Major Pentatonic Practice: Amazing Grace

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This exercise will help you learn major pentatonic finger patterns for cello in six positions and in five keys. You’ll practice ensemble skills by playing two different parts with audio tracks. You’ll also learn several common bass patterns that use roots and fifths.

Use the sheet music to the left to play along with the recordings. Pay attention to intonation, articulation, note length, and dynamics.

Each audio clip will loop until you pause it.

C (Melody In Higher Octave)

Listen to the duet as an example, and practice with it as much as you like. For ensemble practice, play the bass line along with the melody track, and play the melody along with the bass track.

Amazing Grace In C (Higher) Duet

In C (Higher) Melody

In C (Higher) Bass

C (Melody In Lower Octave)

This is in C as well. Practice the lower open pentatonic fingering for the melody, and note how the overall sound is muddier with two low parts.

Amazing Grace In C (Lower) Duet

In C (Lower) Melody

In C (Lower) Bass

G

This is in G, and it has a different fingering for the roots and fifths in the bass. Notice how many of the same finger patterns from the C melodies also occur in G on different parts of the fingerboard.

In G Melody

Amazing Grace In G Duet

In G Bass

F

This is in F, and it has yet another fingering for the roots and fifths in the bass. The entire melody can be played without shifting position.

Amazing Grace In F Duet

In F Melody

In F Bass

Ab

In Ab, the bass part plays the same pattern as in G, but the fingerings are a little different without the open strings. The melody is the same pentatonic finger pattern as F, slightly relocated.

In Ab Melody

Amazing Grace In Ab Duet

In Ab Bass

F#

There’s no need to fear the six sharps in F#. You can play each part with no need to shift. This one is great to practice for intonation.

In F# Melody

Amazing Grace In F# Duet

In F# Bass