Thanks for sharing this. I have led worship for a while and this is something I keep relearning. Trusting people is key! Plus that helps us disciple and equip other leaders.
I think this issue arises from the common practice of the worship leader and other musicians in the worship ensemble, including other vocalists, learning the songs from just reading a chord/lyric sheet with only superficial listening to the original recording. It's not surprising that the leader is playing his/her acoustic guitar all the time and typically without much variation, except for chord changes and where a capo is placed. Usually minimal attention is given to the original arrangement of the song's multiple parts, and this isn't advocacy for just trying to copy the original recording with multitracks/stems. If one listens to the isolated acoustic guitar track/stem of an original recording ( see MultiTracks.com "rehearsal mix" ), not only is the acoustic guitar laying out frequently, in certain parts of the song, but often they're playing very specific parts and not just strumming chords in G,D,C,A, or E positions. The same might be said of keyboard players just playing piano with sustained pads under every note. Granted piano/synth or electric guitar player also may be learning and playing an identifying riff or vamp for a given song, but today's CCM recordings really have under appreciated production values with multiple interwoven parts where the guitars, keys, drums, and vocals combine to compliment one another and enhance the worship experience. I've frequently heard the worship leader and other musicians say "we want to make the song our own and not copy Hillsong, Elevation Worship, or Bethel" etc.. But I argue that to make your own arrangement as musically valid as the original, you have to first know the original arrangement which means to know the original parts. Then you can modify or eliminate them, but arguably that can take even a higher level of musical expertise. In a lot of "music appreciation" courses taught in schools, the first emphasis is placed on careful listening. That applies to preparing music for worship on Sundays.
Allen, that’s a good word! Yes, if you want to make your own arrangement, that’s fine. But there’s a lot of value in knowing how to arrangement a song and how everything works together and not just everyone punching chords. Thank you for sharing this!
Thanks for sharing this. I have led worship for a while and this is something I keep relearning. Trusting people is key! Plus that helps us disciple and equip other leaders.
Thanks for the new content. It's really helpful to see this forgotten aspect of worship leadership. Greetings from Venezuela
So glad to see you Dave! You look great. Praying that you are continuing to be on the mend!!!
Thank you! God is faithful...
instablaster.
Nice to see that your hair is comming back. Thanks for the videos. God bless you.
Thank you! I’ve been super thankful to see my hair starting to come back... it’s coming in different for sure, but it’s coming in! 😃
I think this issue arises from the common practice of the worship leader and other musicians in the worship ensemble, including other vocalists, learning the songs from just reading a chord/lyric sheet with only superficial listening to the original recording. It's not surprising that the leader is playing his/her acoustic guitar all the time and typically without much variation, except for chord changes and where a capo is placed. Usually minimal attention is given to the original arrangement of the song's multiple parts, and this isn't advocacy for just trying to copy the original recording with multitracks/stems. If one listens to the isolated acoustic guitar track/stem of an original recording ( see MultiTracks.com "rehearsal mix" ), not only is the acoustic guitar laying out frequently, in certain parts of the song, but often they're playing very specific parts and not just strumming chords in G,D,C,A, or E positions. The same might be said of keyboard players just playing piano with sustained pads under every note. Granted piano/synth or electric guitar player also may be learning and playing an identifying riff or vamp for a given song, but today's CCM recordings really have under appreciated production values with multiple interwoven parts where the guitars, keys, drums, and vocals combine to compliment one another and enhance the worship experience. I've frequently heard the worship leader and other musicians say "we want to make the song our own and not copy Hillsong, Elevation Worship, or Bethel" etc.. But I argue that to make your own arrangement as musically valid as the original, you have to first know the original arrangement which means to know the original parts. Then you can modify or eliminate them, but arguably that can take even a higher level of musical expertise. In a lot of "music appreciation" courses taught in schools, the first emphasis is placed on careful listening. That applies to preparing music for worship on Sundays.
Allen, that’s a good word! Yes, if you want to make your own arrangement, that’s fine. But there’s a lot of value in knowing how to arrangement a song and how everything works together and not just everyone punching chords. Thank you for sharing this!
I've not watched the video yet but as much as I like your videos, I gotta say, what do you do when your doing acoustic worship or not using a track?🤔🤔