I'm now the "outside" musician.....

in my church (Va. Beach Christian Church)..... My wife and I joined this church a little over a year ago after our old church folded.... I've since become the sound man and she's singing in the choir. They've asked her to do a couple of solos and she wanted me to accompany her on acoustic guitar so I did that and have since played in some of the services on both acoustic and electric.... Anyway, for a good while they've been using a portable battery powered keyboard to accompany the choir and congregation at the Easter Sunrise Service. This year they asked me to do it on guitar. I thought of taking a battery powered Roland Cube amp and an electric guitar but instead I took my deep bowl Ovation and it worked great. We did "Morning Has Broken" and the Gaither tune "He Touched Me". I've now been asked to be the musician at any outside functions which require music. Problem is I can't read much, it's a good thing I knew those two tunes beforehand...... Anyone else do any solo accompany work in their church..............JH in Va.

When I first started with our worship band, I was asked to do a couple events both outside, or something special inside (not in the worship center). All with my mid bowl Ovation. I was "becoming" the outside guy, but gave up that spot because of the behavior of the lead singer involved (yah, there's drama in worship ministry). I've since stuck with sunday services only. (far less drama)

on my previous church, I was one of the guys before. I actually enjoyed getting the chance to play some "secular" music sometime. But, I have not done any that requires me to sightread and I would probably decline have it been the case.

Nice thing is that even now, I get calls to accompany friends from the old church in weddings/dedications/etc ... played 3 songs just a couple of months ago and I got free food :)

I've now been asked to be the musician at any outside functions which require music. Problem is I can't read much, it's a good thing I knew those two tunes beforehand......

If you are referring to reading lead sheets with actual music notation, and no chords conveniently listed, then it can be a huge advantage to be able to recognize key signatures and to know their diatonic chords. This is not that hard to learn and makes you look like a music whiz when someone hands out sheet music from a hymnal and you have 5 minutes to get ready to play. I don't sight read music notation either, but for the most part as a guitar accompanist we don't need to. We just need to know what chords to play in the song... so carry some cheat sheets. The first one tells you what key the music sheet is probably in, using its flats and sharps key signature.

The next cheat sheet should list the diatonic chords of each key (i.e., for a major key: I ii iii IV V vi vii°). You have enough now to at least work through the piece, using your ears to hear changes. No it's not perfect, but this makes a good starting approximation, and you'll improve as you listen to the melody and figure out what to play.

And another tip: use a capo. When the piece is handed out, you check the key signature and decide it is in Eb it is nice to not have to play barr chords the whole time when you are the solo instrument.