Worship band

[Fassa Albrecht]

I was just wondering how many people here are worship/Christian rock/gospel bassists? If so I need some advice!

I'm about to start with a small worship band in mid-August. I'll be playing with two other bassists on a rota of roughly three weeks each. The band usually consists of a guitarist/singer, backing singer, bassist, drummer and a keyboardist if needed. We also have some casual volunteer flautists. We typically peform for 250 people on a weekly basis. We have a weekly band practice
So I ask- what should I be doing as a worship bassist? What questions should I ask the bandleader before I do my first meeting? What equipment should I take or buy? How should I prepare for each band practice? How should I approach the other two bassists in the band?
Any resource recommendations are also welcome!



Also feel free to post any stories, footage or websites you can think of!

[Mark Perry]

Equipment wise, you're 30w amp should be ok, especially if your church has a good pa (enough to at least hear yourself). It might be a good idea to buy yourself a music stand. Otherwise obvious stuff like strings / spare batteries if you've got an active bass etc.
I find root notes played in unison with the bass drum is almost always the best thing to play. And certainly the best place to start. You'll probably have to get used to transposing songs into new keys (usually up a fret or 2).

[xkimsungminx]

Well it's cool that you'll be starting soon! I guess it's really up to you what you want to take, in terms of equipment, and whether your church has their own or not. I only need to take myself and my bass when it's my turn to play bass as our church already has an amp head and a 4x10 cab with PA support.

As a worship bassist, you should first and foremost be a lead worshiper (obviously). It's not only the praise leader's job to do that, it's everyone's.

I don't know how your praise leader likes to do things, but the praise leader at my church likes to email out the praise set mid week with what key we'll be playing them in so we can take a look at them prior to our practice time. If your praise leader likes letting the band know what songs will be played prior to practice, it's always good to listen to the songs (if they're available) and to practice and make sure you're at least a little familiar with the music before practice, so as to make things go at least a little smoother.

No need to worry about how to approach the other bassists or any of the other members of the band IMO. It's always nice getting to meet new people right?

Hope that helped some.

[saxnbass]

I'm in a worship band. I usually just take a bass, tuner, and DI.

[BetterBottomEnd]

Originally Posted by saxnbass

I'm in a worship band. I usually just take a bass, tuner, and DI.

Yup me too. Except I always bring two basses because I'm like that.

Especially in playing worship music the most important thing is the feel. Lock in with your drummer and go from there. Something that I've found and maybe its just my church but trust your ears not chord sheets for when the changes come. Most of our chord sheets are pretty bad but we've all been playing them long enough it doesn't matter. Don't overplay especially in worship music the space is very important. Most importantly be up there to worship.

[capnsandwich]

The first thing I would suggest is have a meeting with the worship leader, either by phone or, preferably, in person at the church so that you could go into the sanctuary and see what they have and note anything else you would need. As far as an amp, I'd take something like a kickback amp like a GK 400rbII combo with an XLR out if they don't already have one. That way they can hook you directly to their system without having to mic you or anything else and you could use the amp as a monitor. Being that they 2 other basses that's probably already covered. As far as basses are concerned, take your favorite bass or if they have one use theirs. I personally don't like my church's bass so I bring 2 of mine, one for upbeat songs I can slap with and a 5 string that really has a low end presence for slower songs.

As far as how to play the music itself, it really depends on what type of worship band you play in. I play in 2 different churches, one in the morning and then I play at a Spanish church in the afternoon. In the morning service, we play for a mixed crowd so we end up playing all kinds of stuff. The main thing is to pay close attention to the dynamics of the music. Worship music, especially the slower and more intimate stuff tends to swell and build up around the second chorus and/or bridge typically. Just pay attention to the worship leader and dynamics of the drummer and other musicians, and most of all, of course, be open to the Spirit which actually directs the entire flow of the service. Ask God to prepare you for this ministry and He'll give you everything you need.

[1buba]

Originally Posted by BetterBottomEnd

Most of our chord sheets are pretty bad but we've all been playing them long enough it doesn't matter.

This one is funny - I just started playing the midweek service at our new church. I'm rusty, but MAN those changes that are marked on or two words off make it rough to play through the first time. lol

Originally Posted by BetterBottomEnd

Don't overplay especially in worship music the space is very important. Most importantly be up there to worship.

I have heard this alot from bass players, so it is my rule (along with playint the roots/bass notes noted above). What I have noticed (YMMV) is that the worship leaders aren't always great communicators. So right now, I'm really watching close for those little signals, for any little things like the guitarist rolling his eyes at me, etc... I'm blessed in it seems like a real nice group of folks. And the guy that plays Sunday, while being much too young is a great kid and can outplay me, so I will learn a lot.

Main thing, again mentioned above, participate in the worship.

Good luck!

[TheCiscoKid]

I usually bring my bass, tuner, pedals. We are a little more progressive, so I can get away with a little overplaying and every once in a while a little distortion. Just make sure that the song really calls for it. Also most importantly lock in with the drummer.

Learn how to transpose for "Capo". A lot of time I will get a chord chart for guitar that says Capo 1 or 2 or 5 or etc. All you have to do is to move chord pattern up the number of frets as the Capo. It gets easier the more you do it.

Come to practice prepared. There is noting worse than showing up to practice and having it last 3 times longer because someone did not practice at home beforehand.

Get to know the other bass players in the band. They are a valuable resource. Sometimes if you have a song that you are really having problems with it is nice to have someone to call up and ask how they play it. Also if something happens it is good to know someone you can call if you get in a bind and need to trade a weekend.

As said earlier, remember that you are also a worship leader even if you never sing or talk into the mic.

[XavidmanX]

This is all great advice...especially about being sensitive to the music and not drawing too much attention to yourself as the bass player, but guiding the groove and rhythm and congtributing to the whole feel of the song.

I bring a fretted and a fretless bass with an EBS MicroBass box that allows me to run straight into the house with both basses plugged in to that one box.

You should check out www.normstockton.com and the Groovin' for Heaven instructional video series. IMHO, it is the best instructional series out there by far.

Good luck!

[BassOverflow]

+1 to capnsandwich

lock in with the drummer, don't over play (that's what lead guitars are for ), and flow with the spirit!

[Foamy]

What should I be doing as a worship bassist?

Playing bass as you believe God as called you to.

What questions should I ask the bandleader before I do my first meeting?

"What are you looking for in a bass player that you currently don't have?"
"How can I best use my gift of music for God's work in this praise team?"

What equipment should I take or buy?

Eeek. Hard to say without knowing a lot more about what the setup is. But, here's my take.... I will assume you have a PA and some sort of monitor. I would advise taking your bass plus a Behringer BDI-21 (if you already don't have something better and similar) and leave it at that. Your bass and a DI of some sort - make your load-in and load-out easy, look like a pro because you don't need a whole lot of kit, and maybe most important, reduce the risk of messing something up by accident on Sunday morning.

How should I prepare for each band practice?

Learn the songs. Learn the songs. Learn the songs.

How should I approach the other two bassists in the band?

From the front. Make eye contact. Make sure they understand you are not weak. Do NOT show any weakness or other signs of vulnerability. I say this (only half tongue-in-cheek) from years of experience.

[Rattman]

Originally Posted by saxnbass

I'm in a worship band. I usually just take a bass, tuner, and DI.

I play in a 'praise team' at a local Calvary Chapel. Any equipment like DI's are always provided along with connections to the PA. Get a good tuner, a strong guitar stand and a music stand if its not already provided. Don't overlook "obvious" things like reliable strap locks and well-maintained amps and basses that will not fail during services. Believe it or not, these live music positions in church bands are highly sought after, so there is always competition for them.

[saxnbass]

Originally Posted by Rattman

I play in a 'praise team' at a local Calvary Chapel. Any equipment like DI's are always provided along with connections to the PA. Get a good tuner, a strong guitar stand and a music stand if its not already provided. Don't overlook "obvious" things like reliable strap locks and well-maintained amps and basses that will not fail during services. Believe it or not, these live music positions in church bands are highly sought after, so there is always competition for them.

At my Airborne Chapel they provide everything except the instruments too (they provide mics, cables, DIs, monitors, snakes, stands, etc.), but I'm picky so bring my own DI and cables and such. And strap locks are a must on all my basses; though my 2 newest ones don't have them on yet (the 1 I don't even physically have yet).

[saxnbass]

Originally Posted by BetterBottomEnd

Yup me too. Except I always bring two basses because I'm like that.

Especially in playing worship music the most important thing is the feel. Don't overplay especially in worship music the space is very important.

Once I get my BassBone, I'll be using 2 basses also.

and +1 to that advice.