Praise Band Bassists

[jayp883]

My church has asked me to form a praise band. We've all agreed that having a "band" is a pretty good start (LOL) but what kind of issues have you experienced in starting such an endeavor. Where did you find your music etc. I'd appreciate any input. I told my pastor that a lot of TB bassists are praise players as well as following other pursuits.
Thanks

[DGbass70]

there's a thread about this topic in the miscellaneous section ck it out.......


Worship Bassists Unite

[Lincoln]

First off, hats off to you for hearing God's calling for you at this time. The first step is always obeying His voice when you hear it.

I'll only give bullet points for now in the hopes that others will flesh them out as the thread builds. So here are a few suggestions:

• make prayer the priority before and after every rehearsal as a team
• study the bible to determine what authentic worship means and as a team determine what that means in your church.
•*build teamwork, develop leaders
• Build a team of worshipers not musicians
• Find or develop good sound techs
• Work with pastors and staff to understand where the teaching is going
• Don't be afraid to let get take over and destroy your plans
• Smile! Enjoy worshipping the God who loves you and whom you love
• Live out your worship during the week so that Sunday is authentic not some put on show
• Have music and lead sheets prepared before rehearsals - sending out PDF's before hand is good or keep them along with mp3's available on your church web page.
• Love you teammates, Love your church, love the person at the busstop who you've never met before
• Always remember you are a servant of God and your church and that being in ministry is a privilege not a right.

I think the rest of TBers praise bassist's can add to and illuminate these thoughts.

God Bless!

[Lincoln]

The most important thing you can and should do is is continue to develop your relationship with Christ - through personal prayer, the bible and through personal worship. If everyone on your team isn't doing this you and they shouldn't be on the team.

Also, have leadership mentors in place for the team and ministry accountability.

[TheMutt]

Originally Posted by Lincoln

First off, hats off to you for hearing God's calling for you at this time. The first step is always obeying His voice when you hear it.

I'll only give bullet points for now in the hopes that others will flesh them out as the thread builds. So here are a few suggestions:

• make prayer the priority before and after every rehearsal as a team
• study the bible to determine what authentic worship means and as a team determine what that means in your church.
•*build teamwork, develop leaders
• Build a team of worshipers not musicians
• Find or develop good sound techs
• Work with pastors and staff to understand where the teaching is going
• Don't be afraid to let get take over and destroy your plans
• Smile! Enjoy worshipping the God who loves you and whom you love
• Live out your worship during the week so that Sunday is authentic not some put on show
• Have music and lead sheets prepared before rehearsals - sending out PDF's before hand is good or keep them along with mp3's available on your church web page.
• Love you teammates, Love your church, love the person at the busstop who you've never met before
• Always remember you are a servant of God and your church and that being in ministry is a privilege not a right.

I think the rest of TBers praise bassist's can add to and illuminate these thoughts.

God Bless!

+1
There's a million worship/praise/gospel song sites out there if you do some searches on Google. I'll let Embellisher tell you more about WorshipBass. (or you can search him out on here, or just google it and find out! I'd post a link for you but I am browsing on my Wii since my computer died)

Personally, all of the music that is picked out at my church is done by my praise leader. From time to time I do help with the selection process though. We try to match praise with the pastor's message for that Sunday. (He emails the outline to my praise leder and the two ladies who do the bulletin) But you should also be aware of the spiritual atmosphere. It's usually a good idea to set up a practice schedule beforehand - so that you can all learn how to really mesh with each other. Such as being prepared for the parts of the song that the praise leader likes to repeat from, how the tempo will speed up or slow down at certain parts, or what to do for a bridge or transition to the next song. That being said' it's all well and good to play songs that everyone knows, or play well. But don't get so caught up in the technical work that you lose focus of the real purpose - worshiping God through music. This is what seperates praise bands from secular bands. Some believers do not like to talk about it, but one of the places that satan will constantly attack is the praise team. Take a look at which songs you are picking out. Are your songs all horizontal in direction? (directed out to the congregation - "lets all come to worship" "lets all believe in God" "do you remember when you first believed?") Don't get me wrong, these songs are also nice and used sparingly they make a nice addition to your set, but they shouldn't make up the bulk of it. That should be reserved for songs that are directed vertically - straight to God as a congregation. ("you are mighty to save" "praise your holy name" "your love is all that I need" "give thanks to the Lord") Granted there are some songs that do fit both of these descriptions, you will find it easier to really come to a place of true worship when you are playing more purely vertical songs.

One major thing to think about is asking everyone to leave all forms of relationships and conflicts at the door. I have seen way too many fights break out both in praise and secular bands because of this. Instead of creating factions within the team, reinforce a deeper bond with each other that transcends human relationships and instead comes from the filling of the Holy Spirit and God's calling you to this position as a team united.

In the end though, it all still comes back to personal worship. It doesn't matter if you messed up on a note, if you are out of sync with the drums, if there is someone in the congregation who is frowning at you, or even if nobody else is even there when you all start playing. If that is all it takes to mess you up completely and lose hold of your personal worship, then satan's work is done. Being on the praise team doesn't just mean that you get to be up front and play music. God has called you to the front lines to really set that atmosphere for worship in whatever it is that you do. My praise leader puts it this way: praise God with all your heart and soul, even by just playing bass. (I will admit that there are many songs where it is too hard to play and sing) But even the guy that we have who presses the button to change the slides for the lyrics is really praising God. (so much so that he sometimes gets so worked up that he misses changing a slide from time to time)

"Okay, so that's all well and good that I have personal worship during praise, but how do I do that?" I would say that the first step would be to really taste how God works in the field. (the area outside your church, at school, work, even in a checkout line at the grocery store.) As a praise team we try to go out and evangelize around our church at least once a week. Even if we don't get to talk to anyone or there is nobody new that comes that next week, it is still a testament of God's works.

Other than that, I want to congratulate you and welcome you to the awesome world of praise!

[bottomzone]

Lincoln and TheMutt, +1000!!! I would add that it's not about you-it's about HIM!!! Allowing God to use you as His instrument will allow you to give Him excellent praise through your instrument!


A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

[Lincoln]

Don't be afraid to let God turn your service or plans upside down. Sometimes God's spirit just pours itself and can't be contained. Don't be afraid to keep worshipping when that happens.

Remember that God doesn't operate on a schedule and no earthly box we try to put Him in will contain Him.

As a worship leader and team, your spiritual radar will have to be on and ready to go where ever God wants to take you.

[jayp883]

Originally Posted by DGbass70

there's a thread about this topic in the miscellaneous section ck it out.......


Worship Bassists Unite

I'm looking at the site.....what a blessing this is....and you guys as well............

[RADUB1]

Great points...I don't know if I could think of anything to add! Remember, be flexible and follow the leading of the spirit!

[CraigG]

+1 for keeping your head and remembering that you are a servant. It's far too easy, once people start laying on the praises about how much they were blessed by what you did for one's ego to start taking over. Maintain the heart of a servant, flexible, sensitive to the moment, striving to give the very best of the gift you have been given back in honor to God, and He will open doors for your ministry.

As for music, I have been playing for 30+ years, so the music I have drawn from is fairly extensive and, while I have my "favorite artists" I have never intentionally confined my experience to one or two styles. Check out some of the music by Tommy Walker, Ron Kenoly, etc. You'll find some exciting bass guitar there!

Be a blessing, be blessed!

[brianmharrison]

Read the book unquenchable worshiper by Chris Tomlin (I think). Great book

[DGbass70]

Originally Posted by jayp883

I'm looking at the site.....what a blessing this is....and you guys as well............

there's a lot to learn here about worship and there's a lot of worship bassist here that are willing to help you out.
i learned a thing or 2 here and i keep coming back to that thread just to stay tuned.
Like others said is not about you or the band is about HIM.

[Alaska Bass]

Originally Posted by Lincoln

• Always remember you are a servant of God and your church and that being in ministry is a privilege not a right.

I understand your point, but I disagree. It is a privilege that God would ever call us to be in ministry, but since God knew us before we were formed in our mothers womb, and ordained (called) us to function in ministry, it becomes our right as His children. Since we will be held accountable by God for what we do with the calling He has placed upon our lives, it not only is a right, but a responsibility to minister as He has called us to.

In the book of Acts, Stephen is a perfect example of this. While the church called him a deacon and asked him to wait tables (Acts 6:1-7), God had gifted him as an evangelist (Acts 6:8-7:60). He continued to fulfill the assignment given to him by the church, but far exceeded their expectations because of the calling in his life.

Sorry for preaching, but the whole thread is about ministry, and I wanted to express a different view that hopefully may cause you to contemplate a little more deeply on the subject.

Respectfully,
Mark

[Lincoln]

A little clarity -

I believe it is our response to God and our obedience to the great commission to minister to the church and evangelize the lost. As heirs to the kingdom it is our joyful obligation ( much different than a right) to serve that kingdom.

But as we see in the old and new testaments not everyone was called specifically to the ministry or the music ministry in particular. It is, indeed, a privilege to serve in the ministry.

More to the point. Many conflicts in music ministry occur when people think it is their "right" to play a certain way, sing the songs they want to sing, run things on their perogative. Rights on the human level implies "I" first -- church and God second.

This is what I mean by privilege versus right in ministry

Hope that explains my thoughts a little better.

[Alaska Bass]

I see you point about rights often being interpreted as I instead of God, but also believe that privilege is often associated with man's control instead of God's. Thanks for clarifying your thoughts though.

[Lincoln]

I think ultimately, we agree that anytime we get too possessive of God's gifts to us, bad things happen and they it goes downhill quick.

[Alaska Bass]

+1

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by brianmharrison

Read the book unquenchable worshiper by Chris Tomlin (I think). Great book

It is written by Matt Redman. The website www.pwarchive.com has every worship song that I have ever wanted to find on it. No lead sheets, but words with chords and you can change the key to whatever you want right on the site so no figuring it out on your own. There are a bunch of songs that don't have words for the chords, but there is a way to get the words, not sure if it is legal, so PM if you are interested in finding out how.

lowsound

[jayp883]

thanks for the link. We've scheduled a "jam" for anyone interested in playing. I'm lining up some tunes that we might try just to feel the water. Do any of you have drum pads in the band?

[TheMutt]

Drum pads, no. But we have a djembe player (as well as a regular drummer). She's also eyeballing some other cool percussionist equipment in the near future. Fun times!