Christian Church music?

[wesman2232]

Im confused on where to post this so I'm going to try here.
My Church has a book I believe called Worship the Lord : Hymnal of the Church of God. Only things are in there are the songs the Piano parts and the words for the church to sing. My pastor is getting a Youth Group together and I'm going to play the bass for the church. Where can I find a book for bass with all the same songs in it like the one we are using now which is only for piano?

They are asking the piano player if he knows anything but I haven't got any information yet on it. So I'm asking everyone lol, can you help me?
Thanks.

[pedroims]

I dont know the book but I belive that will be hard to find the same book for electric bass. What you can do is to use the bass clef for the piano part, it will tell you what notes you need to play.

[wesman2232]

ya but piano uses like 2, 3, maybe 4 notes in one chord :P

[Liko]

Depending on the publisher, the intended denomination, when the book was first published etc etc you can SOMETIMES order a companion for "contemporary instruments". Augsburg Fortress (AFAIK mainly for Lutheran churches) is publishing more and more worship music/liturgies as lead sheets with chord charts, to allow for guitar-led services using the same music as is familiar with piano or organ.

On top of that, there are many publishers who sell books of chord charts to common hymn tunes (Aurelia, The Ash Grove, A Mighty Fortress, etc etc.) in multiple keys so you can find the one matching your hymnal's key.

If your hymnbook is less well-known in ecumenical circles, good luck. You can always ask your piano player to write out chord symbols from week to week; we've done that many times with older hymns that we just really wanted to play with guitar.

[mccartneyman]

Originally Posted by wesman2232

ya but piano uses like 2, 3, maybe 4 notes in one chord :P

When in doubt, play the root, wherever in the chord it may be. Bear in mind that a chord does not always have the root on the bottom. If the book has guitar chords written in, you're usually safe following those, but pay attention to slash chords, such as Bb/Eb, and play the bottom note there.

[EP15]

If the piano music has 2, 3 or more notes on bass clef, you just need to play the lowest of those bass clef notes. This will normally sound great.

Piano music can be very "busy" sounding. If your bass sounds to busy, just miss out some of those notes.

[wesman2232]

Originally Posted by mccartneyman

When in doubt, play the root, wherever in the chord it may be. Bear in mind that a chord does not always have the root on the bottom. If the book has guitar chords written in, you're usually safe following those, but pay attention to slash chords, such as Bb/Eb, and play the bottom note there.

never heard of slash chords before. I know how to play the Root + 5th of A, B, C, D, E, F, and G im not sure on actual chords though. and the book only has piano music in it no chords :P

Originally Posted by EP15

If the piano music has 2, 3 or more notes on bass clef, you just need to play the lowest of those bass clef notes. This will normally sound great.

Piano music can be very "busy" sounding. If your bass sounds to busy, just miss out some of those notes.

Ok I'll keep that in mind.

[manicbassman]

just flood fill the place with root notes... one for each chord or bar (if there is no chord symbol over a bar, use the root for the bar before)