How to Play "How Great Thou Art" on Piano

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to play “How Great Thou Art” on piano, you’re in the right place. In this beginner-friendly tutorial, we’ll walk you through the melody, chords, hand coordination, and even some advanced tips to help you play this classic hymn with confidence and expression.

This guide is based on a lesson from Jacob at Piano by Pictures. “How Great Thou Art” is both fun and surprisingly complex—offering several musical challenges. But don’t worry! We’re here we’ll help you along the way.

Key Signature and Starting Position

The song is in C major, which means no sharps or flats, making it ideal for beginner to intermediate players.

You’ll only use the white keys on the keyboard.

The melody starts in the right hand with:

Pointer finger on G, Thumb on E
When you get to the F on the word “wonder”, use your thumb.

This section has a nice little walk down:

Thumb on E
Middle finger on G
Another G
Then F
Landing back on E

This sequence repeats for the second line, creating a strong melodic foundation.

Exploring Arpeggios and Ornamentation

Midway through the song, you’ll encounter a beautiful arpeggio sequence, which adds emotional depth and movement.

Arpeggios explained simply: take a chord and play its notes one at a time instead of all together.

When you get to the words “to thee”, rotate over to land on G.

From here, you can use your pinky to reach C, and stretch your thumb down to D. Wrap around with F – A – G, landing on E.

The next phrase repeats the same melody from before (“Then sings my soul…”).

For the ending phrase, move your pointer up to C.

This passage repeats with slight variations and is one of the most expressive parts of the song.

Essential Chords You’ll Need

To play “How Great Thou Art” on piano, you only need four main chords:

C Major: C – E – G
F Major: F – A – C
G Major: G – B – D
D Minor: D – F – A

Each chord follows a skip-pattern (play a note, skip one, play another), making them easier to visualize and remember.

The D minor chord has a nice dark texture that adds emotional depth to the final phrase.

Understanding the Song Structure and Rhythm

The rhythm of this hymn doesn’t follow a typical 4/4 or 3/4 beat all the way through. Instead, the chords shift unpredictably, which can be a challenge for beginners.

Here’s a simplified breakdown of the verse rhythm:

C for 2 beats
F for 2 beats (can repeat it to help with timing)
Back to C for 2 beats
G for 2 beats
C to end the line

The second line is identical in rhythm and melody. This section is referred to as the “verse” or “A section.”

Most hymns, including this one, follow an AB format:

A section = verse
B section = refrain or chorus

The Refrain and Final Line (Where It Gets Tricky)

In the refrain, you’ll use:

C
F
Back to C
Then G for a full bar
And back to C again

The last line introduces a fast chord change sequence:

C
F
C
G for 2-3 beats
Then a quick jump to D minor → G → C

This last phrase is the trickiest part of learning how to play “How Great Thou Art” on piano, but here are two smart strategies to make it more playable:

1. Use Chord Inversions

Instead of jumping up or down the keyboard, invert the G chord for smoother transitions:

From D minor (D–F–A), shift to G by keeping D on the pinky, placing G on the pointer, and B on the thumb.
Then return to C in root position or even an upper inversion for a “choir-like” sound.

2. Omit Certain Notes

Borrowing from classical piano technique:

If F is already in the melody, omit it from the D minor chord.
If B is in the melody, omit it from the G chord.

This simplifies the fingering and creates a cleaner, more open sound.

Hands Together – Putting It All in Motion

When combining melody and harmony:

Start with three Gs as a pickup
Land together on the C chord
Repeat three Gs, then F
Follow the structure with chords and melody aligning at major changes

During the arpeggios, keep the left hand hanging out on the C chord while the right hand climbs through the melody.

The final challenge is coordinating the fast D minor – G – C sequence. Use the strategies above for smoother transitions.

Final Performance and Encouragement

After walking through all the parts slowly, this next set is to play the full song up to tempo, bringing together the melody, harmony, and rhythms. When you’re ready to try it all the way through with both hands, here’s a video you can play along to: