciate it if someone could ask a question about a different song so I don't have to hear Amazing Grace being played over and over and over and........

Ok Markb... per your request and as a Sunday morning bit of heresy.. were you aware that you can sing Amazing Grace to the tune of the Gilligan's Island theme?

Works. Try it.

NOW try to get it out of your head!

Heheheh....there's a particular Hebrew prayer that can be sung to just about any tune. Maybe I'll see if the tune for Amazing Grace will fit.

And if that's not enought to make you crazy, my son told me that you can sing "One Tin Soldier" to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic." And we did.

After thinking that I'd never sing "One Tin Soldier" ever again.