Was asked to help start a Praise Band at church...

I've been out of touch with newer Christain music for quite a while. The only music I've played at church for 5+ years is bluegrass/gospel. Now that the church would like a praise band, and I'm the most experienced guitar player thereJ(experienced, not all that good), I've been asked to help out.
What are some of the newer contemporary songs I should know? Who are the artists that most praise bands with different levels of musicanship can handle playing? I think we'll have acoustic and electric guitars, bass, and hopefully keyboard and drums. Are there some websites I can visit that are dedicated to this? I'd appreciate any help. Thanks!

Paul Baloche and Chris Tomlin have alot of great choruses that are fairly easy to play. In fact, many of the "contemporary" choruses are laid out pretty simply. I recommend subscribing to CCLI Songselect (www.songselect.com). You can download a bunch of choruses from there...well worth the money spent (and keeps you legal:wink:). But, keep in mind that everything doesn't have to be the "new" stuff. At my church, we still sing hymns and some "older" choruses (think "Change My Heart O God," "More Precious Than Silver," etc.). Putting together a set of music for worship is a creative process (much prayer required). Good luck and have FUN!

Hillsongs, United, Passion (which is Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, David Crowder, and a few others). Michael W. Smith has a good collection of songs on his worship albums (they are mostly other people's songs that he pulled together). Those are some good mainstream ones.

If you're up for something a little less mainstream, Christ For The Nations Institute puts out some great stuff.

Hillsongs, United, Passion (which is Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, David Crowder, and a few others). Michael W. Smith has a good collection of songs on his worship albums (they are mostly other people's songs that he pulled together). Those are some good mainstream ones.

If you're up for something a little less mainstream, Christ For The Nations Institute puts out some great stuff.

+1

You can't miss with this bunch, especially for starting up a Praise Band, since much of the music will likely be familiar to your congregation.

For a different appraoch, there are some folks writing new music for old hymns. We play a lot of the songs from Reformed University Fellowship's Indelible Grace project (http://www.igracemusic.com/) and Red Mountain Music (http://www.redmountainchurch.org/rmm/rscs/resources.html).

For a different appraoch, there are some folks writing new music for old hymns. We play a lot of the songs from Reformed University Fellowship's Indelible Grace project (http://www.igracemusic.com/) and Red Mountain Music (http://www.redmountainchurch.org/rmm/rscs/resources.html).

Those are pretty cool links. Will have to use them.

We approached it by getting the CCLI subscription, using the resources that giantslayer mentioned and by looking at a bunch of (and choosing one) "alternate song books". We use the song book as a set of standards and fill in with Hillsongs, etc as needed.

Thanks, guys. I am also trying to recruit players and I know that will be a challenge. I'll check out those sites and artists.

+1 on Hillsong stuff. It's a bunch of different singer/songwriters with a GREAT band that also rotates somewhat. Most of the songs they do you can find a video for on Youtube from their main guitarist Nigel Hendroff. He shows how to play songs without oversimplifying stuff.

In addition to the other strong resource suggestions, I would add 'GettyMusic" and Sovereign Grace Music. Both of these offer great contemporary hymns as well as contemporary worship songs. Also, Integrity Music offers a great resource tool that selects a CD and adds a "How to play" vid with it. It is very helpful but I can't remember the name of the resource. I've been out for 7 weeks due to major surgery.

Revman

Thanks for those ideas. Revman, take care...hope you're healing.

Another idea to throw out there (don't know if you've tried it, just thinking out loud) is to see if there are any contemporary Christian radio stations in your area. It's quick and easy to listen while driving, you may pick up some good ideas that way.

If you know anyone that attends other churches that play what you're looking to play, you could gather some ideas there too. I might be restating the obvious, which you've already tried - my apologies if so.

-jm

TelecasterSam,
Yes, I'm doing better each week that goes by. Monday (tomorrow) marks 7 weeks since my surgery. I had to have 10" of my Aorta replaced with a Dacron Graft. My Aortic dissection (which killed actor John Ritter) took place November 8, 2008. Yes, it's been a long road but God has been so good through it all. Today, I led worship (2 services). First time leading again since my surgery February 2, 09.

Thanks for asking.

Revman

Revman, good to hear you're back at it. I'm certain the King is pleased! Vineyard Music Group has plenty of resources also.

Hillsongs, United, Passion (which is Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, David Crowder, and a few others). Michael W. Smith has a good collection of songs on his worship albums (they are mostly other people's songs that he pulled together). Those are some good mainstream ones.

If you're up for something a little less mainstream, Christ For The Nations Institute puts out some great stuff.
Maybe add some Israel Houghton if you have a number of African Americans in the congregation. Along with Chris Tomlin and Hillsongs the New Breed tends to cross over to other cultures from the other side.

Revman, that sounds like a terrible surgery to go through. Hang in there. I'm glad to hear you're on the mend!

Just want to say "Thank You" to those who gave words of encouragement. Yes, it's a tough, complex and long surgery. For the anestheologist and the surgeon, it is especially tough and complicated. In my case, they went in the left side, deflate the left lung, spread the rib cage, put me on heart/lung machine, then, began the resection of the aorta.
Today, marks 8 weeks since surgery.

Revman

If its easy and singable that you're looking for, you definitely can't go wrong with Chris Tomlin stuff... pretty much everything is G D Em C with a capo on various frets... Hillsong is a little more complex and Hillsong United is a little bit more than their "big church" companions. I LOVE David Crowder Band stuff... but its often not very "congregation friendly" but great to do once in a while... especially "Only You" <-- GREAT song!

Paul Baloche and Chris Tomlin have alot of great choruses that are fairly easy to play. In fact, many of the "contemporary" choruses are laid out pretty simply. I recommend subscribing to CCLI Songselect (www.songselect.com). You can download a bunch of choruses from there...well worth the money spent (and keeps you legal:wink:). But, keep in mind that everything doesn't have to be the "new" stuff. At my church, we still sing hymns and some "older" choruses (think "Change My Heart O God," "More Precious Than Silver," etc.). Putting together a set of music for worship is a creative process (much prayer required). Good luck and have FUN!
Paul Baloche has an entire series of instructional DVDs at www.leadworship.com .

His method with the open chords in many ways is "the sound" of modern CCM with all the sus chords. It is easy for folks of different skill levels to pick up with that one day rehersal that most praise bands must make do with.