Leaders, Worship Leading, Worship Planning
12 Keys to Picking Great Songs (Show #31)
#SongsOfTheChurch (Video Below) Picking great songs for worship is one of the most important skills a worship leader needs to learn. There are many different kinds and levels of worship songs. But what songs are the right ones for your church? Some songs are written about God, some songs are written to express our feelings, some songs are sung prayers, some songs are upbeat praise songs and some songs are pure worship to God.
Many Christian songs are performance songs and really don’t fall into the worship category. There are fast songs, medium songs and slow songs. There are difficult songs and easy songs. But what are the best songs for congregational use? What songs help our congregations to sing with all their hearts and connect with God? Here are 12 tips for worship leaders to consider when choosing songs.
1. Great Songs Learn to pick great songs not just doable songs. Great songs are the ones that you will still love to sing a year from now. Different songs have a different ‘shelf life’. Some songs you don’t mind singing a few times but after that you just seem to forget them. Generally speaking, a congregation only learns about 12-20 songs per year. Make them great songs!
2. Test Of A Great Song One of the tests of a great song is that you catch yourself singing it by yourself, in your car, in your house or when you are out on a walk. Or a congregational member tells you that they have been singing that new song you introduced all week. Or you hear your spouse singing that new song.
3. Do You Sense God? Great songs have the Spirit of God resting on them. This is a little harder to quantify. When you hear a great song, you sense God. The song moves your heart, and you realize that God is in that song. A great song will also cause you to lift heart in praise and worship to God. God inhabits our praise! “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22:3
4. Songs From Around The World God is moving on anointed musicians and writers from all over the globe. We now have access online to worship bands in Australia, Canada, the United States, England, Europe, Asia and Africa. Don’t limit your song choices to one church or one church movement.
5. CCLI Top 200 It is easier than ever to find out what churches around the world are singing. CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) has an invaluable online list of the top 200 songs that churches are singing. Their Top SongSelect List shows you what thousands of other worship leaders are picking for their congregations. If you are wondering what songs to sing, this is a great place to start.
6. Top Writers There are certain writers that have been writing great songs for years. Writers like Matt Maher, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Paul Baloche, Reuben Morgan, Joel Houston, Tim Hughes and Brenton Brown have consistently written great songs over a long period of time. When you see their names on a song, definitely check it out. But there are also more great writers: Jason Ingram, Ben Cantelon, Brian Johnson, Phil Wickham and Joth Hunt.
7. Balanced Repertoire Learn to keep a balanced repertoire. You need fast songs, medium songs and slow songs. Make sure you keep picking great songs of different tempos that fill that need. Keep it fresh. It also helps to listen to the songs that the youth and young adults are singing. Learning newer style songs is of high value for them.
8. Repeating Songs Learn to repeat the new songs enough times for the congregation to learn them. A good approach is to always repeat a new song the next week, give it a week off and then repeat it again the fourth week. That way the congregation is hearing the new song three times over a four-week period. If it is a great song, the congregation will know it by then. Also, it helps if the song is on Christian radio (although many songs on Christian radio are not worship songs). That way the congregation is also hearing it in their cars and homes.
9. Singable Keys Put the songs in keys that the congregation can sing. Most people do not have a huge vocal range. If in doubt, use the ‘Rule of D’ principle. Make the top note around a D (C-E).
10. Original Songs By all means, use original songs that are birthed in your congregation. But make sure the songs match the quality of the rest of your list. Also, try to use only one original song in your setlist along with other great songs from around the world. “Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!” Psalm 96:1
11. The Basics of the Song Make sure the melody is singable and memorable. Does the song work without the band? Does the song work with just a simple acoustic guitar or piano? Do you find yourself singing the song when you are by yourself?
12. Working On The List Start and end strong! Start with an upbeat praise song that people can easily connect with and end with a slower great worship song that is sung directly to God. Don’t start or end with a brand new song, no matter how good it is. The rest of your setlist should include songs that transition musically and thematically. Finally, remember your main purpose is to have the congregation focus on and meet God in your short time together each week. Choose songs for the church so people can sing as the Church
Question: What can you add to this list? What is working in your congregation?
@MarkMCole
@BranonDempsey @WorshipTT Mark Cole, along with Branon Dempsey is one of our Worship Team Training Instructors; how would your entire worship ministry benefit from live customized training at your church. Discover what a Weekend Workshop of Hands-on practical instruction can do for you!
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