Church band ?

[zzzdanz]

I've noticed a lot of you play for/at church and was curious how it works.Is it music during church or after service ppl hang out to hear ya play?I've never seen or heard of church bands around here.

[rat a tat tat]

At my church we play music while people come into the sanctuary and socialize. Once the service starts we play 3 songs, after the sermon we do 3 more songs. Lastly we play music while people are leaving the sanctuary. The 6 songs we play during service include the congregation singing along. The music is anything from rock, funk to blues.

I don't have to set up or tear down. The drums remain in the sanctuary. All I do is throw the snares off and walk away. So easy and yet I get to play in service to God which is what matters to me most.

[zzzdanz]

Oh cool. I was wondering how it worked. That explains it. Welcome to the Forum by the way Lisa...So how do ya choose what to play? or is there set music that ya play?...again, I'm from Boston we don't have as big of a church type setting here as the mid-west, or down south.The accoustics must be nice playing in a church ha.

[Fades Away]

I have alot of fun with it honestly, it's really stress free and the cool thing about worship music is that it some time consumes what you are doing, it becomes effortless and lot of fun!

[topdog63]

I gotta agree with Fades Away. It's so much fun! We practice on thursday and then again on sunday morning right before church. We have a "leader" who pics the songs each week, usually 3-4 faster songs and then 5-6 slower songs for prayer time. And the part about it becoming effortless is very true if your doing it for the right reasons. I could have the worst practice ever and then when we are actually playing in church for worship, things just come together. Remember the purpose for worship is to reflect God's glory back to him and allow him to move in the service. As long as your there to worship God and not show off your mad drumming skills, he will take care of you.

[pastor_bob]

I'm getting ready to kick off a contemporary service at our church on Sunday evening. I can't wait to get it going! Although I enjoy traditional hymns, my favorite music is contemporary Christian music.

[gretsch]

At my church we just get up there and play for the church. Music can reach really deep

[2slow]

I'm getting ready to kick off a contemporary service at our church on Sunday evening. I can't wait to get it going! Although I enjoy traditional hymns, my favorite music is contemporary Christian music.

Way to go PB !!

[topdog63]

Nice job PB. We do mostly contemporary music at our church. Every once in a while we will break out some songs from a hymnal to keep the geritol crowd happy but our Pastor is very contemporary and he likes it that way.

[topdog63]

BTW I don't like doing the old hymnal songs cause I'm not real good at the old "boom-pop" type of beats.

[old stix]

We have a worship leader who picks out the music. While we play mostly contemporary songs, sometimes we do hymns but with a bit of a beat. It might be done in a rock, jazzy, swing, blues, celtic style. It depends on the song and what type of atmosphere the leader wants. Like others have said, if done for the right reason, it is a great experience.

[2slow]

Nice job PB. We do mostly contemporary music at our church. Every once in a while we will break out some songs from a hymnal to keep the geritol crowd happy but our Pastor is very contemporary and he likes it that way.

Geritol crowd....don't talk about Pastor Bob that way !!! HAHAHA

[pastor_bob]

Geritol crowd....don't talk about Pastor Bob that way !!! HAHAHA

Hey! I'm still pre-Geritol! Not a lot "pre," but pre just the same!

[ThePloughman]

Just recently started a new church gig.... and am loving it. Drums are an entirely new thing at this church and they are making a transition from an entirely traditional hymn based congregational worship to a more modern style. Its something to grow with, expand on, and pure enjoyment. I havent gotten to the place yet where I am leaving my kit at the church, there are some other issues that need to be worked out..... but once that happens, I will have a kit there full time.

[crazymanwithaplunger]

I've played drums in church for years - in fact it's where i learnt to play. UNtil recently it was my only band experience.

Anyways, it's never been new to me, I guess becuase I've always been in what I guess are considered fairly "progressive" churches, at least musicallly..

[Church Drummer]

BTW I don't like doing the old hymnal songs cause I'm not real good at the old "boom-pop" type of beats.

You don't have to do the old "Boom-pop" to the old hymns there are a lot of ways to play them that are much more interesting. Many lend themselves to a marching snare type of treatment, and some can be played with rock beats.

We have a contemporary service, where we occasionally with through in some of the old hymns, along with the Praise and Worship, and more contemporary Christian Music. We normally do the older hymns with simplified harmonies to make them easier to play on guitar (as opposed to the traditional hymn arrangements that tend to change chords on every note). I've had a lot of fun, and gotten a lot of enjoyment out of playing music of all kinds over the years, but Playing for Church is the best.

[Lesizmor]

I would love to get back into playing on a church worship team again!


-Les

[CharlyG]

We do 5 praise songs at the beginning, and the piano player plays for the two traditional hymns during service. Being of the reformed tradition, we watch the lyrics close. There are getting to be too many horizontal praise tunes, instead of vertical, IOHO.......(first O=our),we call it up with people. We(our church leadership) try and maintain a vertical focus throughout the service. It's not about what we get, it's about what we bring/add. It was a lesson learned when I realized Sunday morning ain't about me.

[topdog63]

You don't have to do the old "Boom-pop" to the old hymns there are a lot of ways to play them that are much more interesting. Many lend themselves to a marching snare type of treatment, and some can be played with rock beats.

I can't get the piano player to play them any differently and when I try to vary the beat everyone looks at me like I'm nuts, like "You can't change that it's not supposed to sound that way." No one gets that you can change songs. I get frustrated sometimes but then I have to remember it's not about me.

[pastor_bob]

Just recently started a new church gig.... and am loving it. Drums are an entirely new thing at this church and they are making a transition from an entirely traditional hymn based congregational worship to a more modern style. Its something to grow with, expand on, and pure enjoyment. I havent gotten to the place yet where I am leaving my kit at the church, there are some other issues that need to be worked out..... but once that happens, I will have a kit there full time.

Congrats on being able to help this church Ploughman! May you be blessed!

I can't get the piano player to play them any differently and when I try to vary the beat everyone looks at me like I'm nuts, like "You can't change that it's not supposed to sound that way." No one gets that you can change songs. I get frustrated sometimes but then I have to remember it's not about me.

They need to hear Amazing Grace played to the melody of The Lion Sleeps Tonight!

[topdog63]

They need to hear Amazing Grace played to the melody of The Lion Sleeps Tonight!

Or to the tune of House of the Rising Sun!

[pastor_bob]

Or even the Guilligan's Island theme. Not sacrilegious, just different melodies - as long as it doesn't become a distraction from the lyrics.

[CharlyG]

There's a group affiliated with our denomination called RUF, and they have redone a whole bunch of hymns. We use their stuff all the time. One of my faves in Come Ye Sinners. Great lyrics with modern melodys and chords. what could be better!!!

[EnderWiggin]

I can't get the piano player to play them any differently and when I try to vary the beat everyone looks at me like I'm nuts, like "You can't change that it's not supposed to sound that way." No one gets that you can change songs. I get frustrated sometimes but then I have to remember it's not about me.

Haha, coming from someone who has played piano for 16 years, about 8 of that in church bands, forget the piano player haha! You can play louder than they can, and it always sounds like they arent following you, instead of vice versa
In my experience, pretty much any hymn that is in 4 can be played as reagge, reaggeton, or a shuffle. Depending on how the words are structured, and whether you have a lead singer who isnt gonna be thrown off by the different rhythm, the songo, or variations can work, and country shuffle is always a good standbye . Dont get discouraged, churches are like big boats, they can be steered but it takes a while for them to change direction. Peace bro <><

[topdog63]

Haha, coming from someone who has played piano for 16 years, about 8 of that in church bands, forget the piano player haha! You can play louder than they can, and it always sounds like they arent following you, instead of vice versa
In my experience, pretty much any hymn that is in 4 can be played as reagge, reaggeton, or a shuffle. Depending on how the words are structured, and whether you have a lead singer who isnt gonna be thrown off by the different rhythm, the songo, or variations can work, and country shuffle is always a good standbye . Dont get discouraged, churches are like big boats, they can be steered but it takes a while for them to change direction. Peace bro <><

I love that I think I'm gonna put it in my sig. And BTW Welcome Enderwiggin!