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The Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club
- Thread starter JaySeeDoubleYou
- Start date
+∞
It's a good time to reflect back on the journey over the last year as well. I got my main bass in January and confirmed I'm a 5-string guy. I can't point to any major breakthroughs or advances in my playing this year, except to say that I feel much more comfortable and natural in what I do. It's been the year of Zoom, ditching my pedal board and my guitar amp and now going direct from my B3 and G5. It's been a year of new instruments, playing (very basic) keys for the first time in over 20 years, and starting mandolin from scratch. Great guest worship leaders and bands (Ben Cantelon, Rend Collective, Carlos Whittaker, Lee McDerment). Of going to the US for the first time and experiencing some amazing teaching and worship at Catalyst conference and Newspring church. Of continued growth of our church and the impending addition of a third morning service. A year of growing closer as a team, with our second core team retreat, and of supporting each other through tough times (I've played at three funerals of team members' fathers this year). A year of patient encouragement and steady improvement.
A great year.
Here's hoping and praying for an even greater 2014 for all of you.
What a year!
In January, yours truly had less than a month under my belt as our sole church bassist, and only about 7 months total playing a stringed instrument. Scary and shaky. By December, the MD and my instructor had me confidently (if imperfectly) doing a walking line on a jazz arrangement.
Our KB player had been absent for a time due to family health issues. Now he's back. At practice the other night, he commented on the difference he hears now. "You've got some tone!"
We are tighter as an ensemble for sure.
Zoomie, I think wagging and wiggling is generally considered OK in many denominations. Just watch that bass face.
Another year to celebrate His glory!!
In January, yours truly had less than a month under my belt as our sole church bassist, and only about 7 months total playing a stringed instrument. Scary and shaky. By December, the MD and my instructor had me confidently (if imperfectly) doing a walking line on a jazz arrangement.
Our KB player had been absent for a time due to family health issues. Now he's back. At practice the other night, he commented on the difference he hears now. "You've got some tone!"
We are tighter as an ensemble for sure.Zoomie, I think wagging and wiggling is generally considered OK in many denominations. Just watch that bass face.
Another year to celebrate His glory!!
2013 has been challenging in many respects on various levels.
Our church, for example, joined/combined with another church only to later split and splinter (longer story here). A remnant remains. What matters is that Gods Spirit and presence is felt each and every Sunday. He accepts our efforts (no matter where they are on the spectrum of excellence) and magnifies them for His glory and His work in the church and society. Some of the bestand I mean besttimes of worship we have had is when our rehearsal was a train wreck. Wrong notes, bruised egos, you name it. Our hearts were dismayed and really humbled BUT our actual worship time later reflected a powerful time of focusing on what really mattered worshipping our Creator, Redeemer, and Friend.
Im sure grateful for everyones comments and advice Ive read about / received on TalkBass. This site has helped me be a better bass player especially transitioning from 4-string to 5-string (this after not playing bass for many years).
Heres to knowing our living Savior better in 2014!
and playing better as well!
Cheers!
Our church, for example, joined/combined with another church only to later split and splinter (longer story here). A remnant remains. What matters is that Gods Spirit and presence is felt each and every Sunday. He accepts our efforts (no matter where they are on the spectrum of excellence) and magnifies them for His glory and His work in the church and society. Some of the bestand I mean besttimes of worship we have had is when our rehearsal was a train wreck. Wrong notes, bruised egos, you name it. Our hearts were dismayed and really humbled BUT our actual worship time later reflected a powerful time of focusing on what really mattered worshipping our Creator, Redeemer, and Friend.
Im sure grateful for everyones comments and advice Ive read about / received on TalkBass. This site has helped me be a better bass player especially transitioning from 4-string to 5-string (this after not playing bass for many years).
Heres to knowing our living Savior better in 2014!
and playing better as well!
Cheers!
Lots to give praise for here as well. After many nerves prior to an audition, I joined our team in early summer as a pinch hitter while everybody was out of town. Now I'm in the rotation and very excited about the future. New WD for the New Year as well.
Ali and I are also looking to get involved in some area of ministry as a team, but that has yet to resolve.
And finally, thank you to J-raj for moderating, SVT for clerical duties and everyone for all of your help, wisdom and humor through the year.
Blessings and Happy New Year!
Mike
Ali and I are also looking to get involved in some area of ministry as a team, but that has yet to resolve.
And finally, thank you to J-raj for moderating, SVT for clerical duties and everyone for all of your help, wisdom and humor through the year.
Blessings and Happy New Year!
Mike
And let me add my thanks to mkandolf for his clerical duties, as he did the first 9 months of the year!
It depends where that particular church stands on the spectrum of praise and worship styles. Some have mass choirs rocking there robes in unison with an unseen band in some cases or where my church elders were elated that I danced while I play. Maybe not to the point of Abraham Laborial or Verdine White but as long as I don't go as far as Flea I doubt I will be sat downTo the other end of the spectrum where the individual is to be heard at particular points of a service and not seen where the elder might even turn his back on his congregation
In any case if the church or a few members get up and dance we see it as a good and accepted thing. In a more traditional setting the Pentecostal style would not be accepted.
personal note:
I will be vacationing and off for the month of January. Hope I don't lose what chops I have.
Haha. Umm the regular guy at my church I regularly attend, but don't play at.... Well I call him Skippy sometimes! He's pretty, Animated.
It's great to hear the reflections of the ebbs and flows of each of our lives in both playing and life in general. My year has had tragedy and triumphs in all aspects and I've just been glad the God has used me and allowed me to go through this little spurt of being a gear hog and just refining (got lots to go ) and testing the talents he has given me. I see more changes coming as I grow and I see relationships getting stronger and I see some distancing as well. I pray that God gets all the Glory he deserves and that this remains fun and fresh and challenging as well.
I pray all your New Years bring you the same and more!
I pray all your New Years bring you the same and more!
If I understand the history of my denomination correctly there have been up and down periods of spirit filled behavior. And after Chuck Smith split off some of what he believed stuck and we are in a down period. It is our seniors who remember how church used to be who are the first to get up and dance
A quick new year's resolution (let's see how long this lasts): I wont buy any new equipment unless to replace something non-functioning. I feel like I've got everything I need and more - I'm going to give my Squier to one of our bassists who doesn't have a bass of his own.
- Nov 8, 2010
- 1,391
- 9
- Disclosures
- Unofficial Endorser: Ibanez, D'Addario, Zoom
We don't get much dancing and the church stage is probably the one I move the least on. We have a fairly old/traditional demographic and they seem to control a lot of aspects of the sound/service. I've had conversations that the sound guys keep the max PA decibels out to FOH at 88(iirc) because otherwise they get complaints. Which means soft parts are hard to hear and even if we're really pumping it still seems to be pretty dull/lifeless. When I'm not playing and sitting in the service it just seems hard to get into. I'm not saying that louder is better, it would also help if we had a lead guitarist/more alternate parts. I have a stock exhaust for a Suzuki motorcycle that has a similar rating decibel-wise that often gets compliments like "was that on when you went by?" which is good for a motorcycle imo where I like to be stealth/not annoying, but not really something I think works well for a worship service. I feel like the service could use a boost.
- Nov 8, 2010
- 1,391
- 9
- Disclosures
- Unofficial Endorser: Ibanez, D'Addario, Zoom
I actually had a service at a different church I had to cruise down the aisles for a production. That bike was louder than the current service.
Yes indeed. What I was trying to say is that if you connect with the congregation you can move almost any congregation - slowly - in almost any direction. We don't actually do any dancing on stage, but some in the congregation do dance a little. Maybe they will - slowly - move us in their direction?? It does work both ways.
Enjoy your January vacation!
Happy New Year, everyone.
Just back from an excellent New Years party at church. Played from 8pm until about one PM, great set list, wonderful, enthusiastic company, prayer and communion at midnight. What more could you ask for?
Took my Squier VM P5 to the afternoon rehearsal, just to see what it sounded like in the mix. Ended up playing it all night, which was most unexpected. Stock nickel rounds, tone control rolled back about 10%, g-K mB800 set pretty close to flat, with hint of treble rolloff and a touch of Contour.
Just back from an excellent New Years party at church. Played from 8pm until about one PM, great set list, wonderful, enthusiastic company, prayer and communion at midnight. What more could you ask for?
Took my Squier VM P5 to the afternoon rehearsal, just to see what it sounded like in the mix. Ended up playing it all night, which was most unexpected. Stock nickel rounds, tone control rolled back about 10%, g-K mB800 set pretty close to flat, with hint of treble rolloff and a touch of Contour.
Good morning God, PW bassists, and 2014 !
With the exception of yet more problems with the brand new church rig, I had an absolute blast last night worshiping with the youngsters of LR and L3 at a lock-in.
I witnessed some of the most authentic, sincere, and intense worship with these young people. Half of these kid's parents don't even come to church and therefore have gotten no closer to a service than the parking lot to drop them off. That they chose to be at church on New Years versus out partying, as well as the conviction of these young people to stay tight with God is humbling.
SoVeryTired, I'm with you. No purchases, although I will be helping the church fund a few things, not directly related to to bass.
I'm good on gear, but I spend some serious money on baubles. And it's easy for me to commit to this since I have 4 inbound purchases!
With the exception of yet more problems with the brand new church rig, I had an absolute blast last night worshiping with the youngsters of LR and L3 at a lock-in.
I witnessed some of the most authentic, sincere, and intense worship with these young people. Half of these kid's parents don't even come to church and therefore have gotten no closer to a service than the parking lot to drop them off. That they chose to be at church on New Years versus out partying, as well as the conviction of these young people to stay tight with God is humbling.
SoVeryTired, I'm with you. No purchases, although I will be helping the church fund a few things, not directly related to to bass.
I'm good on gear, but I spend some serious money on baubles. And it's easy for me to commit to this since I have 4 inbound purchases!
Worshipping with the younger generation is electric hey?!
Awesome!
We have two different praise bands in spite of being small church. I play in the Sunday service band. Every once in a while L3 asks me to fill in.
It's just different. I think kids and young adults tend to be shamelessly passionate and vocal about how they feel about life, God, or current events.....both for and against. . Less hold-back than we 'mature' adults.
Just an amazing thing to witness.
This is where I got mine: http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Guitar-T-Shirt-Bass--Bl-Medium/dp/B003KJFEQI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388324713&sr=8-1&keywords=Bass+Your+Life+on+Christ
Musician's Friend also has it.
Thank you. Sorry I've been away for a while. Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and a safe new year to all. Take care,
Alan
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