Nearer My God To Thee (Bethany)

The correct name for this tune, composed by Lowell Mason in 1856, is "Bethany", but it's better known as the main tune for the hymn "Nearer My God To Thee". One of my YouTube watchers - MrBillBroonzy - wondered if I might do this, after listening to my version of "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", so I thought I'd give it a crack! Some of these old hymn tunes lend themselves to a John Hurt/Gary Davis treatment, so I've stated the main tune in a gospel style, played a chorus in John Hurt's style, slipped in a third chorus with a little Gary Davis feel, played another picked chorus - and then finished with a slow gospel feel again. The tune was written in F - I've transposed it int D for guitar. Hope you enjoy it!

Tabs, music & chords are available at:

http://www.mjra.net/WillFly/tabs.shtml

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Will
• Fly
• Lowell
• Mason
• Bethany
• acoustic
• guitar
• gospel
• fingerpicking
• fingerstyle

[xJigglyTitanx]

i hear this tune played the organ just about every sunday morning, and i absolutely love your version. I love listening to your songs man!

[HenfieldWill]

@xJigglyTitanx It's a great tune, like many of those old hymn tunes - and just lends itself to a bit of fingerpicking!

:-)

[Pwecko]

You always make me smile. Thank you doing all these arrangements and for producing all these videos. Don't you ever sleep?

[HenfieldWill]

ZZZZZZZZZZ......... :-)

[MrBillbroonzy]

Will. Thanks for your arrangement and thanks for kindly agreeing to play one of my favourite John Hurt pieces. An added bonus was the Rev. Gary Davis influence. Your arrangement is a fitting tribute to two fine musicians, a credit to yourself, and a personal delight for me and other You Tubers. You clearly enjoyed playing it and I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed listening and watching. Thank you.

[HenfieldWill]

My pleasure - thanks for the suggestion! :-)

[Mipakhephila]

Cooooooooollllll!!!!!

[leahmavs]

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww­wwwwwwwwwwwwww this is cute! :)

[SulemanMJ]

Far better than any rock n' rool and country song! Awesome

God bless you

[lydhndrxca]

Thanks for sharing this, and the tabs my friend. I really enjoyed listening to it, and want to learn i myself now!

[SantiLlumihucci]

Greetings from ECUADOR to you sir!!!

It is certainly a great version in guitar of that beautiful hymn of John Edgar Gould and Edward Hopper...

I hope You are good.

See you soon.

[quarterstaff33]

Lovelly. Thank you. I would like to hear you play it with nylon strings. The steel strings are a little too tinny for me, but that is just my preference. I love your playing.

[aidenpurdiewazhere]

I really enjoy your version. The version that i'm learning sounds a bit different and is a it simpler but this is excellent.

[tnoonan3]

finally, a good acoustic cover of this beautiful melody!

[TwaggerBand]

@Chriskay021 Guten Abend! :-)

[Chriskay021]

very good !! greetings from germany