Band, Leaders, Ministry Leadership, Players
The Hardest Thing Your Band Can’t Keep (Show #73)
#MyVictory (Video Below)
3 min read
Undistracted and Unified
As a worship band we want things to sound great. No, we don’t have rock-star famous people and bands in our team, but could you imagine what the music would sound like it you did? When you hear your favorite band or artist, the music is smooth, free and undistracted. Why can’t the music in our churches exceed this level of quality?How can you achieve this in your band? The truth is, you can sound great. It’s learning how to work with what / who you have, not what you don’t have. Anyone can play an instrument, but that doesn’t mean they have the skill over the instrument. The thing about music is that it should tell a story. Music is not a bunch of black and white notes on a page, crammed with chords and scribbled words and circled letters.
But for some, this is what music sounds like, scribbled notes and quirky rhythms. There’s no breath in the music and no pulse in the rhythm. “My times are in your hands;” Psalm 31.15
The Hardest Thing Your Band Can’t Keep
Most of the time, the most hardest thing we can do is the simplest thing we can do. What are we talking about here? Time. Time seems to be the most elusive element to mankind. It always keeps going, never quits, always reliable, yet we can never get enough of it. So how can this translate in to your band? How can time be a huge factor to help make your music smooth and undistracted to worshipers? Anyone can tell time, but not everyone can keep it “My Victory,” Feature Track of the Week (Band Tutorial) In our song below, we will explore the five elements of how keeping time will better multiple parameters of your music. “My Victory” written by Darren Mulligan, David Crowder, Ed Cash, Hank Bentley. Copyright 2016 Dayspring Music, LLC, Inot Music, sixsteps Music, worshiptogether.com songs, All Essential Music, Bentley Street Songs, Alletrop Music. Get the music on GuideTracks.co
Keeping time
Lack of timing is a detraction from the groove of your band. Most top bands and churches included use a click track. The click is a perfect tool, but it doesn’t mean that everyone has mastered it. This timing tool is both a teacher and a friend. One cool app I’ve found is “Smart Click” by Steinberg. It’s a digital metronome (or click) you can install on your phone or tablet. It’s perfect for practicing. When working with a click at home or with your band, you want to develop good timing. Go slow, match your playing to the tempo of the click and focus. The hidden magic about the click: when you play with it correctly (in time) the click sound disappears within the music. When you play slightly out-of-time, the click will stick out like a sore thumb, glaring at you to get it right. Let’s look at our song “My Victory.” Listen to the intro and put a click to it. Think of the little that is happening in the instrumental intro, yet everything is still held together by time. KEY – C (INTRO) F //// | Am //// | F //// | Am ////
Playing in time
Lack of playing in time is a distraction from the church / distracts from the vocals carrying the lyrics. Notice how the click gravitates the vocal line to the synth pads and light drums. Note: you don’t need to have a lot of instruments to keep things moving. It doesn’t depend on the drums, bass, and guitars, as much as it does the people behind the instruments: learning how to develop, keep and produce good timing – working on the inner pulse. (VERSE-1) F You came for criminals Am And every Pharisee F You came for Hypocrites Am Even one like me F You carried sin and shame Am The guilt of every man F The weight of all I’ve done Am F //// | G //// | Nailed into Your hands
Finding the perfect pocket
Lack of playing in the pocket is a detraction from the unity of groove. Here, the full band enters, but it is not a rush of sound. Notice how the instruments do not push the tempo, they are still laid-back and out of the vocal’s way. This is a good songwriting tip: the music supports the vocals – they help the words stand up – not the other way around. (CHORUS) C F2 Oh Your love bled for me C C/E F2 Oh Your blood in crimson streams C F2 Oh Your death is Hell’s defeat C/E F2 Gsus The cross meant to kill is my victory (INSTRUMENTAL-1) F //// | Am //// | F //// | Am //// |
Playing as a team
Lack of team work is an overall distraction to the church / hindering the singing. When your church band plays out of sync with each other, so does the church feel it – even more so. Keeping the unity of the music is first and foremost as it relates to keeping time. You don’t need to have everyone playing to keep time, you just need to have people learning how to keep time, when it’s their turn to play. Create a groove between the bass and drums (use a click in the headphone monitoring system), keep it controlled, have the other instruments play on top.
Move out of the way and let the vocals come through. (VERSE-2) Oh Your amazing grace I’ve seen and tasted it It’s running through my veins I can’t escape its grip In You my soul is safe You cover everything (INSTRUMENTAL-2) Am //// | F //// | C //// |Gsus //// |
Keep the music distraction free
Make your target be the message and quality of the song. The better your timing, tempo, groove, pocket and unity, the better the message will stand on it’s own. The bridge is a perfect section in which the words stand strong. Think of these words sung from the heart of a child. Don’t let any thing get in the way of them coming to God. Keep the music distraction free, so you can hear the children sing… (BRIDGE) Am7 F2 Behold the Lamb of God C Who takes away our sin Em7 Who takes away our sin Am7 F2 The holy Lamb of God C/G Makes us alive again Gsus Makes us alive again
“Our times may fail, but His timing is always perfect.” @BranonDempsey
Recap
The better your band plays in time, by each person keeping the pulse, the better the worship will be connected in the church. One of the biggest reasons why people stop singing in church is because they get distracted from the band or inadequate audio. The easier we can keep things as a team – like playing together and making our sound solid, the more simpler worship becomes.At the same time, it becomes more inviting to the worshiper. Plus, your team will begin to worship because your focused and keeping things clear. Do not neglect the premise and purpose of practicing at home. This is what will help you define good timing. The more skillful you become, the more joyful you and others will be in worship.
He is our victory over our skill and development. How are you allowing God to guide you in your talent and music making?
“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,
not according to what one does not have.” – 2 Cor. 8.12
WATCH SHOW #73!
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