How to play "Great Are You Lord"

This Great Are You Lord piano tutorial takes you step by step through All Sons & Daughters‘ congregational favourite in A major. It’s simple by design, which is exactly why it’s worth learning properly: a song this open shows every choice you make on the keys.

Step 1: Understand the job the song does

Great Are You Lord is a gathering song. Churches use it as a gentle opener, as a response after a reading, or as the song that settles the room into worship. Everyone can sing it within a verse, and that’s its strength.

Our listing has it at 144 BPM. Most players feel that in half-time, a relaxed 72, which is how the pulse sits under the singing. Count it whichever way keeps you steady, but keep the feel calm.

Step 2: Learn the key of A

We play it in A major. Before you touch the song, get these chords comfortable:

• 1: A
• 2m: Bm
• 4: D
• 5: E
• 6m: F♯m

Play each one as a triad in root position, then in first and second inversion. Five minutes of this makes the rest of the tutorial much easier. For your sound, a soft piano with a gentle pad is perfect. This song doesn’t need anything flashy.

Step 3: Map the song by ear

We don’t have our own chart for Great Are You Lord on the site yet, so I won’t give you a progression and claim it’s exact. In A major, a congregational song like this sits in the 1, 4, 5 and 6m family (A, D, E, F♯m). Here’s how to map it yourself:

1. Play the video above and listen only to the bass for one full pass.
2. On the second pass, pause after each line and find the bass note on the piano.
3. Name each bass note as a number in A (A is 1, D is 4, E is 5, F♯ is 6).
4. Write the numbers down per section: verse, chorus, bridge.

If you get stuck on whether a chord is the 1 or the 6m, the Ear Trainer is a good place to drill major against minor.

Step 4: Voice it for a congregation

• Right hand: open triads with the fifth on top. A as C♯, E, A or A, C♯, E depending on where the melody sits. Stay below the main vocal line.
• Left hand: steady root notes, pulsing gently on the beat. In quieter moments, just hold the root.
• The sus2: play the 1 as Asus2 (A, B, E) in quiet moments. It sounds open and modern, and it doesn’t clash with any melody note.
• The 4 with colour: Dadd9 (D, F♯, A, E) keeps the E ringing across the change from A, which ties the chords together.
• One gospel touch: on the way to the 5, use B7 (B, D♯, F♯, A) instead of Bm for extra pull. Use it once or twice, not every time.

Try all of these in the Chord Voicing Lab and hear which sit best with your leader’s voice.

Step 5: Prepare for a key change

Because almost every church sings this, leaders pitch it in all sorts of keys. In G, your 1, 4, 5 and 6m are G, C, D and Em. In B♭, they’re B♭, E♭, F and Gm. In C, they’re C, F, G and Am. Learn the song in numbers and you’ll handle all of these.

Gig Mode will show you the letters for whatever key the leader calls on the day.

Step 6: Put it together in 20 minutes

1. Warm-up (5 min): A, D, E, F♯m in all three inversions.
2. Mapping (5 min): finish your numbers for verse and chorus with the video.
3. Voicings (5 min): add Asus2, Dadd9 and the B7 move.
4. Full run (5 min): play with the video, then once more in G.

Great Are You Lord piano tutorial FAQ

What key is Great Are You Lord in?

Our tutorial uses A major, with A, D, E and F♯m as the main chords.

Is Great Are You Lord easy on piano?

Yes, it’s one of the friendlier worship songs. The challenge is keeping it gentle and steady for the whole song.

Who recorded Great Are You Lord?

All Sons & Daughters recorded it, and it has since been sung in churches everywhere.

Next, try O A Ntwanela, another song in A that sits well beside this one in a set.