The Christian Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club Part 5

[Clarkster]

yeah we are doing that song quite a bit of late. When our W/L first introduced it, he did in G *EEEK* I calmly pointed out that he was struggling on the highest parts of the chorus, and thus our congregation wouldn't sing it at all. We dropped it to E, which made it a bit high for most folk, but still singable. He can't really get the lowest of the low notes in the Verse, so he's been turning leading the verses over to our other vocalistas.

We play that song in Eb, G would be quite a jump. I'm thinking, though that there's a you tube out there where Tomlin is playing it in F. Seems like I remember a comment about not liking to play guitar in F so he used a capo and played in D. I like D when I'm sitting around playing my guitar and I don't feel like streching my voice. But as someone else said if you lower it too much you might suck the energy out of it.

 

[Gumby4]

Hey gang, I pray that you are all doing well.

The band has some summer gigs going.

This June 27th at 6:30pm we will be doing the music for The Wave in Lavalette, NJ. We will be on the boardwalk under the gazebo off Philadelphia Ave.

On July 3rd at 3pm, the band minus me will be at the HBC Cafe BBQ Hatboro PA.

Finally on August 22nd at 7pm, we will be On the Boards in Ocean Grove NJ. The event will be held in the Boardwalk Pavilion. For more details click here.

 

[9mmMike]

Hey gang, I pray that you are all doing well.

The band has some summer gigs going.

This June 27th at 6:30pm we will be doing the music for The Wave in Lavalette, NJ. We will be on the boardwalk under the gazebo off Philadelphia Ave.

On July 3rd at 3pm, the band minus me will be at the HBC Cafe BBQ Hatboro PA.

Finally on August 22nd at 7pm, we will be On the Boards in Ocean Grove NJ. The event will be held in the Boardwalk Pavilion. For more details click here.

You need more gigs in the US (as in not in NJ!). LOL

Thanks for stopping in with that update. Good to know that things are well, if a bit busy....

 

[jimb213]

I'm playing this sunday at church.

We just changed up how we do the musician/band thing here, and I really like it. We used to have the same group of musicians play all weekend - 2 services saturday, and 2 services sunday. When you include rehearsals on thursday, it's a huge time commitment for our volunteers, and it's exhausting, and it pretty much precludes you from doing anything else on the weekend. Plus, you rarely played with the same people; each spot in the weekend band was filled individually. So there was not really a chance to build band cohesion, not much opportunity for the musicians to add their own input... we got the job done, and occasionally we'd have a smokin' hot band, but the worship leader didn't feel like it was the best way we could be doing things.

Now, we've switched to a "band" organization. Instead of scheduling a bass player, a drummer, a lead guitarist, etc, all individually, we schedule a whole band. The same people always play together, always rehearse together, are able to add their own style to the songs... and we have a different band on saturday and sunday each weekend. We're actually going to be serving more frequently (more weekends) but only one day on the weekend, so we don't get as worn out playing the whole weekend. I'm very happy about the new system.

Anyways, we're practicing tonight, and here's the setlist/service flow:

All Who Call (Taylor/Wise)
Beautiful One (Hughes)
welcome/meet & greet

For Grace Gifts (our offertory) we're introducing Hosanna by Brooke Fraser of Hillsong United

Message

I'm Singing (Cash, Jobe, Tomlin)
Oh For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Parker, Wesley, Crowder) - a hymn with a chorus and bridge added by Crowder
All Hail the Power of Jesus Name (Perronet, Rippon, Holden)

I'm really excited about playing my new bass on all who call; it's a really rockin' song that the musicians get to tear it up on, and the bass is so punchy and aggressive that it'll be really fun to play and hear. I'm also really excited to be introducing Hosanna. I played it with another worship leader I did some conferences with, and it's really an amazing song; I think our congregation will love it.

So all in all, it should be a great weekend.

 

[9mmMike]

....
I'm really excited about playing my new bass on all who call; it's a really rockin' song that the musicians get to tear it up on, and the bass is so punchy and aggressive that it'll be really fun to play and hear. I'm also really excited to be introducing Hosanna. I played it with another worship leader I did some conferences with, and it's really an amazing song; I think our congregation will love it.

So all in all, it should be a great weekend.

I am not familiar with "All Who Call" and I could not find it on youtube or amazon. Do you have any more info or maybe a link? It sounds like one I'd like to hear!

 

[jimb213]

I am not familiar with "All Who Call" and I could not find it on youtube or amazon. Do you have any more info or maybe a link? It sounds like one I'd like to hear!

The CD isn't out yet. It was written by our worship leader and another worship leader here in Austin. They're almost done recording; I think they're aiming for a labor day release. Our worship leader is the singer/guitarist in the band in my signature, and here's Jerry Wise's myspace:

Link Removed

So if you combine the rockin' bits of Amid the Crash (but not the weirder bits) with Jerry's singer/songwriter vibe, you kinda get close to All Who Call. Oh yeah, the youtube vids on Jerry's myspace is AtC backing him up at a concert a couple years ago; the sound is pretty crummy, and you can't see the band (especially not me! ) but it might give you a bit of an idea for Taylor/Wise, even though they're all Jerry's songs.

 

[kb9wyz]

That sounds like a much better way of going about things, the "Band organization." At our church we have the core musicians (Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass) with about a dozen people, mostly vocals, who are on a fairly regular rotation based on availability and the needs of the service. We only have one service on Sunday, and this seems to work our really well for us since we have more people than we use realistically every service. We're on the other end of the spectrum with this.

I guess all churches have their challenges.

 

[queenannsrev]

Hello all and God Bless, I have been playing bass now for about a year and have finally gotten comfortable enough to play off cord charts. I would very much like to start playing in a church band and worshiping the Lord. I am in search of a local church that needs a bass player. Please keep me in your prayes and ask God to lead me to a church so I can serve Him in many ways and worship Him.

 

[Scanman13]

Queenannsrev you wouldn't happen to live in Southern New Jersey would you?

 

[Versatek6]

Hello all and God Bless, I have been playing bass now for about a year and have finally gotten comfortable enough to play off cord charts. I would very much like to start playing in a church band and worshiping the Lord. I am in search of a local church that needs a bass player. Please keep me in your prayes and ask God to lead me to a church so I can serve Him in many ways and worship Him.

If you add a Location to your profile, we might be able to help if we know of or hear of anything.

 

[svoncampe]

I would love to get a number. I have been playing bass for almost five years now and always for my (former) university's worship team and/or church, which I looooooove to do. Thanks! Stefan

 

[NS2A]

I’m on the worship team at a smaller "mega" church. I play about every 3rd week on average depending on if I’m needed for regular worship or special events. So, not a lot, but more than the average bar musician in my area. I’m not in a side project and with a family and job it’d be tough. After starting a secular cover band, I realized my hearts not into it and I just don’t have the time and energy to do it. I also don't really just get together to jam with others because of time commitments. So I am what I am, a worship team bass player. Which is cool.

Since I go direct at church, and use the house amp for stage volume, the only thing I need is my bass.

So that's kind of my dilema. I feel that if I only need one bass, and don't play out, why have extra gear sitting around?

My gear list is (with values listed):

2 basses which are exactly the same except different color and preamps in each ($750-900 each)
1 electric guitar ($350-450) - I intended to write songs on this, but that isn't panning out.
1 bass cabinet ($200)
1 amp ($300)
A few different odds n ends (recording devices, software, pedals etc.) (maybe worth $100 total)

My thought is to keep one of the basses, then get a cheap one for emergency backup and an old Peavey combo amp for home.

Now, all that said it's not that much gear. And should I have it available in case? I mean, isn't that part of the 'gig"?? Or is that just a way to justify the excessiveness of it all? Or am I being shortsighted and will run too thin?

Anyone dealt with this at all? Thoughts?

 

[Versatek6]

Since I go direct at church, and use the house amp for stage volume, the only thing I need is my bass.

So that's kind of my dilema. I feel that if I only need one bass, and don't play out, why have extra gear sitting around?

My gear list is (with values listed):

2 basses which are exactly the same except different color and preamps in each ($750-900 each)
1 electric guitar ($350-450) - I intended to write songs on this, but that isn't panning out.
1 bass cabinet ($200)
1 amp ($300)
A few different odds n ends (recording devices, software, pedals etc.) (maybe worth $100 total)

My thought is to keep one of the basses, then get a cheap one for emergency backup and an old Peavey combo amp for home.

Now, all that said it's not that much gear. And should I have it available in case? I mean, isn't that part of the 'gig"?? Or is that just a way to justify the excessiveness of it all? Or am I being shortsighted and will run too thin?

Anyone dealt with this at all? Thoughts?

I am a person who is susceptible to G.A.S. I don't see your list as excessive, by any stretch of the word. For someone who plays with any regularity, this is about as basic as you can get - but you know that.

When you list values, are those what you figure your replacement value, or are those liquidation values? There is a big difference there. If you liquidate some and downgrade some, you may come out a couple hundred dollars and a couple square feet of free space ahead, but unless you are really strapped for cash and space, I see this as a false economy.

I say this as someone who is admittedly overequipped. I play guitar in an original "stealth-Christian" band, trombone in church and community band, and bass in church. Seven guitars and two amps, five 'bones, three basses and two more amps, three multi-effect units (using one), separate guitar and bass pedalboards, and a 4U rack with vintage Scholz Rockman effects. Plus, my wife has four trumpets, a flugel and three keyboards, and has been talking about finding a French horn. I know overkill. I should be thinning the herd.

I think you're covered and can back yourself up if there are problems. Not overloaded at all.

 

[jimb213]

My thought is to keep one of the basses, then get a cheap one for emergency backup and an old Peavey combo amp for home.

Why do this? Just keep both basses, and you have your primary and a backup that will fill in almost perfectly.

And what about practicing at home? IMO, you need some kind of amp or headphone amp to really hear what you're playing; unplugged electric bass doesn't cut it for serious practice. There's stuff that goes through the pickups that you won't necessarily hear unplugged. I use a Korg pandora headphone amp for home practice. It has a 1/8" input so I can plug in my iPod and play along with songs I'm learning in my headphones. This way I don't bother my neighbors with my big ol' amp, and I can practice late at night.

Overall, I agree with Versatek6... you're not overloaded with gear at all. Unless you really, really need the money, I wouldn't unload any gear. Maybe sell your amp and cab and get a Pandora or line6 POD for home headphone practice, if you're really sure you'll never be in a situation where you need an amp.

 

[9mmMike]

....
I think you're covered and can back yourself up if there are problems. Not overloaded at all.

I agree.
I have a gaggle of basses as well and I "could" (maybe "should") thin the herd but I probably will not. I figure I am doing OK if I do not add (anymore) for a few months....LOL
I have one head and cab that I do not always take with me but when you need it, you need it.
I even use my old combo (at home) on occasion when my head and cab are not readily available.
They don't take up too much room and I play everything often enough to not warrant longer term storage so I am content.
I am not sure that I'd be in any hurry to get rid of anything it my pile-o-gear was as minimal as yours unless you really need the money or are seriously living-space-challenged.

 

[JumboJack]

My only playing comes at church..
I have two basses.A combo amp and a Bass Pod XT live.
When I play at church I go direct with the Pod and use the house
bass amp for my back line.I am in the process of getting a new set up.

I will use the Pod as a preamp.It will go into a D.I. to split the signal.
One line will go to the board and the other into a small power amp.From the amp it will go into a Carvin 1542 monitor.That way I will be able to hear my bass signal on stage
like it will sound through the PA.

 

[rfclef]

I’m on the worship team at a smaller "mega" church. I play about every 3rd week on average depending on if I’m needed for regular worship or special events. So, not a lot, but more than the average bar musician in my area. I’m not in a side project and with a family and job it’d be tough. After starting a secular cover band, I realized my hearts not into it and I just don’t have the time and energy to do it. I also don't really just get together to jam with others because of time commitments. So I am what I am, a worship team bass player. Which is cool.

Since I go direct at church, and use the house amp for stage volume, the only thing I need is my bass.

So that's kind of my dilema. I feel that if I only need one bass, and don't play out, why have extra gear sitting around?

My gear list is (with values listed):

2 basses which are exactly the same except different color and preamps in each ($750-900 each)
1 electric guitar ($350-450) - I intended to write songs on this, but that isn't panning out.
1 bass cabinet ($200)
1 amp ($300)
A few different odds n ends (recording devices, software, pedals etc.) (maybe worth $100 total)

My thought is to keep one of the basses, then get a cheap one for emergency backup and an old Peavey combo amp for home.

Now, all that said it's not that much gear. And should I have it available in case? I mean, isn't that part of the 'gig"?? Or is that just a way to justify the excessiveness of it all? Or am I being shortsighted and will run too thin?

Anyone dealt with this at all? Thoughts?

I agree... you have a good amount of stuff... not overloaded at all... Keep it...

I got 5 basses, 1 15" combo, 1 head, one 2x10 cab, and various and sundry other things... You are in good shape...

 

[9mmMike]

I would love to get a number. I have been playing bass for almost five years now and always for my (former) university's worship team and/or church, which I looooooove to do. Thanks! Stefan

Hang tight. We'll get ya numbered-up tonight.

 

[svoncampe]

Hang tight. We'll get ya numbered-up tonight.

Sweet! Thanks.

 

[svoncampe]

So that's kind of my dilema. I feel that if I only need one bass, and don't play out, why have extra gear sitting around?

Anyone dealt with this at all? Thoughts?

I sometimes feel guilty for having so much. I have to admit that I love quality basses...matched only by how much I love to play with the band at church (I don't consider myself a good/great bass player, but somehow while leading worship, I feel that "electricity" of all coming together and I feel as if during that time my bass playing is perfect - somehow improving and just right for whatever set we're doing...don't know how else to describe it). I wonder if I could spend the money better, perhaps save it, or give it to someone in need....bottom line I sometimes wonder if I am being a good steward of the money God has given me. I never borrow to spend it on any of my basses or equipment, but like I said, I have wondered sometimes if I did the right thing in buying this bass, or that bass.

I "only" have three basses now and a decent stack, but (1) they are all expensive and (2) I have the desire to acquire a few more. I have sold a number of basses to buy other ones, usually upgrades, but I love the idea of having a collection. I still want to get a Warrior, a Roscoe, another Ibanez someday (a cheaper one I wouldn't worry to much about if it got dinged or if I lend a bass out)...I have that desire but when it comes down to it, we're talking about thousands and thousands of dollars on musical instruments and equipment when all one really "needs" would be perhaps two basses and a modest amp, and the basses of course do not need to be high end to get the job done.

But then I also realize that I like to do everything with excellence, that God also requires that we do everything with excellence, and why not serve Him with the best there is instrument-wise? Biblical forefathers were so blessed financially; they owned a lot, and of course they surely were good stewards of what God had given them, but it doesn't change the fact that many had the best of the best. Financial reward and marterialistic wealth is not incompatible with God's people, so long as we never put anyone or anything ahead of God. Also, whether it was his arc of the covenant, or the temples that were all lined with gold and other precious metals....what would be wrong with owning high-end instruments, especially when they are used to lead others in musical worship?

I'm not sure I am properly articulating what I feel and want to say, other than it is understandable that you or anybody else would want to scale down to the bare minimum, but on the other hand, why not enjoy the fruit of your labor? God knows your heart and its desires, and surely there can't be anything wrong with enjoying it. Do it with excellence and unto the Lord, thank Him for that blessing, all while maintaining good stewardship of everything God has given you. Again, I could definitely choose better words to bring across what I want to say, and I realize you were talking more about quantity vs. quality, but there is a close correlation between the two, I think.

Obviously if you still feel lead to scale down, by all means! Do what you think is right.