Best info on learning southern/gospel bass?

[Justbleazy]

I've been playing in a church for about 3 months and I enjoy like crazy but sometimes I'm caught off guard by new songs that we haven't practiced. Since the PW leader doesn't provide sheet music or charts we play by ear and sometimes there are key changes at the last second.

Anyway, I can fumble my way through on some songs and completely excel on the next song. I really want to provide a professional service for God and my church.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[JimmyM]

Hey man, music is like that sometimes. Transposing on the fly can be difficult. I've been playing pro 32 years and still have trouble with it. But if you know your intervals backward and forward, you can make it a little easier.

[MalcolmAmos]

Cheat sheet of possible keys. You probably will be using or can get by with using a I IV V progression with the ii and vi thrown in for flavor. Song called out to be in G what chords to expect?

Key   I-IV-V   ii     vi.  or if you prefer 1-4-5, 2 and 6
G      G-C-D    Am      Em

I'm sure you already know this it's the
new key that throws you.  Nashville Number
System to the rescue.

Amazing Grace | Chords, Lyrics, Sheet Music, and Tablature
Scratch out the chord name and insert the number. Now if its called out in A, or F or whatever, you are ready.

I bet you will find that you will be playing the same ole 25 to 35 songs over and over. Six this Sunday then another batch next Sunday. Get some sheet music - beg, borrow or steal - and make your own fake chord using the Nashville Number system. That way if they change the key (to fit the vocalist) the Nashville Number system is generic and you just adapt to the new key. Learn The Nashville Number System From A Pro --- i.e. you use generic numbers instead of chord name.

After awhile you will be able to jamm the songs in any key - without your sheet music. It will take some practice, but, it will click in.

Good luck.

[gmahoog]

Look at the piano/organ players left hand for the bass note they are playing. Usually the little finger of their left hand. (You needs to know the notes of the keyboard.) That can help you find the key where it modulated to. Also the chord root but you have to process it quickly.

[Justbleazy]

Originally Posted by gmahoog

Look at the piano/organ players left hand for the bass note they are playing. Usually the little finger of their left hand. (You needs to know the notes of the keyboard.) That can help you find the key where it modulated to. Also the chord root but you have to process it quickly.

I started on keys so doing this helped a lot until the keyboardist started transposing lol.

Yeah the 1,4,5 is a fantastic start too.

[Dr_Funkdamental]

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Cheat sheet of possible keys. You probably will be using or can get by with using a I IV V progression with the ii and vi thrown in for flavor. Song called out to be in G what chords to expect?

Key   I-IV-V   ii     vi.  or if you prefer 1-4-5, 2 and 6
G      G-C-D    Am      Em

I'm sure you already know this it's the
new key that throws you.  Nashville Number
System to the rescue.

Amazing Grace | Chords, Lyrics, Sheet Music, and Tablature
Scratch out the chord name and insert the number. Now if its called out in A, or F or whatever, you are ready.

I bet you will find that you will be playing the same ole 25 to 35 songs over and over. Six this Sunday then another batch next Sunday. Get some sheet music - beg, borrow or steal - and make your own fake chord using the Nashville Number system. That way if they change the key (to fit the vocalist) the Nashville Number system is generic and you just adapt to the new key. Learn The Nashville Number System From A Pro --- i.e. you use generic numbers instead of chord name.

After awhile you will be able to jamm the songs in any key - without your sheet music. It will take some practice, but, it will click in.

Good luck.

Great advice. Used to happen to me alot in a few churches Ive been a part of (army). This saved my life lol. If you havent already, ask the director for a full list of songs they do, or sometimes the "Standbys" they may go to at any given time and try to learn them. Ive been playing at my current church about 4 months, so Im still fresh, and sometimes I sit with the MD before hand and we'll just quickly number down a song or two right before service. I bring my macbook pro and use powerpoint to make slides. Organized and easy to see!

[Justbleazy]

Originally Posted by Dr_Funkdamental

Great advice. Used to happen to me alot in a few churches Ive been a part of (army). This saved my life lol. If you havent already, ask the director for a full list of songs they do, or sometimes the "Standbys" they may go to at any given time and try to learn them. Ive been playing at my current church about 4 months, so Im still fresh, and sometimes I sit with the MD before hand and we'll just quickly number down a song or two right before service. I bring my macbook pro and use powerpoint to make slides. Organized and easy to see!

Good idea! I'll mention this to the PW leader about having the lyrics shown on a screen for the congregation and that way everybody including myself will know the songs.

I should be able to get a copy of the song. I'll definately check out the number system. I'm familiar with it but I don't have down completely yet. Thanks for all of the help guys!

[Dr_Funkdamental]

Well thats always helpful for the congregation, but I was referring more to myself personally. Like instead of charts on a stand I have my Mac set in front of me. Whenever I chart a song or have to get it on the fly, I make a new slide and title it and put my system down with numbers and maybe some hints like "hold here" or "come in 2nd time", etc. A powerpoint slide is alot clearer than my handwriting and in low lighting, easy to view. Plus if we change the line up, you can just toggle the slide order.

Numbers will take you far, esp. in gospel where the MD might flip a progression here and there on the fly and say go here instead of there. Im sure you'll get it quick.