The Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club part 23

[HereIGoAgain]

Originally Posted by blacklariat09

My problem here would be with the fact that you had a child out of wedlock and they could careless but the cohabitation bothers them. It seems to me they are picking and choosing.

I'd agree here as well. I'd sooner question a church that "picks and chooses" and teaches that some sins are more okay than others than a situation where a couple in the laity is cohabitating.

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

Cool! Would love to hear.
I think it's important for worship teams to write at least a little. It's like musical prophecy, per se.... Speaking out what God's doing amongst his people locally

Good words. I write a little, most not of a standard worthy of singing with the whole church, but I like to exercise the songwriting muscles from time to time.

We're running a different type of service on Sunday nights this month. It's a less formal style with coffee and cake, short video message, discussion and a couple of acoustic songs (one for corporate worship, one for ministry). I'm doing the music for one evening and will be praying for a new song to bring.

[Basstreble]

Hey guys. So I'll post something about myself since I'm new here. My main church is Gateway Community Church in Aldie VA. We have an attendance in the service from 200-300. I'm usually always playing there unless I'm asked to play with another church. I've been a Christian for quite sometime and love to serve. I took over the bass playing gig after my dad passed away. I'm 16 so I'm the youngest person on the team, and I'm the first teenager to play with the team. I've been playing at my church for a little over a year. I usually play a Hartke Kickback that also goes into the mains. The whole rhythm section uses in-ears. I'm not a fan of them, but oh well. I play fenders mostly. Occasionally a hofner or a Rick or Musicman. I also occasionally play guitar for the band. I hope that was a good monologue for anyone who cared.

[SoVeryTired]

Greetings Basstreble! That's quite a stable of basses you've got at your disposal.

Sorry to hear about your dad but also kind of cool that you get to carry on the family musical tradition.

[SoVeryTired]

Anyway, bedtime. Some of us have to get up five or more hours earlier than others to get praising.

Have a world-changing morning tomorrow, even if it's just one person's world that you help change.

[Starflyer59]

Speaking of the song Deep Cries Out,
http://youtu.be/jq-YmJo1BXo

Dont mind the fat bass player.

[english4bw]

Just started fascilitating an outside jam for members of my church where we can do songs we don't usually get to play on the worship team and start writing original material. What an awesome day. One of our guitarists works in a recording studio so we jammed there today. Had a kid who's thinking of joining the team there with a Stagg stand-up bass and a bow! Was definitely interesting, as he could bow in the more ambient sections of songs, and I could lay back and wait for the big dynamic moments. Gonna make it a once monthly thing (I hope).



I'm the one in the cap next to the drummer by the way... in case you were wondering.

[Paladin54]

That's really cool.

[theLimeyBrit]

I just got back from the 2nd annual charity concert put on by the local chapter of American Christian Songwriters' Association, and it went fantastically! I sang two originals that I wrote, and played bass in support of 5 or 6 other people and we got an outstanding response. So stoked right now!

I definitely echo the comment above about worship teams writing their own music. There's something really special about playing music in front of a congregation that was written with them in mind. Worship teams are in a unique position where they have their finger on the pulse of the congregation and can write songs that address where that congregation is right now. Bonus points if the song encourages worship in other situations too.

[praisebass]

Originally Posted by theLimeyBrit

...I definitely echo the comment above about worship teams writing their own music. There's something really special about playing music in front of a congregation that was written with them in mind. Worship teams are in a unique position where they have their finger on the pulse of the congregation and can write songs that address where that congregation is right now. Bonus points if the song encourages worship in other situations too.

Please rise and sing together; 'Be A Blessing, Not A Pew Warmer'...

[caeman]

Originally Posted by Cougmeister

Hey guys, I have a bit of a situation that I'm dealing with right now and wouldn't mind some opinions from my fellow praise and worship bassists.

I know that I am chiming kinda late (2 days), but I have pondered this situation and have just one question:

Is any of this situation interfering with your time and focus on Music Ministry, such that Psalms 33:3 is being satisfied?

[mdjuszyn]

I sprained my left pinky finger playing basketball last night. It is about twice the size as normal and can barely bend.....Playing today was quite painful. I had to use lots of open strings and really simplify things.

[mtb777]

I'm jazzed!!! Bethel Church Worship is coming to my Church next month!! Brian and Jenn and the gang.

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by mtb777

I'm jazzed!!! Bethel Church Worship is coming to my Church next month!! Brian and Jenn and the gang.

That's awesome! I went to a conference they put on last year in the UK. Awesome times of praise and worship. Enjoy!

We've got an exciting weekend coming up with Carlos Whittaker - praise concert Friday night, creative coaching day on Saturday and then him leading worship with us for our Sunday services.

Just got home from our new Sunday evening thing. A real coffee shop vibe, with a couple of 'presentation' songs. I'm looking forward to doing my week soon and playing a couple of different songs to our usual Sunday set.

[sasred]

Originally Posted by HereIGoAgain

Does this actually happen???????? I've been in situations where I've about turned my amp off and played a song, and people didn't even realize I was gone.

It does!!! Actually happened to me today. Remember a while back when the question was put out there, what rig do we run? Got some clarification today when our WL came over to turn up the volume on my amp. He said I wasn't loud enough. Apparently they've got me killed at the board and all he gets is the stage output of the amp. He wants to hear me more--that's a GOOD thing, right?

Explains much tho--if I'm dead at the board, means I'm not coming through the drummer's monitor--which explains why I can't lock with either one.

[dDaddybass]

The keyboard player didn't show up today. I guess the sound guy finally heard me, lol. He mentioned during rehearsal that the bass sounded really good, then proceeded to turn me up. Yeah!

[sasred]

Originally Posted by MissingHighs

So, my job, as I see it, is to
1) provide the harmonic foundation for everyone to pitch against, including the vocals (yes, singers really do sing better when they listen to the bass as opposed to e.g. a piano which they can no longer hear because they are singing the same note!),
2) provide a solid groove for the drummer to add little 'flary' bits on top of, and also indicate to everyone where the song should be quieter or provide the drive to propel it to new heights,
3) provide a solid 'down beat' somehow so that everyone can change to the next note (or group of notes) together!

But not forgetting, this is all done under the leadership of the WL. He/she is the bus driver, I'm the engine!


OK, Now, fire away! I know there will those who wanna shoot me down in flames.

Seems like you got much support, but just in case anyone wants to come with the flames, I'm standing by with a fire extinguisher. The revelation about our sound system I mention above explains some of the complication I have filling my role, which I very much see as being in the terms you describe. We're a low-tech, all-volunteer outfit--no click track, no in-ears, drummer behind acoustic shield with board mix on monitor, WL is electric guitarist with scads more music experience than the rest of us. One drummer rushes EVERY tempo, other drops beats and gets off-track. Whenever that happens, I try to dig in a bit more...but now that I know he probably can't hear it... Meanwhile, when we have trouble locking tempo, the WL will tell the drummer to follow HIM...gets me scratching my head. I'm thinking of setting up rehearsal times with just that drummer, so he and I can figure out how to lock. Anyone else do this--get together with just parts of the team for rehearsals to clean up things?

Other topics--on the school/baby/worship team situation, best solution will probably come from prayer and getting in the Word--what does Scripture say? As I said to a young lady who's been visiting us and seeking relationship with the Lord..."be led". Decisions are ultimately between you and the Father--He will guide you to peace and truth.

And praisebass--love the quote! "Please rise and sing together; 'Be A Blessing, Not A Pew Warmer'... " We're talking about the possibility of our team writing a song or two...and the concept completely blows some folks' minds. Different church backgrounds, see.

[HereIGoAgain]

Originally Posted by sasred

It does!!! Actually happened to me today. Remember a while back when the question was put out there, what rig do we run? Got some clarification today when our WL came over to turn up the volume on my amp. He said I wasn't loud enough. Apparently they've got me killed at the board and all he gets is the stage output of the amp. He wants to hear me more--that's a GOOD thing, right?

Explains much tho--if I'm dead at the board, means I'm not coming through the drummer's monitor--which explains why I can't lock with either one.

The joke about "How can you tell a bass is too loud? You can hear it" was probably started in response to church sound people. I actually went direct with my amp head for 6-7 months due to this and a push from the WL for zero stage volume. I brought my cab back in September after feedback from a congregant who had much experience running live sound told me that more guitar and bass were needed in the house. (This was after we switched back to real drums form the electronic drums.)

[Crazy_Climer]

I thankfully play in a Church where the Bass is encouraged, along with electric guitar, drums, keyboards, etc. In fact, I just finished a wonderful worship set, with the great team we have at http://www.rlcwenatchee.com

I also LOVED playing this set with my new flatwound strings. They work quite well for me on this Bass. I can't wait to play more, and see how they settle in.

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by sasred

...I'm thinking of setting up rehearsal times with just that drummer, so he and I can figure out how to lock. Anyone else do this--get together with just parts of the team for rehearsals to clean up things?

The worship leader at my new church is on a rotation, and doesn't lead every week. She's not "head performer", but a true leader, tasked with training up the worship teams. She just did her monthly seminar on Saturday, and the theme of this one was basic music theory, looking at chord structures, cadences, etc.

Rehearsals are broken into a short time of fine tuning the arrangements, checking tempos, etc., for Sunday, and then a (hopefully) longer time of simply worshipping. This is a chance to stretch out musically, but also to simply worship, at a personal level. The intent is not simply to grow the teams musically, but spiritually as well.

There are also sectional leaders who are starting to schedule vocal rehearsals, etc. this is in a small congregation of maybe 100+?

This is a real breath of fresh air for me, after 17 years of poorly-run, under-trained worship teams that simply muddle along.