The Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club part 22

[HereIGoAgain]

Originally Posted by oldcatfish

I've had good luck with a lot of keyboard players by approaching them this way. At rehearsal play through the song once. Then, mention loudly that the bass and keyboards sound very muddy together. Look at the keyboard player and say, "well, I really don't have anyway to change what I'm playing without totally changing the feel of the song, so could you either only play root notes on the one beat with your left hand, or move your left hand up an octave so that we won't be in the same sonic space."

It usually works, and most of them will choose option two. After a few times of doing that, you won't even need to ask anymore. Of course, there are always those keyboard players that are oblivious and won't change a thing.

I've said it before. If the keyboard player wants to lay down the beat, do left-hand walks, and motivate the song, that's fine. We'll just slide up above the 12th fret and rip out the melody line.

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by HereIGoAgain

I've said it before. If the keyboard player wants to lay down the beat, do left-hand walks, and motivate the song, that's fine. We'll just slide up above the 12th fret and rip out the melody line.

I get the joke, but the sad thing is, I've actually seen it happen. Sometimes, relationships can be just as dysfunctional in church on Sunday morning, as in a bar on Saturday night.

[bassman314]

Originally Posted by steve_rolfeca

I get the joke, but the sad thing is, I've actually seen it happen. Sometimes, relationships can be just as dysfunctional in church on Sunday morning, as in a bar on Saturday night.

I'd argue that relationships in church have a better chance of being dysfunctional...

[Jhengsman]

Originally Posted by bassman314

I'd argue that relationships in church have a better chance of being dysfunctional...

I agree since many on Sunday feel an obligation to be there, at that specific house in many cases.

[RyanJD]

Do any of you guys use fuzz for a praise song or two?
I'm thinking of checking out fuzz pedals and trying to figure out of I would ever use one on Sundays/Wednesdays.
If so, got any recordings?

[theLimeyBrit]

I occasionally use some fuzz. Can't think off the top of my head any specific songs. Upbeat stuff that fits in either the first praise set or the recessional, usually.

I am fortunate to have a WL who encourages me to do whatever I want as far as effects go, though. When I'm experimenting during rehearsal I find I usually hit my "that's too weird for church" limit well before I hit his. YMMV.

[HereIGoAgain]

Originally Posted by bassman314

I'd argue that relationships in church have a better chance of being dysfunctional...

I can see this, especially after starting my 2nd year as a P+W bassist. I'm not going to air specific dirty laundry. However, I will say that there can be a lot of stumbling blocks in the way of team unity. There can also be ineffective or inconsistent leadership. There can be a "white hairs vs. young punks" conflict. There can be a "stick to the formula" vs. "let's shake things up" conflict. There can be many other things as well.

There are reasons, though, why we do this week after week that override the conflicts. Sometimes, I remind myself that I'm not doing this for any person.

[bassman314]

Originally Posted by HereIGoAgain

I can see this, especially after starting my 2nd year as a P+W bassist. I'm not going to air specific dirty laundry. However, I will say that there can be a lot of stumbling blocks in the way of team unity. There can also be ineffective or inconsistent leadership. There can be a "white hairs vs. young punks" conflict. There can be a "stick to the formula" vs. "let's shake things up" conflict. There can be many other things as well.

There are reasons, though, why we do this week after week that override the conflicts. Sometimes, I remind myself that I'm not doing this for any person.

I'm ok with the "Us vs. Them" sorts of issues. That happens any time there is change. Growing pains, even years after a change, are expected and normal. You work through them prayerfuly, and usually everyone can come to a happy medium.

I am not ok with people who are nice to your face, but then backstab you later to others.

[SoVeryTired]

Church would be a whole lot easier if only there weren't people involved.

The next best thing would be people who can actually talk about their differences, put personal preferences to one side and find a solution to work together for a common aim.

Trying to get there, still a long way off but heading the right way.

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by SoVeryTired

Church would be a whole lot easier if only there weren't people involved. The next best thing would be people who can actually talk about their differences, put personal preferences to one side and find a solution to work together for a common aim.

I feel like I have that where we just landed. No church is perfect, of course, but it feels really good to be back in a place where people respect each other's differences, and treat each other with such care and respect.

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by steve_rolfeca

I feel like I have that where we just landed. No church is perfect, of course, but it feels really good to be back in a place where people respect each other's differences, and treat each other with such care and respect.

Ditto. It's taken some struggles and sacrifice to get here but it's so worth it.

[MissingHighs]

Originally Posted by steve_rolfeca

No church is perfect, of course, but it feels really good to be .. in a place where people respect each other's differences, and treat each other with such care and respect.

Well, after this mornings talk (Philemon) I think our church may just be learning it's better to try and get on with each other. Onesimus came with a little baggage, one might say, but don't we all? Yet look how Paul asks Philemon to treat him. Someone needs to start the ball rolling, so why not me? What makes me any more special than someone else that it should free me from this task? And I can do this through my bass playing, not necessarily words!

[MissingHighs]

Originally Posted by RyanJD

Do any of you guys use fuzz for a praise song or two?
I'm thinking of checking out fuzz pedals and trying to figure out of I would ever use one on Sundays/Wednesdays.
If so, got any recordings?

I don't use 'fuzz' so much as just a bit of overdrive to grit the purity of the tone so as to cut through better; but this is not for the congregation, more for me so that I can hear. Search for "Jesse Reeves" on YouTube describing bass requirements, he doesn't use a single effect 'cos, by the time it gets 'out there' it sounds like, well, sounds like bass!

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by RyanJD

Do any of you guys use fuzz for a praise song or two?
I'm thinking of checking out fuzz pedals and trying to figure out of I would ever use one on Sundays/Wednesdays.
If so, got any recordings?

Just a touch of overdrive. And on fairly rare occasions - just a verse of one of our regular songs, or maybe to thicken things up a bit if we're missing the electric guitar (only happened once so far).

[SoVeryTired]

So, having established that intra-band communication is a good thing, and a very bad thing when no-one listens, do any of you have a feedback system where you can comment on the good and bad of the Sunday set?

We're looking at trialling it with our core team first - not sure of the details but probably answering specific questions about what went well or not, both for ourselves and others, and the worship pastor collecting the feedback and talking it through with each team member. I was wondering if anyone else does anything like this?

[theLimeyBrit]

I hit the fuzz this morning on These Thousand Hills during the offertory and again for an original we played during the recessional. Sounded pretty good on stage, but I didn't get any feedback one way or the other from anyone in the congregation.

I would love it if I had someone out front who could provide a knowledgeable critique and let me know what works and what doesn't, but it seems that just about everyone in the church who has any musical inclination is already on the worship team.

[Samsound]

Speaking of congregational feedback, I had a guy say to me after service today, "You guys sounded great. How do you like playing bass? Did you pick that up about a year or two ago?"

As a 25-year musician, 23-year guitar player, and 7-year bassist, I wasn't sure how to take that, lol. After some thought though, its possible it was his first time back after a while. I've only been playing bass FOR the church for 2 years. Before that I was BGVs and rarely guitar. It was just a funny moment; our set was 90% laid back today, so I had to mostly just play roots with not much groovage.

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by Samsound

Speaking of congregational feedback, I had a guy say to me after service today, "You guys sounded great. How do you like playing bass? Did you pick that up about a year or two ago?"

As a 25-year musician, 23-year guitar player, and 7-year bassist, I wasn't sure how to take that, lol. After some thought though, its possible it was his first time back after a while. I've only been playing bass FOR the church for 2 years. Before that I was BGVs and rarely guitar. It was just a funny moment; our set was 90% laid back today, so I had to mostly just play roots with not much groovage.

I'd take it as a compliment, i.e. he was impressed with your playing, particularly as he thought you'd only started two years ago.

He may not have meant that, but that's how I'd be taking it.

[SoVeryTired]

Next weeks setlist:

Our God Is Love
Evermore
In Your Freedom
Power In The Name

Looking forward to it so much, not least because I'll be getting my new bass on Friday! And this set has a good variety to test it with, from pick to fingers, low B to 24th fret G, effects, different pickup settings - can't wait!

[theLimeyBrit]

Here's a general question for everyone. How many songs do you guys play each week? Is the 4 song list posted by SVT above the norm? Sub question: do you play them all at once in one set, or are they spread out through the service?

A typical Sunday set list at my church looks something like this:

Prelude - 1-2 slow/quiet songs to provide worshipful atmosphere as people come in

Processional - uptempo arrangement of a traditional hymn as priest and acolytes process from the back

Praise Set - 2-3 contemporary worship songs

Sequence Hymn - short arrangement sung during preparations for Gospel reading

Offertory - Contemporary worship song. New material usually debuts here.

Communion - 2-3 quiet songs, kick into high gear at the end when everyone is served.

Recessional - Upbeat song as priest et al make their exit.