One of Paul McCartney’s greatest songs was never released as a single — until he recorded it live. Of course, I’m talking about “Maybe I’m Amazed,” Paul’s love song to Linda. It was originally recorded in the studio back in 1970.
It was never released as a single.
But then Wings recorded it live, and it was released in 1977, making it all the way to No. 10 in the United States.
The reason I picked this as a cover to play and a tutorial to teach is because it’s one of those iconic piano songs that can make an average player sound really good. It’s a goal of mine on YouTube to help my people — average piano players — sound really good. And with “Maybe I’m Amazed,” there are a few key recognizable parts:
1. The intro. It’s super simple.
2. The left-hand run up. Sounds so good. But it’s so not hard.
3. The verse and the chorus are awesome; don’t get me wrong.
4. But there’s a little riff in the chorus that you have to know to be able to nail this tune.
I’ll explain all momentarily, but first my cover of “Maybe I’m Amazed.” This is posted to my YouTube channel at youtube.com/ryanweltonmusic. I’d be honored if you subscribed to my channel. I’m posting covers and tutorials. For every cover that I do, I post a tutorial for it. But I also post originals and other life-centric videos. But I try to connect most with musicians and, especially, with those of you who play the piano!
The intro is simple. It’s an A-D in the right hand on top of an F# in the left. Then an F in the left. Then an E, but instead of an A-D in the right, make it a G-D a la an Em7.
The left-hand run up is ridiculous. You have to get your timing right, but you simply start with the C and walk it up, half-step by half-step until you get to Bb to resume the verse.
The verse is in Bb. The chorus is in D. But check this out: the chorus is simple. It’s D, A/D, Am9/D before you walk up to a Dm in the right and an F# in the left to give it a bluesy sound. I show you exactly how to do that in the video.
In fact, I show you everything in “Maybe I’m Amazed” in the video, including the E, F#, D riff you play in the chorus. You can pound that a few times and work it amongst a few Gs before returning to your chorus D.
Here are the lyrics in case you want to sing along:
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you love me all the time
Maybe I’m afraid of the way I love you
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you pull me out of time
You hung me on the line
Maybe I’m amazed at the way I really need you
Maybe I’m a man
Maybe I’m a lonely man who’s in the middle of something
That he doesn’t really understand
Maybe I’m a man
And maybe you’re the only woman who could ever help me
Baby, won’t you help me to understand?
Ooh
Maybe I’m a man
Maybe I’m a lonely man who’s in the middle of something
That he doesn’t really understand
Maybe I’m a man
And maybe you’re the only woman who could ever help me
Baby, won’t you help me to understand?
Ooh
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you’re with me all the time
Maybe I’m afraid of the way I leave you
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you help me sing my song
Right me when I’m wrong
Maybe I’m amazed at the way I really need you
