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America The Beautiful

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America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates
Melody by Samuel Ward
Ray Charles Version
NOTES
_________________________________________________________________
*This is how I play the Ray Charles Version on piano. Some of
the chords may be more appropriately named in a different manner
but I use the naming conventions that make the most sense to me!
*The slash chords with out a chord in front of the
/ indicate a walking bass line using the same chord you
were already playing.
*Play this seemingly ridculously slow in 12/8 time
_________________________________________________________________
[Verse 1]
O beEbautiful Edim7for hBb7/Feroes prBb7oved,
Edim7   Fm7/Ab/A Bb7   Eb   Edim7   Bb/F  Bb7  
in liberating strife.
Who Ebmore than self Edim7their Bb7/Fcountry Bb7loved,
Bb   A   Bb   C7   F7   Bb7   Ab/C   Bb7/D   Bb7/C
and mercy more than life!
EbAmerGm7ica! F#dim7AmeriFm7ca!Bb7  
Ab/C/C# Bb/D   Bb   Ab/C   Bb7/D   Eb   Eb7/G
May God thy gold refine
Ab /Bb /C /C# /D Eb
Till all success be nobleness,
Fm7   Bb7/D Eb   Edim7   Bb7/F  Bb7  
and every gain divine!
[Verse 2]
O beEbautiful Edim7for spaBb7/Fcious skBb7ies,
Edim7   Fm7/Ab/A Bb7   Eb   Edim7   Bb/F  Bb7  
for amber waves of grain
For Ebpurple mountEdim7ain Bb7/FmajestieBb7s,
Bb   A   Bb   C7   F7   Bb7   Ab/C   Bb7/D   Bb7/C
above the fruited plain!
AEbmeriGm7ca! F#dim7AmeFm7rica!Bb7  
Ab/C/C# Bb/D   Bb   Ab/C   Bb7/D   Eb   Eb7/G
God shed his grace on thee
Ab /Bb /C /C# /D Eb
And crown thy good with brotherhood,
Fm7 Bb7 /D Eb (or end with whole step walk up after Bb to the Eb (B Db Eb))
from sea to shining sea!
All chords in this song (16)

The story behind the song

Ray Charles, often called "The Genius," was a pioneering American musician who blended blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel into what became known as soul music. He was known for his incredible influence and for being one of the first Black musicians to gain artistic control from a mainstream record company. This rendition of "America The Beautiful" showcases his unique ability to infuse deep emotion and personal expression into even the most familiar melodies, making it feel like a profound reflection on the nation.

AI-written from these sources:Ray Charles — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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About America The Beautiful Chords by Ray Charles

Learn how to play America The Beautiful by Ray Charles with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “America The Beautiful chords”, “America The Beautiful guitar chords”, or “Ray Charles America The Beautiful chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy America The Beautiful chords and for experienced players who want accurate America The Beautiful lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Eb, Edim7, Bb7/F, Bb7, Fm7, Ab/A.

FAQ — America The Beautiful by Ray Charles

How do I play "America The Beautiful" by Ray Charles on guitar?

Open the free chords for "America The Beautiful" by Ray Charles on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "America The Beautiful" by Ray Charles free?

Yes. The chords for "America The Beautiful" by Ray Charles are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "America The Beautiful" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "America The Beautiful" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "America The Beautiful"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "America The Beautiful" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "America The Beautiful" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "America The Beautiful" by Ray Charles with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Ray Charles below.

What key is "America The Beautiful" in?

The chords for "America The Beautiful" show the original chord names (including Eb, Edim7, Bb7/F, Bb7, Fm7, Ab/A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.