The Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club part 23

[khutch]

Originally Posted by Jhengsman

It helps to dance while you're playing.

I'm writing that on my copy of the music for next time.

Ken

[Llaslo]

Well, our new praise band had our first official jam session yesterday. Since I'm such a new bass player, and still learning a lot, I was very nervous. But I think it went very well, and everyone had a good time. I can't wait for our next session!

[mkandolf]

Welcome new member mrsr to the thread! Your number is 1195.

Last ten members added to the thread list:

1186 jesusrocksbass
1187 vinnie6
1188 sasred
1189 tbplayer2
1190 blacklariat09
1191 Basstreble
1192 Meshuggah604
1193 BassistHound
1194 OHBandit
1195 mrsr

[gmliebau]

Kinda a newbie here. Signed up in 2007, but forgot about it. My name's Ed. A little info... play bass for my church's Saturday night service called Worship Loud. Kinda fits. Been playing for 20+ years (mostly 6-string bass), but only in the worship circle for the last 8 years.

[Bakkster_Man]

Originally Posted by mkandolf

Welcome new member mrsr to the thread! Your number is 1195.

Did I miss my number? I intended my intro post to be for a member number

[SoVeryTired]

Setlist for this Sunday (back on bass!), with a rearranged rehearsal tomorrow:

Endless Light
Forever Reign
Beautiful Exchange
Our God (for baptisms)
10,000 Reasons (for the offering)

It'll be the first time we've done Endless Light. Although the Hillsong recording has a fairly straight beat there are hints of a soca feel which we'll try to emphasise. I must have got the right feel because as I was practicing unplugged, my wife tried to guess who was leading worship and thought it would be one of the two WLs of West Indian origins. (She was wrong, but I take it as a good sign if she could pick up the Carribean feel from just the bass line.)

[english4bw]

Originally Posted by SoVeryTired

Endless Light

It'll be the first time we've done Endless Light. Although the Hillsong recording has a fairly straight beat there are hints of a soca feel which we'll try to emphasise. I must have got the right feel because as I was practicing unplugged, my wife tried to guess who was leading worship and thought it would be one of the two WLs of West Indian origins. (She was wrong, but I take it as a good sign if she could pick up the Carribean feel from just the bass line.)

Yeah it's dead straight on the beat except between the 2 verses where the Hillsong bassist (Ben Whincop) does a 511 on the 4 beat. Let the drummer do the soca stuff and the contrast sounds REALLY good. The only part I play synchopated (following the vox) are the "God be exalted" bridge and tags.

[foxxiroxx]

Hi Worship bassists... I would like a number, but only after you've read my story and if you've decided I still qualify to be a part of the club.

Not currently on a Worship team, though one of the first times I played publicly was a worship team. Served on a couple of Worship teams since. Always felt conflicted. This is Worship - so shouldn't I try to be perfect at it when I play? But in trying so hard to be perfect it took me away from the experience being Worshipful... for lacking of better words. It distracted me. So I decided that I'm probably better as a listener, though I still do enjoy playing worship songs at home from time to time.

Thought I'd say hi! And perhaps see if anyone else has experienced what I mentioned? If you think I deserve to be one of your ranks I'll gladly take a number, if not I won't be offended since technically I don't play on a Worship team. Thanks all

[Jhengsman]

I strive to do my best. What is perfect in an improvasational format, at best playing chord tones from a lead sheet with no phrasing information for the bass line? Some churches have their pick of the best session pros in town, At mine they put up with me because without me the only low end is a keyboard players left hand. And I do give my best

With that it is back to the woodshed

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by foxxiroxx

...Always felt conflicted. This is Worship - so shouldn't I try to be perfect at it when I play? But in trying so hard to be perfect it took me away from the experience being Worshipful...

...So I decided that I'm probably better as a listener, though I still do enjoy playing worship songs at home from time to time.

Thought I'd say hi! And perhaps see if anyone else has experienced what I mentioned?

I hope that you didn't stop praying when you realized that you didn't deserve an answer, and weren't perfect enough to be able to look God in the eye! Remember that His love for us is founded on grace, not justice.

There's no such thing as a perfect performance, at least in this life. IME, every church musician worthy of the title feels at least some feelings of inadequacy. The realization of Who you are serving, really ought to bring you to your knees from time to time. If it doesn't, then you lack either humility or imagination.

On the other hand, there's a voice that whispers in our ear, and tries to get us to stop worshipping. We serve on the front lines, so we are all under attack. That voice should not be listened to.

Only you can decide whether playing on a worship team is for you. But if the only thing that stops you is your struggle with imperfection, then I suggest that you put a fridge magnet in your gig bag to remind you that God doesn't fall off His throne if you make a mistake, and then get back out there.

Why a fridge magnet?

Because each time that one of my children draws a picture for me, I take it, and make a ceremony of hanging it on the fridge for everyone to see. It never matters that the end product is wobbly and incoherent, especially in the beginning. It's a sign of their emerging creativity, an offering from someone that I love very much, and I enjoy their scribbles just as much as any Rembrandt.

I believe that God views our efforts to please him in the same way, because He loves us with a passion that we can barely fathom.

Even though the music made in heaven eclipses everything that the greatest of earthly musicians have ever produced, he still hangs on your every note, not in judgement, but in smiling anticipation. When you're done, He takes out a fridge magnet, and hangs your little offering up on the biggest refrigerator the world has ever seen, for all His heavenly hosts to celebrate and enjoy...

[SoVeryTired]

Great words, Steve.

I think a happy place to be is where you acknowledge your weaknesses, have a plan to work on them, and just get on with the job. I know I'm far from skilled at guitar, bass or vocals but I'm getting better all the time and I'm adding something to the band. The moment I think I'm not being of benefit to the congregation is the moment I find a different way to worship and serve. Until then, in my weakness, I'm playing on.

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by english4bw

Yeah it's dead straight on the beat except between the 2 verses where he (Tim) does a 511 on the 4 beat. Let the drummer do the soca stuff and the contrast sounds REALLY good. The only part I play synchopated (following the vox) are the "God be exalted" bridge and tags.

I hear you, and it depends what feel we're going for. I think we may emphasise the soca feel more, just to make the song different to the usual fare. Our usual setlist is almost always 4/4 with a rock feel and we probably need a bit more variety. In a church and band of very mixed backgrounds, probably evenly split between white British and African/Caribbean, our music has a tendency to not reflect all the cultures in the crowd.

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by SoVeryTired

...I think a happy place to bring is where you acknowledge your weaknesses, have a plan to work on them, and just get on with the job.

...The moment I think I'm not being of benefit to the congregation is the moment I find a different way to worship and serve. Until then, in my weakness, I'm playing on.

Well said.

[khutch]

Originally Posted by foxxiroxx

Thought I'd say hi! And perhaps see if anyone else has experienced what I mentioned?

I think that everyone except those so skilled that they can play in their sleep feels this conflict to some extent. I have to work very hard to be able to play the parts I am called on to play and then I have to concentrate equally hard to actually do it in a live performance. My worship experience always suffers on Sundays when I play. Because of that I am hugely grateful that I play in a rotation. Most of the time I am in the congregation or in the choir but I CAN sing in my sleep so the choir is not a problem! So I would suggest that you get back on the worship team and if you church has only one you might suggest that they find more musicians and do a rotation. Finally, the more I do it the more worshipful I become while playing. Eventually you realize that no matter how much harder it is than singing and no matter how much you have to concentrate it still is an act of service to God and the church and therefore it is worship.

Ken

[mkandolf]

Ah, welcome new members, sorry that I missed... your numbers are:

1196 Bakkster_Man
1197 foxxiroxx

Last ten numbers added to the thread list:

1188 sasred
1189 tbplayer2
1190 blacklariat09
1191 Basstreble
1192 Meshuggah604
1193 BassistHound
1194 OHBandit
1195 mrsr
1196 Bakkster_Man
1197 foxxiroxx

Please put in your post if you want a number or not for the Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club. Without it, I may not realize you need a number.

Thanks, Mike.

[gmliebau]

Originally Posted by mkandolf

Ah, welcome new members, sorry that I missed... your numbers are:

1196 Bakkster_Man
1197 foxxiroxx

Last ten numbers added to the thread list:

1188 sasred
1189 tbplayer2
1190 blacklariat09
1191 Basstreble
1192 Meshuggah604
1193 BassistHound
1194 OHBandit
1195 mrsr
1196 Bakkster_Man
1197 foxxiroxx

Please put in your post if you want a number or not for the Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club. Without it, I may not realize you need a number.

Thanks, Mike.

I would like a number please.

[ExaltBass]

Originally Posted by foxxiroxx
...Always felt conflicted. This is Worship - so shouldn't I try to be perfect at it when I play? But in trying so hard to be perfect it took me away from the experience being Worshipful...

...So I decided that I'm probably better as a listener, though I still do enjoy playing worship songs at home from time to time.

Thought I'd say hi! And perhaps see if anyone else has experienced what I mentioned?

Originally Posted by steve_rolfeca

I hope that you didn't stop praying when you realized that you didn't deserve an answer, and weren't perfect enough to be able to look God in the eye! Remember that His love for us is founded on grace, not justice.

There's no such thing as a perfect performance, at least in this life. IME, every church musician worthy of the title feels at least some feelings of inadequacy. The realization of Who you are serving, really ought to bring you to your knees from time to time. If it doesn't, then you lack either humility or imagination.

On the other hand, there's a voice that whispers in our ear, and tries to get us to stop worshipping. We serve on the front lines, so we are all under attack. That voice should not be listened to.

Only you can decide whether playing on a worship team is for you. But if the only thing that stops you is your struggle with imperfection, then I suggest that you put a fridge magnet in your gig bag to remind you that God doesn't fall off His throne if you make a mistake, and then get back out there.

Why a fridge magnet?

Because each time that one of my children draws a picture for me, I take it, and make a ceremony of hanging it on the fridge for everyone to see. It never matters that the end product is wobbly and incoherent, especially in the beginning. It's a sign of their emerging creativity, an offering from someone that I love very much, and I enjoy their scribbles just as much as any Rembrandt.

I believe that God views our efforts to please him in the same way, because He loves us with a passion that we can barely fathom.

Even though the music made in heaven eclipses everything that the greatest of earthly musicians have ever produced, he still hangs on your every note, not in judgement, but in smiling anticipation. When you're done, He takes out a fridge magnet, and hangs your little offering up on the biggest refrigerator the world has ever seen, for all His heavenly hosts to celebrate and enjoy...

I occasionally share a post with our WL (Jen) when I think it is of interest to the team. I really like the thought that went into this... as did she.

Her response “I like this approach to understand, that as in Zephania it says that our Father rejoices over us with singing. He has joy and delight in our authentic offerings of worship.” (my underscore)

Can I get an AMEN!

[oldcatfish]

Originally Posted by steve_rolfeca

I hope that you didn't stop praying when you realized that you didn't deserve an answer, and weren't perfect enough to be able to look God in the eye! Remember that His love for us is founded on grace, not justice.

There's no such thing as a perfect performance, at least in this life. IME, every church musician worthy of the title feels at least some feelings of inadequacy. The realization of Who you are serving, really ought to bring you to your knees from time to time. If it doesn't, then you lack either humility or imagination.

On the other hand, there's a voice that whispers in our ear, and tries to get us to stop worshipping. We serve on the front lines, so we are all under attack. That voice should not be listened to.

Only you can decide whether playing on a worship team is for you. But if the only thing that stops you is your struggle with imperfection, then I suggest that you put a fridge magnet in your gig bag to remind you that God doesn't fall off His throne if you make a mistake, and then get back out there.

Why a fridge magnet?

Because each time that one of my children draws a picture for me, I take it, and make a ceremony of hanging it on the fridge for everyone to see. It never matters that the end product is wobbly and incoherent, especially in the beginning. It's a sign of their emerging creativity, an offering from someone that I love very much, and I enjoy their scribbles just as much as any Rembrandt.

I believe that God views our efforts to please him in the same way, because He loves us with a passion that we can barely fathom.

Even though the music made in heaven eclipses everything that the greatest of earthly musicians have ever produced, he still hangs on your every note, not in judgement, but in smiling anticipation. When you're done, He takes out a fridge magnet, and hangs your little offering up on the biggest refrigerator the world has ever seen, for all His heavenly hosts to celebrate and enjoy...

==This has to be one of the most profound and well spoken statements that I have ever read on this forum.

[Paladin54]

Originally Posted by foxxiroxx

Hi Worship bassists... I would like a number, but only after you've read my story and if you've decided I still qualify to be a part of the club.

Not currently on a Worship team, though one of the first times I played publicly was a worship team. Served on a couple of Worship teams since. Always felt conflicted. This is Worship - so shouldn't I try to be perfect at it when I play? But in trying so hard to be perfect it took me away from the experience being Worshipful... for lacking of better words. It distracted me. So I decided that I'm probably better as a listener, though I still do enjoy playing worship songs at home from time to time.

Thought I'd say hi! And perhaps see if anyone else has experienced what I mentioned? If you think I deserve to be one of your ranks I'll gladly take a number, if not I won't be offended since technically I don't play on a Worship team. Thanks all

I've brought this up in previous discussions, but I think it bears on this situation also.

I am reminded of Matthew 25:14-30, The Parable of the Bags of Gold.

The 2 servants who do well are not questioned on whether their actions were perfect or that they did all they could of done, perhaps they could of earned more.

But they were praised for doing something with what they were given. While the one who did nothing with what he was given was punished and thrown out. In fact he was told that even if he had basically done the minimum with what he was given it would have been good.

So I say forgive yourself for your imperfections (they aren't going anywhere until Christ returns anyways) and get out there and play!

God has given you a talent, go and use it!

[Paladin54]

Originally Posted by oldcatfish

==This has to be one of the most profound and well spoken statements that I have ever read on this forum.

Yes, this was excellent!