What would you do??

I think that this should be a good section to put this question under. I'm in a "band" at my church, even though I'm the only person who is playing anything, they lady in charge keeps giving me these cd's with songs on them, and I can't find the tabs or the music to them anywhere, I try listening to them and figuring out the chords, but its really hard to do, any suggestions? because this stuff is like sorta rock and has a lot of technical stuff and solos in it, thanks.

I say try to learn the songs off the cd by ear. It's great practice. That's one of the ways that I learned when I was just starting. The youth minister at my church gave me cds of the songs we were learning so I could take them home and try to play them. Excellent ear training, and a good foundation in learning how to play along with songs you've never heard before. I know it's hard, but keep it up! Good luck.

A good hint is this: most worship songs consist of simply I, IV, and V. If there is a bridge section that sounds minor, it's probably the vi.

Thanks for the tip on the I IV and V. I'll see if it works with any of them. I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out, but now I need to look up some of those really really long drawn out chords that are on some of the music, for example, F#min9(4). Thats just an example, I don't think that chord is in there, but its not a regular chord that you are used to playing on the guitar, lol. Thanks a lot!!

Some long drawn out chords common to worship music are sus2 and add9 chords.

A lot of worship songs contain the high E and/or B strings as drone strings through chord progressions.

For example: "You Are Holy" is technically E, Asus2, F#m7add11, Bsus4 to B for the verse, then Asus2, Bsus4, C#m7, E for the chorus

But Mr. Dirt, I don't know those chords!! - you can more easily look at it like this... leave the high B and E strings open the whole time and play E, A, F#m, B, then A, B, C#m, E. Just don't put a finger down on the E or B strings. This makes for some interestingly named chords, but it's just due to drone strings.

Find out the key of the music, then think about I ii iii IV V vi (the most common diatonic chords, but mainly I, IV, V), and consider the possibility of drone strings, sus2 and add9 chords. This should get you through most basic songs.

A useful tip: When performing and in doubt about the fingering of a certain chord (perhaps you see a chord like Cmaj7#11), opt to play just the root and fifth, or just the triad (C major here) rather than guessing at how the chord is played; worship music is more about creating an atmosphere, and playing some wrong chord tensions is worse than not playing them at all. Less is more sometimes.

In other cases, it is appropriate to spice up simple worship songs a bit. On a song as simple as "Lord I Lift Your Name On High", where the verse is G, Cadd9, D, Cadd9, you can spice things up a bit using some chord extensions. You can make the G a Gadd9, the C a Cmaj7 (though sparingly), and maybe the D a Dsus2 or a Dadd9,11 (x, 5, 4, 0, 3, 0 - like a C major fingering slid up 2 frets, neat chord when used correctly).

You should be well versed in theory before attempting this, though... practice at home and use what you learn at home in church. After doing this a while, you can approach a song you've never played before and substitute and extend on the spot - but that's after years of practice.

Hope this helps. Keep up the work, and inform us of progress! Have fun, and worship and everything will turn out fine. That's the key, if you don't worship while playing, the people you are playing for won't either. Remember, you're not out to impress anybody, you're trying to create an atmosphere of worship.

for a klondike bar?

Originally posted by iiholly
for a klondike bar?

chocolate or vanilla?

Would you stand on one foot? Would you act like a monkey?

Would you...would you kill a man?

Originally posted by Rrhoads154

Originally posted by iiholly
for a klondike bar?

chocolate or vanilla?

vanilla :)

Originally posted by Jolly McJollyson
Would you stand on one foot? Would you act like a monkey?

Would you...would you kill a man?

I can see the headlines now "Man Kills for Ice Cream Treat."

Originally posted by Jolly McJollyson
Would you...would you kill a man?

Hmmm.... what was it again - chocolate or vanilla?

vanilla...

Thats a tuffie....... if I hated the person then ya I'd do it...... If I liked the person then...... ya I'd probably do it..... and if I loved the person I would.....



hmmmm.....





O who am I kiddin its a klondike bar of cours i wud!!!

I'd kill for a cruchy vanilla one, but thats just me. I'd probably kill with lack of the offer for a klondike bar. I mean... I would never do such a thing! Stop antagonizing me!