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Worship Bassists Unite
- Thread starter oxygenbass
- Start date
Great group of guys here! I've been blessed to be able to play bass and sing for worship going on about 20 years now...the latest is for a new church here on Whidbey Island. Very contemporary music...my only complaint is that because I'm the worship leader, I don't get to play bass every week, ha!
Seriously, music is such a passionate expression of the heart, and being able to give that gift back to God in worship is a blessing beyond words.
As for material, currently our songs consist mainly of pieces done by:
- Lincoln Brewster
- Chris Tomlin
- Vicky Beeching
- Michael W. Smith
- Paul Baloche
- Mercy Me
- Casting Crowns
- Rush of Fools
- Hillsong
for Him,
Jay
Seriously, music is such a passionate expression of the heart, and being able to give that gift back to God in worship is a blessing beyond words.
As for material, currently our songs consist mainly of pieces done by:
- Lincoln Brewster
- Chris Tomlin
- Vicky Beeching
- Michael W. Smith
- Paul Baloche
- Mercy Me
- Casting Crowns
- Rush of Fools
- Hillsong
for Him,
Jay
We certainly do have those kind of things here, but, well, you know, we are a small country
I've just started... playing in Church that is... my daughter's Church lost their bassist the other week (falling out over something or other) and I volunteered to step in to do the Christmas day performance and the Sunday services as well... well I had nothing better to do on Sundays...
I don't even know what type of Church they are... today was my first time in Church for some 14 years...
the only thing that's freaking me out at the moment is if I should go and get a 5 string bass as a lot of the sheet music I've been given has got notes well down below E and I'm worried if I go an octave higher for those few notes it'll either sound weird or else clash with the pianist's left hand... The music is written for piano and voice, but there's chords over the top of the lyrics and I've been told to supply the roots for them... nothing fancy ma'am... just the roots... but which octave???
I don't even know what type of Church they are... today was my first time in Church for some 14 years...
the only thing that's freaking me out at the moment is if I should go and get a 5 string bass as a lot of the sheet music I've been given has got notes well down below E and I'm worried if I go an octave higher for those few notes it'll either sound weird or else clash with the pianist's left hand... The music is written for piano and voice, but there's chords over the top of the lyrics and I've been told to supply the roots for them... nothing fancy ma'am... just the roots... but which octave???
I like it Gooey... can I use it??
Did not know where to ask: Have not been able to find em ANYwhere... I am relatively new to the contemporary/rock Christian scene (and bass)... Anybody help me out? I already have the chord sheets for these, but I am looking for tabs (or actual bass music) for:
Speak to me - Audio Adrenaline
Beautiful - Vineyard
Here with Me - Mercy Me
I Need You - Jars of Clay
Any help?
I usually just play off the chord sheets and improvise from there. You will find that most worship songs are mainly root notes. Listen to the recordings and see if they are playing anything more complicated than that. A lot of the time, we play the songs different than on the cd, in fact I can only think of one song that we play that I play the bass line from the cd. Add yourself to the music, there is a lot of room in worship music to have some fun.
lowsound
I've just started... playing in Church that is... my daughter's Church lost their bassist the other week (falling out over something or other) and I volunteered to step in to do the Christmas day performance and the Sunday services as well... well I had nothing better to do on Sundays...
I don't even know what type of Church they are... today was my first time in Church for some 14 years...
the only thing that's freaking me out at the moment is if I should go and get a 5 string bass as a lot of the sheet music I've been given has got notes well down below E and I'm worried if I go an octave higher for those few notes it'll either sound weird or else clash with the pianist's left hand... The music is written for piano and voice, but there's chords over the top of the lyrics and I've been told to supply the roots for them... nothing fancy ma'am... just the roots... but which octave???
I am quite partial to a five or a six string in a worship setting. I like to play low, but switch it up from time to time. For example, there is a song that we play a lot that has the same chord progression in both the chorus and bridge (G D E C), in the chorus I play everything as low as possible, but in the bridge I like to play the E one octave up. It really changes up the sound. In practice, try playing it a bunch of different ways and then when you play the service, play it the way that sounded the best.
lowsound
Haven't gotten to play much worship lately, I play at more of a "seeker" service which uses secular music and some Christian. Today we did Matt Redman's "Take it to the Streets" and Charlie Hall's "Running with your Heart" Lot's of fun. We had a great group of musicians and really got to turn it up.
I am truly psyched!!!
I am going to be playing in church next week for the first time in about three months!!!
The break was mine......I have been traveling like a maniac for my business and, when I am in town, have been working 10-12 hour days for 5 days and then 4-5 hours each day on the weekend.....good for business, bad for the (most important) Family and (lesser but still important) sanity!
I was going to try to play this week (today) but I could not commit to the practice (due to work etc).....however, I could have done it.....they did mostly songs I knew well (or could have faked).....AND THE KICKER WAS that they ended up using a keyboard bass (Argh!!!!)......oh well....
I will not let work get in the way for next weekend.....and the GREAT thing is that the worship leader and the other praise team members are excited I will be there!!! wow.....it is great to be appreciated and loved! (and more importantly - to PRAISE HIM WITH MY TALENTS!!!!)
Doug
I am going to be playing in church next week for the first time in about three months!!!
The break was mine......I have been traveling like a maniac for my business and, when I am in town, have been working 10-12 hour days for 5 days and then 4-5 hours each day on the weekend.....good for business, bad for the (most important) Family and (lesser but still important) sanity!
I was going to try to play this week (today) but I could not commit to the practice (due to work etc).....however, I could have done it.....they did mostly songs I knew well (or could have faked).....AND THE KICKER WAS that they ended up using a keyboard bass (Argh!!!!)......oh well....
I will not let work get in the way for next weekend.....and the GREAT thing is that the worship leader and the other praise team members are excited I will be there!!! wow.....it is great to be appreciated and loved! (and more importantly - to PRAISE HIM WITH MY TALENTS!!!!)
Doug
I've just started... playing in Church that is... my daughter's Church lost their bassist the other week (falling out over something or other) and I volunteered to step in to do the Christmas day performance and the Sunday services as well... well I had nothing better to do on Sundays...
I don't even know what type of Church they are... today was my first time in Church for some 14 years...
the only thing that's freaking me out at the moment is if I should go and get a 5 string bass as a lot of the sheet music I've been given has got notes well down below E and I'm worried if I go an octave higher for those few notes it'll either sound weird or else clash with the pianist's left hand... The music is written for piano and voice, but there's chords over the top of the lyrics and I've been told to supply the roots for them... nothing fancy ma'am... just the roots... but which octave???
Before I got my 5er, I used to play up an octave all the time.....if you play there for the entire song (instead of going up an octave simply for "those notes") it will sound fine....however, long term, a 5er is a good thing for praise music....
However, on some songs, I truly believe playing in a higher octave actually sounds better and will play there even with my 5er....
welcome back to the "fold"......one suggestion - as you play, open yourself up to the message in the music....that way, you will get as much out of it as you are putting in (Maybe more)....
peace....
Welcome!!
I am Roman Catholic as well, but play in a Lutheran Praise team (long story).....I find the songs at the Catholic Church to be good praise songs, but they do not "do it for me" bass wise....I have not played in a Catholic church in years (though I do attend regularily).....at the Church where I play (not as much as I want too) we play songs that "move me" more and which I enjoy playing more. it also helps that I am building good friendships with the other Praise Team members and others in the congregation....
Wherever you play, remember we are ALL playing for HIM.........
as Jmain has in his footer:
Praise him with a blast of the trumpet; the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise him with a blast of the trumpet; the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; with stringed instruments and flutes!
We are playing to PRAISE THE ONE WHO OWNS US.....when we forget that, we are in trouble......
peace...
Doug
Ok... that is how I play at church... lotsa roots, some passing tones and runs... mostly try to give the big bottom without getting in the way of the music or the worship. But I do not know most of the stuff we do a lot of the time.
You guys who play worship and in bands (are there any of you??) do you play lines for the same song different in worship service then in your "band" setting?
I used to jam with friends a lot and always used lines that I use in worship songs to start jams. People always loved them.
Basspraiser
I know what you mean about being appreciated. There is this one song that we played this morning and I don't have music for the tag on of it, so I always just fake my way through it. Today I came up with a sweet , funky groove, locked in with the drummer and got people dancing. I got compliments on it from the leader and a few people not on the band as well. Felt good to know that people actually hear what I am playing.
lowsound
Yeah, I don't think it's wrong to feel good about receiving praise for hard worship work
. Just as long as you don't let it get to your head, I don't think God cares.I would if I could, but it's physically impossible for me to play above the 10th fret on the E string... I have to play with a wrist and thumb brace in place all the time and I can't get my fingers to fret anything higher...
I'm looking at tabbing out things to use 3rd or 5th position for the E string or else stick to just the A, D & G strings and accept the shifts.
I'd go BEAD but I'd have to file out a nut on one Bass and keep two basses by me as some tunes are fine in standard tuning...
So, I've got my feelers out in the local shops for a decent fiver and a trade in on two of my basses. I've got my eyes on one bass, I'm just waiting for an email back on what he'll allow me for the trade-in...
This is what I'm looking at:
http://www.westfieldguitar.co.uk/pandrhoward/products.asp?ID=405
That bass looks decent, my only concern would be that the upper horn is really short, so it might not balance well on a strap. This could be a big problem for you, due to your hand problems. I would keep an eye out on here and on the UK ebay for an used five string peavey bass. The old MIA foundations (my main worship bass) and millenniums are fantastic basses that often sell for cheap. I picked up my foundation for $200.
lowsound
MikeBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
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I play the same regardless. Thats just me though, pretty much just play the tune. But a lot of Praise music is right on the beat. I have a natural tendancy to play behind the beat. drummers love it and it makes the groove wide as...err...wide as hell (can I say that??
dunno if I can)Nice looking. But it's a copy of a Thumb Bass .
VERY notorious for some neck dive.
BUT!!! for some reason, at least with the few I owned (actual Warwicks- not this one mind you) the first position, or first fret will you, sits further away from your left shoulder.
Makinf grabbing that first fret (F on the E string) a bit of a reach, but it also puts the higher frets further "left" as well.
This sounds like it could be a big advantage if you want to play higher up- could grab a few extra notes.
But we all know no one plays that high anyway. Right
the deal fell through... he couldn't offer me any real trade-in on the two I had to trade... so that's it for a couple of paydays...
yes, I noticed it appeared to be a "Thumb bass" clone...
I've also got my eyes on one of these:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
He's got the 4 string version in the shop and it's nice... hope the 5 string one is just as nice to play...
and of course I'm about to do a round robin of all the other shops in my vicinity looking for a second-hand bargain...
I'm really trying to push custom in this guy's direction. He's a fellow student of my teacher and he's only just opened up for business...
yes, I noticed it appeared to be a "Thumb bass" clone...
I've also got my eyes on one of these:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
He's got the 4 string version in the shop and it's nice... hope the 5 string one is just as nice to play...
and of course I'm about to do a round robin of all the other shops in my vicinity looking for a second-hand bargain...
I'm really trying to push custom in this guy's direction. He's a fellow student of my teacher and he's only just opened up for business...
Hey guys!
Just been asked to sub in for one of the regular bassists at church. I play at church anyway but this time I'm not with my 'own' group but the 1st team, who I've never done any work with before.
Any advice?
Just been asked to sub in for one of the regular bassists at church. I play at church anyway but this time I'm not with my 'own' group but the 1st team, who I've never done any work with before.
Any advice?
