Playing gospel music

[martinusjaco]

Hey,

I've been asked to play bass on a gospel song recording.

I'm jazz and funk orientated and I don't have any experience with gospel music. Can anybody tell what style is commonly used for gospel music. Some tips maybe.
If there are some recordings I must listen to, please tell me.

Thanks,

Martinusjaco.

[markjazzbassist]

Jazz, Funk, R&B, Rock, Country, Blues, those are all in elements of gospel. I would say that most gospel is most like R&B though.

What kind of gospel specifically are you going to be playing? Praise and Worship, Black Gospel, Southern Gospel, Countrified Gospel?

[martinusjaco]

Hello,

I think it's Black Gospel. I want to give it a specific sound. That's why I asked if there are any recordings that I must listen to for inspiration.

Thanks,

Martinusjaco

[Torch7]

Gospel Music is such a vast genre, that it would be hard to encompass all the elements in a simple post.

Check out my myspace page, lots of links to Gospel Bassists. IF I could recommend one CD that covers alot of the sub-genres within Gospel, it would be Donnie McClurkin, "Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs" Its a two disc set, that covers, Traditional "Black" Gospel, Praise and Worship, Contemporary Gospel. Darrell Freeman is the bassist and he is a "MONSTER" Also Fred Hammond who is a phenominal bass player himself, has good CD's. Kirk Franklin's latest CD "Hero" Braylon Lacy does good work on it. Isreal Houghton's bass player is alos really good, Terrance Palmer. I could also send a bunch of links to video if your interested, to see some nice Gospel bass playin.

http://www.myspace.com/gospelbasslines

Check out These Guys, they are all over the Gospel Music Scene:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endid=63662352
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endid=57429449
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endid=64857544

[markjazzbassist]

new school gospel - fred hammond

old school gospel - andrae crouch and the disciples

[steveb98]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

new school gospel - fred hammond

old school gospel - andrae crouch and the disciples

Don't forget some of the old Blues style Gospel. My church lately has been including some of the OLD school gospel into each service, very Bluesy. New Gospel is great, but don't want to forget the roots Shirley Caeser, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Mahalia Jackson, and Rev, James Cleveland.

[emohair]

Playting gospel is all about your ear....but recording..thats a new thing for me. Im more of a live musician, so I would say what works 80% of the time is improv. Honestly, you cant take gospel music too seriously. Keep your 1, but people LOVE it when you do lots more (tastfuly I might add!!!). I think staying low for a few measures, then hitting some high run on the D string usually goes over good.

I love Fred Hammonds - Pages of Life Chp 2. This is terrence palmer, who currently plays for Israel. This album is my bass workout cd, I cna succeffully play this whole album through, great for learnign the slap style.

Some gospel I hear, especially older styles, the bass is just really really solid. Like always in the pocket, and minimal embellisments. This might be better for your first go-around.

I think the key is to feel it man, playing with a good black drummer, you will experice things you have never felt befor. Its very very bluesy, mainly things are on the blues scale, but think Motown.

Good luck!

[ras1983]

also check out Byron Cage and Kirk Franklin for some newer gospel sounds.

just a couple of songs are:

Byron Cage - holy, holy, holy ; thankyou ; the presence of the lord

Kirk Franklin - its raining ; brighter day.

[martinusjaco]

He guys,

Thanks for all your replys. I've got whole lot of material to look at. This was what I was looking for. Thanks a lot!

Kind regards,

Martinusjaco