Auditioning for a church praise band...need an audition piece...

Abemas · #1 12-13-2006, 05:50 PM

Well I'm going to be auditioning for the praise band at my church in the near future and I need to have a prepared audition piece. From what I hear they are pretty selective about who they take so its important that I impress them. Can you guys recommend anything that would be appropriate for a church setting?

Skel · #2 12-13-2006, 05:57 PM

A solo piece on bass? That's absurd. Just know a few songs they do and ask to do them with the rest of the band, or part of it at least. That's my take.

JansenW · #3 12-13-2006, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skel

A solo piece on bass? That's absurd. Just know a few songs they do and ask to do them with the rest of the band, or part of it at least. That's my take.

+1
The key is to know their songs and style.

steveb98 · #4 12-13-2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skel

A solo piece on bass? That's absurd. Just know a few songs they do and ask to do them with the rest of the band, or part of it at least. That's my take.

+1

I'll second that comment. I would find out some of songs they play a lot and learn those and various Gospel styles. Also work on your tone in general most church gigs want a big fat bass sound. You have to be a Mo' Fitzgerald or Gouche to get away with a bright tone or slap a lot.

Also work on your ear a lot of Gospel gigs they change tunes during the service and you better be able to hear the change or sit where you can see the keyboard player's left hand. Also the keyboard players in most church bands run the show and have lots of hand signals so keep your eye on him. Last they might want to see how quick you learn songs. I've seen bass play have to learn four or five tunes in a few minutes before the service. Church gigs usually don't rehearse much.

Good luck.

tjh · #5 12-13-2006, 07:38 PM

ditto most all of what was said, but I might add that remember LESS is generally better in this setting ... you want to be a fit, not a flash ... dynamics are very important where I am playing, and the use of very simple slides and lead ins can create a great deal of fill without cluttering things up ... most importantly, remember what, you are there for ... it is easy to focus on ourselves and to try and be impressive, , but the worship TEAM is there not only to lead, but also to make it easy for the congregation is worship, not to perform for them ... if the drummer is a mainstay there, lock in with him and you will be fine ...

jvbjr · #6 12-13-2006, 08:22 PM

Poop-Loops · #7 12-13-2006, 11:28 PM

Sign of the Cross or Hollowed Be Thy Name.

Foamy · #8 12-14-2006, 09:27 AM

Trading My Sorrows - a cool bass 2-note (at the same time) piece. Can also be a bit funky.
Another song that features bass is Praise Adonai - i has a nice mellow and smooth bass solo.

RevGroove · #9 12-14-2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enchanter_Tim

Trading My Sorrows - a cool bass 2-note (at the same time) piece. Can also be a bit funky.
Another song that features bass is Praise Adonai - i has a nice mellow and smooth bass solo.

+1

Just know their style, as has been said...maybe arrange a pre-audition jam session with the main drummer or one of the drummers as well, catch the groove beforehand so to speak...good luck!

Snarf · #10 12-14-2006, 05:35 PM

Anything by Cannibal Corpse.

uturnbass · #11 12-15-2006, 02:27 PM

I auditioned for my church's praise band and was sucessfull.
Just remember your role as a bassist, to keep the rhythm and stay on time while providing the root notes. Don't be too flashy or they might not like it too much, (save the flashy stuff AFTER you are part of the band)

+1 on the Trading My Sorrows, my church plays alot of Hillsong, so maybe you can grab a few of their songs. Like "One Way" for example.

Abemas · #12 12-15-2006, 09:01 PM

Do you recommend just looking for tab for these songs or is there sheet music for them I would be able to purchase?

JansenW · #13 12-15-2006, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abemas

Do you recommend just looking for tab for these songs or is there sheet music for them I would be able to purchase?

Check with your music director, perhaps he has the CD or music or lead sheets for songs you are interested in. You can probably pick up the bass lines from the CD.

basspraiser · #14 12-19-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abemas

Well I'm going to be auditioning for the praise band at my church in the near future and I need to have a prepared audition piece. From what I hear they are pretty selective about who they take so its important that I impress them. Can you guys recommend anything that would be appropriate for a church setting?

well????? How did it go??????

steveb98 · #15 12-19-2006, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abemas

Do you recommend just looking for tab for these songs or is there sheet music for them I would be able to purchase?

Get out of habit of looking for Tab if you are going to be a serious player. IMO Tab is only good for showing a fingering or positon to play something in. Get the CD and transcribe the tune the best you can. You will end up hearing the tune a lot and get the feel it will also help develop your ear. If they have a lead sheet that is good too, it gets you used to reading them and working up a bass part since most are written for piano.

basspraiser · #16 12-19-2006, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveb98

Get out of habit of looking for Tab if you are going to be a serious player. IMO Tab is only good for showing a fingering or positon to play something in. Get the CD and transcribe the tune the best you can. You will end up hearing the tune a lot and get the feel it will also help develop your ear. If they have a lead sheet that is good too, it gets you used to reading them and working up a bass part since most are written for piano.

I like to start with either a chord chart or a tab.....but you are right, listening and going over the song without playing the tab 100% is really the best....I am not good at transcribing from a CD...but give me a tab or a chord chart and I usually can figure out what goes in between....

BassChuck · #17 12-20-2006, 04:53 AM

I'm assuming that this gig is a paying postion, otherwise why would you audition?

I can't image what losing an audition for a non-paying gig would do to my psyche. I mean, you have to secure the equipment, practice, get the audition stuff together, decide that you'll give up time for rehearsals and performance for the glory of God, and then be turned down cause you aren't good enough. Didn't Jesus admonish the disciples for judging people unworthy.

steveb98 · #18 12-20-2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basspraiser

I like to start with either a chord chart or a tab.....but you are right, listening and going over the song without playing the tab 100% is really the best....I am not good at transcribing from a CD...but give me a tab or a chord chart and I usually can figure out what goes in between....

Transcribing is something we have to practice like technique exercises. The more you do it the better you get and better your ear gets. Also if you start writing in notation not Tab your transciptions your reading will get better too. Transcribing teachs more than just a new song or bassline.