The Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club Part 17

[caeman]

Originally Posted by invalidprotocol

Ok, I think I am taking offense to this...

Indeed you might.

[sjphi26]

The chord charts need to go. I used them for years, but now I force myself not to. I think we can be above the need for that crutch, and it really does open up your whole on-stage experience when you're not staring at a piece of paper.

Now, I'm still a slightly-above-mediocre player, so I'm not trying to make myself sound better than I am. But even beginner and intermediate players can go without charts. It's not really about skill level, it's about dedication and committing yourself to being prepared each Sunday.

Really, it's a memory thing more than anything else. And it's not THAT hard to remember G-D-Em-C in all of it's variations and transpositions.

Rant over. I hope that didn't sound self-righteous, or judgmental of those who DO use charts. I would just say try and challenge yourself to not use them, see what happens. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what it does for your worship experience.

[sjphi26]

Originally Posted by sjphi26

The chord charts need to go. I used them for years, but now I force myself not to. I think we can be above the need for that crutch, and it really does open up your whole on-stage experience when you're not staring at a piece of paper.

Now, I'm still a slightly-above-mediocre player, so I'm not trying to make myself sound better than I am. But even beginner and intermediate players can go without charts. It's not really about skill level, it's about dedication and committing yourself to being prepared each Sunday.

Really, it's a memory thing more than anything else. And it's not THAT hard to remember G-D-Em-C in all of it's variations and transpositions.

Rant over. I hope that didn't sound self-righteous, or judgmental of those who DO use charts. I would just say try and challenge yourself to not use them, see what happens. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what it does for your worship experience.

To clarify, charts have their place! I have a pdf file of every song we have ever played, and I use them to get ready for Sunday. But when Sunday comes, the charts stay at home.

[caeman]

Originally Posted by sjphi26

Really, it's a memory thing more than anything else. And it's not THAT hard to remember G-D-Em-C in all of it's variations and transpositions.

But that only covers 75% of CCM.

The other 25% make creative use of Eb, Bm, C# and at least twice, an F#.

[MissingHighs]

Sorry, my "smart" phone went dumb and double posted - this post erased

[MissingHighs]

Originally Posted by sjphi26

To clarify, charts have their place! I have a pdf file of every song we have ever played, and I use them to get ready for Sunday. But when Sunday comes, the charts stay at home.

Same here with the PDFs, and they are also used through the week to practice. But, come Sunday, they come with so that I know where my fingers should be instead of relying on my slightly more worn out brain (compared to the younger who find memorising things a little easier) to try and think where my fingers should be. It does not indicate a lack of commitment; that is shown in bringing one's absolute best when in His service. If I need sheet music to do this, then so be it.

M. <><

[5StringFool]

I switched from the big binder to pdf's about a year ago, and like it much better than the binder system.

I'd like to get a usb foot controller and a tablet pc, then I'd not ever have to carry sheets and could "turn" pages with my feet.

[oldcatfish]

Quote " Now, I'm still a slightly-above-mediocre player, so I'm not trying to make myself sound better than I am. But even beginner and intermediate players can go without charts. It's not really about skill level, it's about dedication and committing yourself to being prepared each Sunday."

--I would agree...but not when you get your songlist 2 days before the service, or the WL likes to change the arrangement of the song up every time that you play it. Also, I've played so many variations of certain songs that they just kind of merge together in my memory.

That being said, I generally can play most songs without looking at chord charts too, except for an occasional glance down, if my old mind goes blank or something.

[Mr. Majestic]

How many of you guys use the Nashville number system?

I'm also like a lot of you guys on creating my on "hand written" page to take up less room on the stand. I try not to use any "pages" during service, but I still have them close, just in case we change songs during service....we can plan everything to an exact flow, but our planning for a service might not be God's plan for the service. We don't play a concert, but lead into worship...not just me, that's all of us. If you guys get a chance, you need to read "Extravagant Worship" by Darlene Zschech....she wrote many worship songs, one is "Shout to the Lord".

[Longhornhombre]

Majestic - We use the number system for learning and writing songs. Do you use it?

I wrote a blog post on it (how it works, etc) not too long ago. If enough people are interested, I'll re-post it here, otherwise I can PM it to you if you'd like.

No charts on stage for us, but when we're learning something new, I use the right side of a blank page to write the structure (Turn, V1, Turn, V2, CH, etc) and the left side for the main progressions (CH: 1 5 6 4, for instance). Just the way I've come to do it -- everyone's different!

CCM is a perfect candidate for the number system. Some other genres that guys here play will require more in depth charting techniques...

[Jhengsman]

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

So, what's up with people not liking church musicians jamming? It's not like we're doing this during church or when anyone's watching. We're just jamming and enjoying each other's talents. God gave them to us and we should push each other to get better by playing with on another. Why do the ignorant people of the church, who are not at all musically gifted, try to quench those who are? Why do we constantly get preached against by people saying. "it's not the gift that you worship, but the giver of the gift."? We understand that but we also have an obligation to stretch and challenge ourselves to both get better and to lock in with one another so that we can be tighter and involve the rest of the congregation into what we have already paved as being unified. Why do people get so jealous?

It may be a money matter. Rehersal halls get paid for a reason turning on lights and heat for a church building designed to hold hundreds can add zeros to the electric bill.

[invalidprotocol]

Originally Posted by oldcatfish

Quote " Now, I'm still a slightly-above-mediocre player, so I'm not trying to make myself sound better than I am. But even beginner and intermediate players can go without charts. It's not really about skill level, it's about dedication and committing yourself to being prepared each Sunday."

--I would agree...but not when you get your songlist 2 days before the service, or the WL likes to change the arrangement of the song up every time that you play it. Also, I've played so many variations of certain songs that they just kind of merge together in my memory.

That being said, I generally can play most songs without looking at chord charts too, except for an occasional glance down, if my old mind goes blank or something.

My mind always goes blank for the first note of the song. I think it a nerve thing and I'm really just second guessing myself. Although its really only been an issue when I'm not as prepared as I should be or we make a last minute change to the lineup. I've gotten myself in the habit of memorizing and visualizing the first note. Once I know that the rest of the song isn't a problem and it all comes to me.

I don't associate words with memorization unless the word is a picture to me. So song titles don't necessarily register to anything other than a DUH in my brain, exactly why you'll never find me leading the team. Same problem I have with remembering people's names. Unless I visualize the printed name that I've just been told along with the face it's gone.

[SteveC]

I hope that since church my only gig now that I'll be able to memorize more tunes.

[Dave the Bass]

I would encourage people to memorize as much as possible, it really frees you up to interact with the other musicians and the congregation. If I can see the people worshipping it inspires me to play with more feeling and if I can see the other musicians, especially making eye contact with them, then we play much tighter.

I am playing acoustic guitar this week, seems like I don't get to play bass as much as I would like these days, oh well.

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by invalidprotocol

And another +1 for ears and feel.

Our WL generally has a no sheet music policy anyway at least at performance time. It definitely forces you to listen and memorize.

Any other teams here have a no sheet music policy?

Yes! We have a 'no music stands' rule, so everyone has to learn their parts - that includes lyrics. I'd like to develop the skill of reading bass music but I know I'll never use it on a normal Sunday. I'd much rather memorise what I'm playing. After all, for me it's usually only 4-5 songs which are fairly simple in structure.

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by sjphi26

To clarify, charts have their place! I have a pdf file of every song we have ever played, and I use them to get ready for Sunday. But when Sunday comes, the charts stay at home.

+1. We all have access to the charts, lyrics, lead sheets etc on Planning Center but that's for learning at home (and even then I prefer to start by ear and then cross-check against the sheets).

[SoVeryTired]

A great day at church today - we had a leadership training day with a series of video messages. Two short worship sets, with me on acoustic guitar and backing vocals: Holding Nothing Back/Mighty To Save and Everlasting God/This Is Our God.

I'm leading worship on electric guitar tomorrow. I've found that leading worship and playing lead guitar can be less than ideal for me (normally because I'm trying to sing, encourage, the congregation play specific parts and step on various pedals at the same time!). Tomorrow there's another electric guitarist taking the lead parts so I can concentrate more on the singing and keep a good rhythm part going.

Setlist:
Holding Nothing Back
Forever Reign
Saviour of the World

Then it's back on 5 strings next week. It's always good when the worship leader puts the songs on Planning Center two weeks in advance - lots of practice time!

[christle]

Originally Posted by SoVeryTired

+1. We all have access to the charts, lyrics, lead sheets etc on Planning Center but that's for learning at home (and even then I prefer to start by ear and then cross-check against the sheets).

I do this as well. I find that the charts are at best a guideline. Drives me crazy when other musicians use them verbatim and don't double check them with their ears. Not all charts are good charts.

[dieselbass]

I've been giving thought to the number system. Would also serve to ease key changes as well?

I used to be able to play without sheets, but lately the songs seem more complicated or I'm not investing sufficient time. Songs that are bass busy (Hosana and Salvation is Here) took some time to figure out so are memorized, but a key change can really throw me.

[caeman]

SIX hour practice with the new band today. I am lead singing on two of the four songs we are doing for Feb. 5. We've been asked to play only four songs to open up the service at the biker church.

I am tired. My voice is tired. And I am developing a sinus cold.

But I love every minute of the practice.