Worship Bassists Unite

[fourstringbliss]

very true i know all type of christian bands from metal to solo chilled acoustic just ask for a opinion on a particular style and youshall recieve!

Great, thanks! I'm sure I'm going to keep some of what I've got, but there's stuff I'm sure I'm going to replace. I need to pray about it because it might just be a stronghold in my life. I know there are things hindering my relationship with Jesus, and I need to understand what God wants me to do about it.

Thanks so much for starting this, by the way!

I have heard of the O.C. Supertones - they're playing on my Ipod right now! Have you heard Five Iron Frenzy? Another ska/punk/pop band.

 

[mat gregory]

Did I hear somebody mention starfield??

My Generation...oh my, what a track!! Brilliant

 

[fourstringbliss]

very true i know all type of christian bands from metal to solo chilled acoustic just ask for a opinion on a particular style and youshall recieve!

What about:
alternative

pop/punk (like New Found Glory or Green Day),

and metal (except for thrash or speed)

 

[oxygenbass]

emo/scremo

the chariot
he is legend
underoath
norma jean

metal
archytype
demon hunter
destroy the runner
life in your way

punk/Ska

the supertones
nfg - new found glory - couple of chrstians in the band
MXPX

 

[oxygenbass]

Did I hear somebody mention starfield??

My Generation...oh my, what a track!! Brilliant

bloody brilliant band!

 

[ExaltBass]

GREAT THREAD! I am enjoying being exposed to so many new artists! I bought "New Season" by Israel Houghton last week, based upon Stedtale's recommendation - KILLER! (but I am a funky kinda guy)

 

[rfclef]

I don't think it's bad either. I'm not trying to be legalistic, but my spirit isn't being fed by what I'm listening to.

Listening to secular music itself is not bad, BUT I will say there is a lotta garbage out there that we really have no business being into... THis Tuesday, I ahve my first rehearsal with "our band", a new endeavor which is gonna be doing a mix of some christian rock/contemporary and classic rock... It was awesome talking with the guys... We all feel like we can play a lot of "non-church" stuff and still give a concert I can bring my kids (or parents) to... I'll play about anything, but don't want to play or sing anything that is blasphemous or offensive... It CAN be done!

 

[fourstringbliss]

Listening to secular music itself is not bad, BUT I will say there is a lotta garbage out there that we really have no business being into... THis Tuesday, I ahve my first rehearsal with "our band", a new endeavor which is gonna be doing a mix of some christian rock/contemporary and classic rock... It was awesome talking with the guys... We all feel like we can play a lot of "non-church" stuff and still give a concert I can bring my kids (or parents) to... I'll play about anything, but don't want to play or sing anything that is blasphemous or offensive... It CAN be done!

Hey! A fellow Northwesterner!

I'm not sure I'm going to get rid of my secular stuff but I do need music that feeds my spirit and points me in the right direction.

 

[dooft11]

thanks for organizing this thread, love to share with all bros in this TB community. Again thanks for Wilser to build me a wonderful fretless so i can bring some mwah to the church.

A little bite of my church setting. the top one is an outreach

 

[Brim]

Nice fodera bro. Hong Kong? Wow....very cool.

 

[rfclef]

Hey! A fellow Northwesterner!
.

Now, see, Fourstring... You can't just toss that out without saying WHERE you are...

 

[fourstringbliss]

Now, see, Fourstring... You can't just toss that out without saying WHERE you are...

Sorry about that! I thought it said where I was, but I never input that info. I'm in Puyallup, WA

 

[oxygenbass]

we are really uniting alot of bassists from all around the world!

 

[stedtale]

...(but I am a funky kinda guy)

I'll say.

Yeah awesome album.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Those of you who aren't in a band outside of a worship team (and I'm envious of you if you are!) - what do you practice when you practice?

I have got to get a solid practice routine down!

 

[oxygenbass]

Those of you who aren't in a band outside of a worship team (and I'm envious of you if you are!) - what do you practice when you practice?

I have got to get a solid practice routine down!

Ok for me i have a simple but progressive routine - i aint the best bassist and i dont claim to be, but the level and standard of worship songs is rising the bar so i have

My session - 30mins - an hour every day!

Finger patterns/scales/blues etc - 10mins

Play along to a few upbeat songs i know well- Raindown, Take it all, pick it up - 15mins

Next i Either

1. Get a bass chord chart and try to memorise the Minor/major/7th etc and play a riff that contains it.

or

2. Get out a (Intermediate) bass guitar book and work through the next part of the book and recap what i have gone through so far.

Last - 15 mins - Maybe play along to some new songs that we are learning at Church or just write my own psalms and play on my effect pedals .

I just remember thefamous quote "knowledge is power" and that real worship is how we live our lives everyday for Jesus, not the standard of my Bass playing - i wanna be a better by having a greater appreciation for APPROPRIATE sounds and i want to make people comfortable in Church - i dont want them to walk out cause i hit 100`s of bum notes - (i used to suck so much, i used to sit in the front row next to the powerpoint guy with my amp on the stage and my bass on my lap!!!!)

Commit to a book, study and have fun!

 

[fourstringbliss]

Ok for me i have a simple but progressive routine - i aint the best bassist and i dont claim to be, but the level and standard of worship songs is rising the bar so i have

My session - 30mins - an hour every day!

Finger patterns/scales/blues etc - 10mins

Play along to a few upbeat songs i know well- Raindown, Take it all, pick it up - 15mins

Next i Either

1. Get a bass chord chart and try to memorise the Minor/major/7th etc and play a riff that contains it.

or

2. Get out a (Intermediate) bass guitar book and work through the next part of the book and recap what i have gone through so far.

Last - 15 mins - Maybe play along to some new songs that we are learning at Church or just write my own psalms and play on my effect pedals .

I just remember thefamous quote "knowledge is power" and that real worship is how we live our lives everyday for Jesus, not the standard of my Bass playing - i wanna be a better by having a greater appreciation for APPROPRIATE sounds and i want to make people comfortable in Church - i dont want them to walk out cause i hit 100`s of bum notes - (i used to suck so much, i used to sit in the front row next to the powerpoint guy with my amp on the stage and my bass on my lap!!!!)

Commit to a book, study and have fun!

All good advice, thanks! What finger patterns are you talking about?

I've got a few books. I should focus some time each practice session to work through a lesson. I might need to get a new book, though. I don't know how effective or good the ones I have are.

 

[HeyMikey]

Hi all
I've been the primary bassist at our church for the past 3 years. A couple other bass players have come and gone. I keep my focus on the fact that I am there to worship God. That said........
About 6 months ago we got a new Praise/Worship Director. He is a very talented musician and his music selection is great(a lot of songs by Chris Tomlin, Isreal Houghton, etc.). However, he is very restrictive in what he wants from the bass (me). Up until now, I've had the freedom to play the bass lines as I felt inspired. I would freely use walk-ups or walk-downs and passing notes in transition between verse and chorus. He dosen't like that. He says it sounds too "country". All he wants from the bass is root whole notes or half notes or eighth notes, nothing more. It has taken a lot of fun out of being the bass player. He has also demanded all musicians and singers be in "coat and tie" or "dresses" for the ladies when on the platform. Before he came we were allowed to be causual but neat.
I'm sorry this is sort of a negative post but I need to vent. I know worshiping God is the primary reason for going to church. Yes, I have talked to him about being so restrictive (the music director, not God ) to the bass lines but he says he wants me to play roots. I have also talked to God about this. I wonder if any other bassists' out there have been severly restricted in how they play bass lines for worship.
God is great.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Hi all
I've been the primary bassist at our church for the past 3 years. A couple other bass players have come and gone. I keep my focus on the fact that I am there to worship God. That said........
About 6 months ago we got a new Praise/Worship Director. He is a very talented musician and his music selection is great(a lot of songs by Chris Tomlin, Isreal Houghton, etc.). However, he is very restrictive in what he wants from the bass (me). Up until now, I've had the freedom to play the bass lines as I felt inspired. I would freely use walk-ups or walk-downs and passing notes in transition between verse and chorus. He dosen't like that. He says it sounds too "country". All he wants from the bass is root whole notes or half notes or eighth notes, nothing more. It has taken a lot of fun out of being the bass player. He has also demanded all musicians and singers be in "coat and tie" or "dresses" for the ladies when on the platform. Before he came we were allowed to be causual but neat.
I'm sorry this is sort of a negative post but I need to vent. I know worshiping God is the primary reason for going to church. Yes, I have talked to him about being so restrictive (the music director, not God ) to the bass lines but he says he wants me to play roots. I have also talked to God about this. I wonder if any other bassists' out there have been severly restricted in how they play bass lines for worship.
God is great.

Man, I'm sorry! It's funny that he would want you to only play various root note lengths when the bass players who play for Chris Tomlin and Israel Houghton don't do that!

It sounds to me like he's more focused on how the team members look than on how they worship. You guys are to set an example of dress rather than passion for worship.

One thing to consider is that it might just be a test for you folks. It's not an ideal situation but maybe God wants to see how you folks are going to behave in worship when things are more restrictive. Maybe to see if your eyes and motives are really toward Him and Him alone. Just a thought.

 

[oxygenbass]

Hi all
I've been the primary bassist at our church for the past 3 years. A couple other bass players have come and gone. I keep my focus on the fact that I am there to worship God. That said........
About 6 months ago we got a new Praise/Worship Director. He is a very talented musician and his music selection is great(a lot of songs by Chris Tomlin, Isreal Houghton, etc.). However, he is very restrictive in what he wants from the bass (me). Up until now, I've had the freedom to play the bass lines as I felt inspired. I would freely use walk-ups or walk-downs and passing notes in transition between verse and chorus. He dosen't like that. He says it sounds too "country". All he wants from the bass is root whole notes or half notes or eighth notes, nothing more. It has taken a lot of fun out of being the bass player. He has also demanded all musicians and singers be in "coat and tie" or "dresses" for the ladies when on the platform. Before he came we were allowed to be causual but neat.
I'm sorry this is sort of a negative post but I need to vent. I know worshiping God is the primary reason for going to church. Yes, I have talked to him about being so restrictive (the music director, not God ) to the bass lines but he says he wants me to play roots. I have also talked to God about this. I wonder if any other bassists' out there have been severly restricted in how they play bass lines for worship.
God is great.

Stick in mate!

Live it as you are, talk to God about it but also trust the Guy (whos mental!) God has put in authority of you

I love playing bass in worship and i just love expressing myself (my worship leader is up for anything, and i lead too!) with my gifts -

Be strong and stay in there, get to know the guy and pray for him to have fresh revelations on all your groups talents!

Buy him some worship resources and books - invest in him so he can invest in you!