How To Play El Shaddai

Amy Grant
Cover of Amy Grant

A popular song, El Shaddai was written in 1981 by Michael Card and John Thompson. I've received lots of requests for this song and have fond memories performing this one in church, along with my daughter singing in the band with me on the piano. Play it with much expression, 4/4 time signature, in two and be sure to use the pedal.

Online Piano Chords can be found at http://www.chordie.com

I've added more to the keyboard chord chart below in red.

El Shaddai


Amy Grant

DmG/B
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
C      C/EF
El Elyonna Adonai,
BbE7/G#
age to age you're still the same,
AmG/BA/C#
by the power of the name.
DmG7/B
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
C     C/EF
erkamkana Adonai,
BbDm7/AG
we will praise and lift you high,
GsusC
El Shaddai.

Verse 1:
DmG
Through your love and through the ram,
       G/BCF(add9)
you saved the son of Abraham,
BbE7
through the power of your hand
AmG/BA/C#
you turned the sea into dry land.
DmG
To the outcast on her knees
G7/BCCma7F
you were the God who really sees,
BbGCCsusC
and by your might you set your children free.     

Verse 2:
DmG
Through the years you made it clear
 G/BCF
that the time of Christ was near,
F/A BbE7
though the people couldn't see
AmG/BA/C#
what Messiah ought to be.
DmG
Though your Word contained the plan,
 G/BCF   Fmaj7/A
they just could not understand,
BbGBb/FG
your most awesome work was done in the frailty of your Son

There are tons of arpeggiated chords throughout this song. Here's the chord breakdown, showing you the notes as blocked chords, or solid chords.

Dm = D/DFA

G/B = B/DGB

C = CEG

C/E = E/EGC

F = F/FAC

Bb = Bb/DFBbD

E7/G# = G#D/EB

Am = A/EAC

A/C# = C#A/AE

Dm = DA/AA

G7/B = BG/DGB

Dm7/A = A/DAC

G = GDG/GB

The Intro (one octave higher)

Dm
Dm/C
G/B
C
G/B
F/A
F/E
Bb
F/A
G

Between verse 1 and verse 2 play the following piano chords:

C
Csus
C
Bb
Dm7/A
Gm
Dm/F
E7
E7/D
C
Cmaj7/B
Am
G
F
F/E
Dm
Fmaj7/C
Bm7b5
F/A
E7/G#
E7
Dm/A

Now in the part that goes "in the frailty of your Son", roll this chord:

GDB/BDGB

Outro to El Shaddai (one octave higher)

Dm
G
C
F
Bb
Fmaj7/A
Gm7
F
E7
E+
E
Dm/A
Am (arpeggiate last chord, AA/CEAC)


It's a beautiful song, wouldn't you agree?

You may be interested in the following Gospel classes:

Michael Bereal

Jason White






"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King
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1 comment:

Donna Heber said...

Oh, I love Amy Grant! Too bad I can't play an instrument :-) Thank you for stopping to visit me. Have a great day!

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