Sneaking secular licks into worship tunes

I've seen a few comments in recent threads about secular bits worked into worship songs, which I love to do, too. I think it's kind of subversive fun in that the "cool" people (however you might define that) hear it and go "Hey, cool." whereas it just goes past the others unnoticed. I don't know if y'all would want to make this an add-to thread but it might be interesting to have an ever growing list of licks for future reference. If you like the idea, reply with "quote" and add your favorites to the bottom of the list. I'll start:

1. All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises: China Grove intro works perfectly. Watch all the heads pop up when you start! Hilarious.

Cricket. Cricket. Okay, I guess it's just me then.

some of journey's licks from "faithfully" i have found fit into some of the slower songs. not with the same amount of gain, of course. but maybe i just like it because it's an interesting combination. hah

Lord Let Your Glory Fall - use the Sweet Child of Mine riff played really slow in between the verses.

We Want to See Jesus Lifted High - use as many Journy Anyway You Want it riffs and solo's in this song. It's like it's the same tune.

I get what you are doing, but I always play off/around the melody, the radio version or stick with pretty stock stuff, unless there's something in a chart that catches my eye.

Without trying to divert or break forum rules, I think breaking the congregation from their worship by making them think of a secular song is probably not in the right spirit of worship. Learn from every guitarist, of course, but don't mimic something you know will take away from the reason for being in worship.

My previous worship team leader liked solos, often requesting solos on songs that didn't have solos. It got pretty stressful, having to make up 2-3 solos between Wednesday rehearsal and service. On more than a few occassions, I snuck in a few bars of Pink Floyd when I ran out of ideas for the solo.

Lots of religious songs and hymns come from folk and blues songs, as well as from classical (and other era) pieces. This kind of borrowing has been happening for many, many generations. I don't think of licks, chord progressions, bits of similar melody, or any group of notes as secular, they're just notes. Same goes for the many styles involved in church/religious music...they're just styles. What matters is how they are used and intended.

Peace, Mike.

"A Mighty Fortress" was allegedly written to the tune of a well-known German drinking song of the time. We used to do a song called "Jesus, You are my Best Friend" that had the same intro as Baba O'Riley. Not sure anybody knew it but the rythm section. :lol:

When you play "I Am Free," you can literally play "Where the Streets Have No Name." It is the exact same song. Intro licks, verse, bridge, everything. Seriously. I'm surprised their was never a law suit.

When you play "I Am Free," you can literally play "Where the Streets Have No Name." It is the exact same song. Intro licks, verse, bridge, everything. Seriously. I'm surprised their was never a law suit.

I led PnW for the first time this past Sunday and we did a song I found on youtube by a group called Unhindered. It was called "Free to Run." Yet when I brought it in, a few on the team recognized it and called it "I Am Free."

I'm wondering if we're talking the same song here? If I knew the other song, "Streets With No Name," it would be easier for me to tell.

Earth Wind and Fire's That's the Way of the World as it was written with completely different lyrics. Plenty of that type of thing has gone on in church history. Some examples:

What Child is This/Greensleeves

Londonderry Aire/Danny Boy/He Looked Beyond My Faults and Saw My Needs

At the Cross/At the Bar (at the bar where I smoked my first cigar)

Contemporary Worship consists of all types of music with Christian lyrics. In our church, people like rock based songs and those are the ones that result in cheers and actual signs of life in the congregation. You get them excited about one or two lively songs and then move into the phase where that energy is guided into praise and worship, and excitement about the sermon. I think that the combination results in worshipers who are actually awake and receptive.

We usually have about 200-250 people in the early P&W service who like the upbeat songs. The ones that allow me to rock out with a down and dirty overdriven solo generally get the best response. It's all about making worship fun that gets the results, IMHO. Then, you can channel the excitement down to a receptive response to the sermon.

I've worked in some licks from Marshall Tucker's Can't You See on some songs that have that classic repeating D-C-G chord progression. Kind of cool to transpose a flute solo to guitar.

I led PnW for the first time this past Sunday and we did a song I found on youtube by a group called Unhindered. It was called "Free to Run." Yet when I brought it in, a few on the team recognized it and called it "I Am Free."

I'm wondering if we're talking the same song here? If I knew the other song, "Streets With No Name," it would be easier for me to tell.

Yes. We are speaking about the same song. "I Am Free," and "Free to Run." I believe that "I Am Free" is the correct title, but I have heard it called both.

"Where the Streets Have No Name," is the first track off of U2's 1987 multi-platinum selling album "The Joshua Tree."

Here is a link to the official music video where U2 plays the song from a roof top to a spontaneous crowd of Los Angelinos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UiY3XsRvK4

You will immediately recognize the main chorus riff from "I Am Free."

I love "I Am Free," by the way. It's a great song with a great, scripture based message.

amazing grace to the rhythm of house of the rising sun

How come half of the Worship Service threads are about 'getting away with something'?

SG and those devil horns, wah pedal and now secular licks. I just don't understand why it is so important to drag other things into a church service.

I'm not being ugly, just please explain why playing in church brings on the urge to push the accepted limits. Beyond me...

My neighbor and I who are both guitar playing converted sinners talk about this frequently. Satan drug us through the bars and secular music to serve his purpose. We believe God gets vicarious joy that now as disciples of Christ the tables have turned and we are using Satan's teachings against him - that's pretty awesome. Furthermore, I always remember from the 40 Days of Purpose Rick Warren saying that God loves all kinds of music as long as they are used for HIS Glory and HIS Kingdom. I think that says it ALL!

Rock on For the Glory of God!

Yes. We are speaking about the same song. "I Am Free," and "Free to Run." I believe that "I Am Free" is the correct title, but I have heard it called both.

"Where the Streets Have No Name," is the first track off of U2's 1987 multi-platinum selling album "The Joshua Tree."

Here is a link to the official music video where U2 plays the song from a roof top to a spontaneous crowd of Los Angelinos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UiY3XsRvK4

You will immediately recognize the main chorus riff from "I Am Free."

I love "I Am Free," by the way. It's a great song with a great, scripture based message.

Holy smokes you hit it on the head. I played it D-G-Bm-A-D and that chord progression is spot on. Granted I'm not a U2 fan, but given their popularity I'm surprised I hadn't heard this before. Leadwise I was playing with the same basic notes but different phrasing.

How come half of the Worship Service threads are about 'getting away with something'?

SG and those devil horns, wah pedal and now secular licks. I just don't understand why it is so important to drag other things into a church service.

I'm not being ugly, just please explain why playing in church brings on the urge to push the accepted limits. Beyond me...

Good question RodeoTex, been wondering that myself. I'm not good enough to copy other people's stuff. I'm only able to do what I can do. That means that I play whatever works for the song some of which is secular/bluesy sounding. That's what I know and that's what I have to offer. I don't sneak it in I just try to be appropriate to the song.

Here is a friend of mine playing at his church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QibxPUELcZU

amazing grace to the rhythm of house of the rising sun

We did this also in our church to the song house of the rising sun.

And a song called Sweet Home up in Heaven, to the music of, Sweet Home Alabama. I am not sure where the lyrics came from for that, but should have seen the faces of the congregation when they heard me kick the intro. They were confused and figured I had lost my mine.

amazing grace to the rhythm of house of the rising sun


I have wanted to try that for so long, but we haven't because we have a real stickler in our congregation who believes a hymn should be sang the way they were written :roll:. But don't get me wrong I love hymns as much as the next guy. He never has given the PT a try, he is very stuck in what he likes and doesn't and he has that right, I just wish he would come around a little.

I used to warm up doing power chords to the Pink Panther melody and one sunday the music director told me "they have you turned down so low you should play that in the middle of the praise set, just to see if anyone hears it." Haven't tried that yet, maybe this Sunday will be different.

"Sing to the King" ----> "Where the Streets Have No Name" intro during the verse with stereo delay.

Lots of fun and it fills the room (actually the gymnasium!)

Ya, I used to drink & gamble for the devil.
Now, I drink & gamble for god.

amazing grace to the rhythm of house of the rising sun

or to Peaceful, Easy Feeling. We are working on Sweet Home Alabama with new lyrics :D

If you listen to Lincoln Brewster, you'll hear secular licks. Pops Staples played blues licks over hymns. Most gospel and traditional blues standards share the same changes and turnarounds.

I'm not saying rip into "Freebird" just because it fits over the changes. But when the Lord is moving me, worship becomes more than playing the changes or the notes on the page. He guides my hands.

BTW, I'm Chris, and I'm new around here. Love guitars, but I'm currently Tele-less. Got a Strat and a Les Paul and I play for my King at Cameron Baptist Church in Lawton OK.


Sing a new song to Him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.
Psalm 33:3