Getting in Trouble

Well, churches have a long history of dissing dissonance. In Renaissance days, a perfect 4th was considered dissonant.

I like your choice chord, but perhaps being more vanilla diatonic is what they're after...

 

I guess the Allman Brothers would not go over well in that place.

 

If it's just a major chord and not a Maj7th chord on the chart, I would be favoring the 6th instead of the maj 7th. You have to assume the composer knew what they wanted.

but it's all about context, ultimately.

 

What is a "pad" for a song intro?

 

What's the first chord of the tune? Generally a major 7th chord (A C# E G#) is the tonic and using the tonic for an intro doesn't give you any sense of resolution, it doesn't really have much to do with dissonance. Strongest resolution pattern is (again, generally) V7 to Imaj7, if yer in A that's gonna be an E7 (E G# B D).

 

Yes. Again, try an E7 instead of A major.

 

IME, church gigs want the basics. Stick to 1 and 5 of the chord to support, hit the 3 and 7 only when you have the chance to be melodic. If they gripe about a 7, interpret that as a "I wanted you to be supportive and not melodic" comment.

 

Try using the half diminished, the tri-tone, christians have a long history of enjoying that chord.

 

I saw what you did there

 

If they're vamping on a I IV V change, you don't want to be playing maj7 on any of them. Dom7 or m7 if that's what they're playing.

 

Well,dissonance...............
You play a F and an E together and get a dissonance,at the same time is also root and major 7th : a "comfortable" dissonance

But I believe you played the wrong note at the wrong time.

 

It's all about the context, pal. If someone else is playing or singing a high root, for instance, your major 7 could really clash with it.