Band, Bass, Drums, Players

Band Tutorial / Call Upon The Lord (Show #69)

8-23-16#CallUponTheLord (Video Below)

4 min read

Do You Hear What I Hear?

How do we call upon the Lord by making a great sound by our instruments and hearts? Before we call on God, are we listening to Him first? Music is not confined to the notes on a page, but it overflows from the heart and soul of the musician/vocalist. No, worship band sound alike, so how are we destined to be different in order to be full of color and musical diversity? 

Developing our skills in listening, will help the way we call upon the Lord by the music we make. We play by what we hear, not to create a big wall of sound, but to become better musicians in Christ. Music really begins through the act and art of listening. Learning to listen produces patience. Whether we look at a sheet of music or hear the instruments/singers making music, we listen to the song’s message. This gives us direction, shape and tone.

It’s one thing to start blaring away, it’s another to listen and enjoy the musical conversation. In essence, music truly is community. But before we begin, how much time do we spend listening rather than playing? Patience is tough to tame, but it must be harnessed in the musician and singer. It’s kind of like calling/waiting on the Lord. Let the musical patience of the Lord have its perfect work through you.


Wait for the right moment

We wait for the right moment and at the right time to add or remove the musical items. Our job is not to play all the time, our job is to compliment all the time. Half of the music we play involves silence, can you hear it? It’s learning how to hear what we play and what we don’t play.

It’s also learning how to contribute: letting others shine and sparkle. When we listen, we can hear the emotion, color and expression. This is no different than human conversation. One person can do all the talking, but it takes two to have a great dialogue. Along my musical journey, I started out learning from great musicians of the studio and live productions as well as incredible teachers from schools and universities.

Blah, blah, blah…but the common denominator I constantly heard them say was to “listen.” Listen to what others are playing/singing. Don’t just listen to the notes, listen to how they play the notes. Listen to when they play.

Listen to what they don’t play. What are they saying? Feel the emotion that’s being spoken and unspoken. Listen to the open spaces and try to picture the sound. When you do play with a group, listen to your notes against theirs. Are you complimenting the sound, or taking it away? Listen for each note and help support their role. Contribute to the musical continuity and enjoy the dialogue.


A few tips for a few players:

Drummer: practice matching each note to equal your volume between the kick, snare and hat. Match your overall volume to the band. If you are a guitarist: match each string, strum and picked note to be consistent. Listen to the sound of the room and become one with that sound.

Bassist: even-out the low and high registers to create a warm and smooth quality from note to note. Pulse the notes just right to fit what the kick drum is doing.

Guitarists: Find the groove between the drummer and bass first. Instead of strumming just any patters, figure out your role and support what’s happening in the rhythm section. Be in tune to what is not being played and fill in the gaps, but don’t get in the way.

Keyboards and pianists: also play evenly to the band, not with both hands, but just play with one. Wait for the right moment to play between the spaces or chorally back-up the guitarist. Even playing just one note alone can make a difference.

“Each of us our members of one musical Body to make music unto His name.” @BranonDempsey

 

This week’s feature track is “Call Upon The Lord,”

Words & Music by: Steven Furtick and Chris Brown. Get the music on GuideTracks.co

Few tips on the song to inspire your listening skills:

Song Study:

Intro: Creating a beat that drives
Verse: How to create anticipation in the verses Use of pad Creating Solid guitar strumming patterns Build dynamic, not volume Making good use of melodic leads
Chorus: Building for a better Chorus Let the Anthem ring
Bridge: Has a nice place to really connect with congregation and build a declaration Nice simple solo out of bridge into a nice focused chorus Creating a Military March Feel
Transition ideas for the next songs? Traditional Hymn More focus intimate worship


One rule of caution: 
You can multitask your songs, but keep things simple as you add one track at a time. What I have found is that it’s always better to listen first. Learn to wait for the right note to play at the right time. Don’t be afraid of the silence. It’s not about the notes you can play, it’s about the notes you don’t play. The discipline of listening and patience will bear the fruits of creativity and technique. Developing great music involves both sound and silence. As you call upon the Lord, your music will shine forth in a symphonic harmony and praise to God.  

WATCH SHOW #69!




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