The Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club part 23

[TodB]

Originally Posted by Paladin54

Because one day people woke up and realized that they don't have to be "The Best" to praise the Lord with music.

Would I pass auditions for most of the churches most of you play for? Certainly not. But if we held such auditions would we have a praise band at all? No we probably wouldn't or it would be much smaller.

Does that make our praise to the Lord less than yours? No I don't think so.

Do we expect at least some ability? Sure we do. But you don't have to be great, or all "5 talent people". If you've only got just 1 talent just don't bury it in your tent while the master is away. Use it, and get something for it, even if it just a little.

No matter how many Psalms and other verses I read I never see the words Sing to the Lord those who can sing well and keep a beat.

Out there are loads of people who are good enough to praise the Lord with their abilities, but not good enough for "the church" and that's too bad.

And that leads to a whole new debate about what the worship part of the service is for. I think there are at least four different models. The problem is that they all have some merit and they are all a bit mutually exclusive:

1. Worship is giving back to God. An choir of millions for an audience of one. That model says that talent level isn't all that important because we are just little kids dancing at His feet anyway. We all want to give our best, but we aren't disqualified just because our best isn't all that good compared to somebody else.

2. God doesn't need his ego stroked. Worship may be directed to Him but the effect it has is really on the worshipper. "Just me and Jesus off on a cloud somewhere....."

3. The point of the worship band is not for the worship band to worship while everybody else watches, but for the band to facilitate worship by the rest of the congregation. The congregation may be off in a cloud with Jesus, but the band is in the boiler room shoveling coal to make it happen.

4. The point of the whole Church, and the Sunday service in particular, is not to look inward about what a great time we're all having but to look outward at the community, and present a place where new people can be drawn in and feel welcome, accepted, and ultimately give their lives over to Christ. If that's your value system then talented, sensitive, music tends to encourage people to come back again while enthusiastic, but bad, music tends to have the opposite effect.

It's above my pay grade to say that one model is right and the other is wrong, but I think you should understand what your particular value system and strategy are and commit to it. If your church's strategy is to be seeker sensitive and bring in new people then don't be surprised if there isn't as much room for "joyful noise" compared to some other church down the street.

[chuck norriss]

Originally Posted by aServantLeader

THAT, I can understand when you are a church of that size, and you are correct there is that fear about being judgmental.

We average about 170 a week, so yes we are small and we are lucky to have a drummer, acoustic guitarist, and bassist that can get it together enough to lead worship.

And like I said before, I do not flaunt the title "bassist", I have only been playing for just over three years, and with a right arm/hand that lacks fine motor movement (simplest way to describe it) I play the best I can, fortunately the "best I have" works with what we have.


Mike, I am not judging you either on this, I can see a church getting to the size where you can pick and choose so to speak. Also thank you for the other forum reference, never knew about that one.

It's ok to get by with one guy & an acoustic guitar or missing a musician/instrument. The songs are familiar; people can sing them without a full band or w/ skeleton crew. sometimes we go White Stripes /Black Keys style if you don't have the personnel. Some of my best memories are me on a cajon drum & the pastor on his acoustic. It wasn't hillsong but it worked.

[Paladin54]

I'm not saying anyone can play any time. But as others have said, you go with what you have. If all you have is mediocre abilities and can basically keep it together, why not? If it is praising the Lord and people aren't cringing then go for it.

And I mean the congregation. 5 talent players will probably always cringe at 1 talent players.

But if you have 0 talent in music but have 1,3 or 5 talent elsewhere then you should be serving elsewhere. And if your group is made up of 1 talent players then go with it. Praise the Lord!

[aServantLeader]

true dat.

[aServantLeader]

Originally Posted by Paladin54

I'm not saying anyone can play any time. But as others have said, you go with what you have. If all you have is mediocre abilities and can basically keep it together, why not? If it is praising the Lord and people aren't cringing then go for it.

And I mean the congregation. 5 talent players will probably always cringe at 1 talent players.

But if you have 0 talent in music but have 1,3 or 5 talent elsewhere then you should be serving elsewhere. And if your group is made up of 1 talent players then go with it. Praise the Lord!

Where abouts in MI are you?

[blacklariat09]

Originally Posted by 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.

I feel you. I tweaked mine as it slid over my E string and twisted under the B string in rehearsal. Definitely a lot of middle finger fretting.

[Paladin54]

Originally Posted by aServantLeader

Where abouts in MI are you?

I'm in Big Rapids, Mecosta County

[aServantLeader]

How does one get any finger twisted and under the string? OUCH, healing blessings to you.

[aServantLeader]

Originally Posted by Paladin54

I'm in Big Rapids, Mecosta County

AWESOME! With the Greek letters I and location I am guessing that you are attending Ferris.

[Paladin54]

I guess the point I am trying to make is that don't be sad at the state of church music today. There is still Tier 1 music out there, as there always will be. There isn't any less now then there ever was before.

But be glad that so many more voices are raised in worship today! Are they all the best by worldly standards? No, but I'm sure God loves their praise just as much.

[Paladin54]

Originally Posted by aServantLeader

AWESOME! With the Greek letters I and location I am guessing that you are attending Ferris.

Nope. This is where I live and raise my family and do my best in service to the Lord.

[aServantLeader]

awesome just the same.

[aServantLeader]

In lighter topics, I am waiting for true 88 flat wound tape wound strings for the frettless plus I bought a roll of 1/8" chrome pin striping for cheater marks.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

Not wrong but wouldn't it be nice if A Team helped B Team to improve & you had two rad teams?

Ideally, yes. Realistically, the "B" team for (lack of a better term) isn't willing to put in the time. The WL has to beg to get them to play once in a while. They will bail the night before, the show up tired/hung over, etc. The WL would love to have us play every week but wants to give us time off once in a while to keep us "fresh" and give us a break as we aren't paid.

[TodB]

Originally Posted by aServantLeader

In lighter topics, I am waiting for true 88 flat wound tape wound strings for the frettless plus I bought a roll of 1/8" chrome pin striping for cheater marks.

Have a great time with the fretless. Remember that it's more Biblical anyway.

I found that position dots on the binding were more useful than lines on the fingerboard itself. It felt like I would need a neck like a flamingo to look out over the top of the fretboard for lines.

[chuck norriss]

I don't get to play bass often enough. I wish I could.
I've been on drums for a while, intermittently, but I suck. The leader likes the way I play because I keep it simple & just play the song as everyone knows it. Nothing fancy just the groove. Just like Phil Rudd--ACDC. Must be the bassist in me. But my favorite drummer is Stewart Copeland.

[chuck norriss]

Originally Posted by SteveC

Ideally, yes. Realistically, the "B" team for (lack of a better term) isn't willing to put in the time. The WL has to beg to get them to play once in a while. They will bail the night before, the show up tired/hung over, etc. The WL would love to have us play every week but wants to give us time off once in a while to keep us "fresh" and give us a break as we aren't paid.

I'd cut em loose or I'd train them but not let them go on until they're presentable & come correct. Are they adults or children?

[BassistHound]

Hey guys new to the forum and I wanted to see whats up? Im about to start playing in my church band soon and saw your group and wanted to see whats up.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

I'd cut em loose or I'd train them but not let them go on until they're presentable & come correct. Are they adults or children?

A mix. Not children but college age....enough said.....

[ExaltBass]

We typically have an A Team, and a B+ Team (we are very fortunate to be blessed with an abundance of dedicated decent players) and we also will mix in (usually doubling up) some younger players that we are grooming on guitars and keys. It makes for a big team sometimes Our rule is that you arrange for your own subs from the pool, there are 4 decent bassists) and if you don't make rehearsal, you aren't on that week. I'm fortunate to be on a bit more than every other week.

We use PC, and are expected to be well prepared at rehearsal. It's very refreshing since we moved from the if-you-want-to- play-you-can mentality. The team got ridiculously huge, and the good players hardly ever got to play. Everything slid towards mediocrity.