[Tim Bowen]

Certainly, Gospel Music can be referenced to specific tunes (I'd quickly pick "Love Lifted Me"). But in a pinch, the crux of the vibe can be copped over basic chords within a variety of tunes. The trick is with close voice leading, common tonalities on top of the chords, and 3rds in the bass (particularly with IV chords). And for guitar players, the more "pianistic" approach of pick and fingers is more effective than chord strums.

A couple of IV-I moves in the key of G (C - G/B- Amin7 - G):

-3--3--3--3---
-1--3--1--0---
-0--0--0--0---
-2--0--2--0---
-3--2--0--x---
-x--x--x--3---


-x--x--x--x--
-8--8--8--0---
-5--7--5--0--
-5--5--5--0---
-x--x--x--x---
-x--7--5--3---

A move in G (G - C/G - G7/B) as heard on John Lennon's "Imagine"


-x--x--x-----
-0--1--3-----
-0--0--0-----
-0--2--3-----
-x--x--2-----
-3--3--x-----

For tune choice, why not go to the original sources? This stuff came originally from African-American slave "hollering", and found its way into Southern Baptist churches (get your hands on an old Southern Baptist Hymnal). Also, (seriously) go listen to some music in an old traditional black Baptist church, or if you're in a small, podunk town, perhaps a Caucasian Baptist church. Forget much of modern Christian music as a source, as it seems to me that U2 is more of an influence here (nuthin' wrong with that, just ain't "Gospel", as I hear it). Pardon the generalizations, I just call it as I hear it (I'm a white guy). Again, chord structure and voice leading is paramount. Early Elton John and Mahalia Jackson both sound like "Gospel Music" to me.