Ideas for Gospel Songs?

ddewerd · March 21st, 2005, 10:31 AM

My band has an opportunity to play at a community event for some really good money, but part of the deal is that we need to play about 45 minutes of Gospel. We currently do a bunch of old and new country, as well as the gamut of classic/southern rock and blues, and we are reasonably accomplished/competent musicians (2 guitars, bass, drums). We also have a female vocalist we can pull in who can sing some gospel stuff as well.

So I'm looking for song suggestions or ideas of stuff that is "mainstream" or "classic" gospel, and would also be fairly easy to learn. It's one of the few styles of music that I haven't ever really played, so I don't quite know where to start. Are there any "standards" of gospel like you have for other styles of music? I'd like to play some things that would be recognizable by the audience.

We have a couple of months to learn it before the gig (mid-summer), so I'd hate to give up on this gig because the money is so good.

Thanks,
Doug

guitarplayer51 · March 21st, 2005, 12:54 PM

I saw the light
I'll Fly Away
Will the circle be unbroken
One day at a time
On the wings of a Dove
I can't even walk (without you holding my hand )
and a lot more..

Do a search on the web for George Jones or Merle Haggard or any of the older guys for there gospel music. You might even check bluegrassers. They all used to do gospel and it will have more of a country flavor to it...

Tim Bowen · March 22nd, 2005, 01:11 AM

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.

Tim Bowen · March 22nd, 2005, 02:09 AM

Also, (since I was referencing the key of G), for the V chord, try D11, (sometimes) better visualized as C/D:

-0-
-1-
-0-
-0-
-x-
-x-

-3-
-5-
-5-
-x-
-5-
-x-

-x-
-8-
-9-
-10-
-x-
-10-

-5-
-5-
-5-
-5-
-5-
-x-

And inverted/perverted (D on top):

-10-
-8-
-9-
-10-
-x-
-x-

Joel Terry · March 22nd, 2005, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarplayer51

I saw the light
I'll Fly Away
Will the circle be unbroken
One day at a time
On the wings of a Dove
I can't even walk (without you holding my hand )
and a lot more..

Do a search on the web for George Jones or Merle Haggard or any of the older guys for there gospel music. You might even check bluegrassers. They all used to do gospel and it will have more of a country flavor to it...

And don't forget to look at Elvis' contributions to gospel. Some of his turns on classic gospel tunes:

"Where Could I Go (But To The Lord)"
"Swing Down Sweet Chariot"
"Working On A Building"
"Peace In The Valley"
"Where No One Stands Alone"
"In The Garden"
"Amazing Grace"
"Why Me Lord"
"Only Believe"

Listening to E singing these tunes, backed by The Jordannaires, The Inspirations, or J. D. Sumner and The Stamps gives me shivers up my spine.

Elvis was a walking encyclopedia of gospel music. Besides, when he was younger, his ultimate goal was to be in a Southern gospel quartet!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Bowen

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.

Listen to Tim on this: He is as right as right can be, period! You have to be "in the know" to pull off old-time Southern gospel music correctly.

Joel

TheGoodTexan · March 22nd, 2005, 08:30 AM

You need to get a CD the Amy Grant put out a couple of years ago...Legacy: Hymns & Faith.

Vince Gill produced it, played guitar and mandolin on it, and sang BGVs all over it.

It's basically a Vince Gill album, featuring Amy Grant on lead vocals.

It's best described as "Americana"....a little bluesy at times...a little folk-y at times....a little country at times...a little blue-grassy at times....just what gospel music is supposed to sound like.

A great, great musical listen...regardless of your faith or religious preference, or lack there of.

ddewerd · March 22nd, 2005, 08:43 AM

thanks for all the suggestions! this is just what I need

now to start doing my homework....

Thanks,
Doug

DADGAD · March 22nd, 2005, 09:14 AM

"What A Friend We Have In Jesus" blues style, with stride piano, rocks! Email me and I'll send you a midi file if your interested.

Gary

Ptrallan01 · March 22nd, 2005, 02:36 PM

Great knowledge of the subject!!! Truly impressive.

I would suggest listening to the last few CD's by the Five Blind Boys of Alabama, particularly their cover of a Tom Waits tune, You Got to keep the devil down in the hole!

Talk to the producers and see if they have a suggestion for what they want modern black gospel tends toward a combination of jazz and funk. If you send me a PM I will get my wife to give you a list of CD's and groups in the genre. About all she listens to these days are gospel groups from the 60's to the 90's.

Peter

popthree · March 22nd, 2005, 10:42 PM

Blessed Assurance
I Surrender All

Those 2 rock

pops_staples1 · April 1st, 2005, 01:08 PM

'slow train coming', 'saved' & 'shot of love'

plenty to choose from here

danbind · April 2nd, 2005, 11:31 AM

This is on the "Just Another Band from East L.A." compilation, and is a wonderful gospel song with great guitar lines--perfect for your situation.

TheGoodTexan · April 2nd, 2005, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pops_staples1

'slow train coming', 'saved' & 'shot of love'

plenty to choose from here

I forgot about those albums. There are some really good spots there. I'll have to search them out again.

boogaloo · April 2nd, 2005, 11:06 PM

just saw them at the Kimmel in Philly. Their new singer (replacing George) is awesome. Spirit filled and heartfelt.

Also, while not truly Gospel- check out

Larry Norman

Glen Kaiser and the Rez band

Good stuff.

Keep on Praising!

Brian

hippietim · April 2nd, 2005, 11:34 PM

I don't care if it rains or freezes...

Tylercaster · April 4th, 2005, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Listening to E singing these tunes, backed by The Jordannaires, The Inspirations, or J. D. Sumner and The Stamps gives me shivers up my spine.

To me, that's some of the best gospel music ever recorded. I've worked with the Stamps twice, and boy the stories those guys have. And they couldn't be any nicer.

Oh yeah I HATE to be picky but the above Inspriations should be the Imperials.

Thankyou, Thankyouverymuch.

Darrell · April 4th, 2005, 03:13 PM

Angel Band by Ralph Stanley does it for me.

Will the Circle be Unbroken is mandatory.

Vincent Caster · April 4th, 2005, 03:31 PM

"This little light of mine" can be done as 12 bar blues.

"Jesus just left Chicago" might be stretching it but depends on how you arrange it.

teletwangler · April 4th, 2005, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrell

Angel Band by Ralph Stanley does it for me.

Will the Circle be Unbroken is mandatory.

Yup, tally my vote for the old timey gospel songs. My faves are Farther Along, I'm Working on a Building and Where the Soul of Man Never Dies. Simple to play and they sound great played with a country rock feel.

March 21st, 2005, 10:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
ddewerd Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Willow Springs, Great-State-of-Texas Age: 48 Posts: 609 21 Photos	Ideas for Gospel Songs? My band has an opportunity to play at a community event for some really good money, but part of the deal is that we need to play about 45 minutes of Gospel. We currently do a bunch of old and new country, as well as the gamut of classic/southern rock and blues, and we are reasonably accomplished/competent musicians (2 guitars, bass, drums). We also have a female vocalist we can pull in who can sing some gospel stuff as well. So I'm looking for song suggestions or ideas of stuff that is "mainstream" or "classic" gospel, and would also be fairly easy to learn. It's one of the few styles of music that I haven't ever really played, so I don't quite know where to start. Are there any "standards" of gospel like you have for other styles of music? I'd like to play some things that would be recognizable by the audience. We have a couple of months to learn it before the gig (mid-summer), so I'd hate to give up on this gig because the money is so good. Thanks, Doug

March 21st, 2005, 12:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
guitarplayer51 TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 68	A few we like to do: I saw the light I'll Fly Away Will the circle be unbroken One day at a time On the wings of a Dove I can't even walk (without you holding my hand ) and a lot more.. Do a search on the web for George Jones or Merle Haggard or any of the older guys for there gospel music. You might even check bluegrassers. They all used to do gospel and it will have more of a country flavor to it...

March 22nd, 2005, 01:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 47 Posts: 3,054	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. __________________ Can't say, 'cause I don't know. - Bullwinkle

March 22nd, 2005, 02:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 47 Posts: 3,054	Also, (since I was referencing the key of G), for the V chord, try D11, (sometimes) better visualized as C/D: -0- -1- -0- -0- -x- -x- -3- -5- -5- -x- -5- -x- -x- -8- -9- -10- -x- -10- -5- -5- -5- -5- -5- -x- And inverted/perverted (D on top): -10- -8- -9- -10- -x- -x- __________________ Can't say, 'cause I don't know. - Bullwinkle

March 22nd, 2005, 08:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
TheGoodTexan Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Age: 35 Posts: 4,750 17 Photos	You need to get a CD the Amy Grant put out a couple of years ago...Legacy: Hymns & Faith. Vince Gill produced it, played guitar and mandolin on it, and sang BGVs all over it. It's basically a Vince Gill album, featuring Amy Grant on lead vocals. It's best described as "Americana"....a little bluesy at times...a little folk-y at times....a little country at times...a little blue-grassy at times....just what gospel music is supposed to sound like. A great, great musical listen...regardless of your faith or religious preference, or lack there of. __________________ It takes a big man to show his emotions. And it takes an even bigger man to laugh at that man.

March 22nd, 2005, 08:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
ddewerd Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Willow Springs, Great-State-of-Texas Age: 48 Posts: 609 21 Photos	thanks for all the suggestions! this is just what I need now to start doing my homework.... Thanks, Doug

March 22nd, 2005, 09:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
DADGAD Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Palmdale, CA Posts: 764	"What A Friend We Have In Jesus" blues style, with stride piano, rocks! Email me and I'll send you a midi file if your interested. Gary __________________ "I need to learn some new scales and stop obsessing about this stuff." http://www.myspace.com/slickshoes

March 22nd, 2005, 02:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ptrallan01 Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 510 3 Photos	Tim Great knowledge of the subject!!! Truly impressive. I would suggest listening to the last few CD's by the Five Blind Boys of Alabama, particularly their cover of a Tom Waits tune, You Got to keep the devil down in the hole! Talk to the producers and see if they have a suggestion for what they want modern black gospel tends toward a combination of jazz and funk. If you send me a PM I will get my wife to give you a list of CD's and groups in the genre. About all she listens to these days are gospel groups from the 60's to the 90's. Peter

March 22nd, 2005, 10:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
popthree Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 2,525 44 Photos	Blessed Assurance I Surrender All Those 2 rock __________________ sent from my computer thingy (i don't have an iPhone)

April 1st, 2005, 01:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
pops_staples1 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: England Posts: 81	dylan's 3 gospel albums 'slow train coming', 'saved' & 'shot of love' plenty to choose from here

April 2nd, 2005, 11:31 AM	#12 (permalink)
danbind TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Annandale, VA Posts: 71	"Someday" by Los Lobos This is on the "Just Another Band from East L.A." compilation, and is a wonderful gospel song with great guitar lines--perfect for your situation.

April 2nd, 2005, 11:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
boogaloo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: S/E Pa. Age: 51 Posts: 1,133	Second The Blind Boys just saw them at the Kimmel in Philly. Their new singer (replacing George) is awesome. Spirit filled and heartfelt. Also, while not truly Gospel- check out Larry Norman Glen Kaiser and the Rez band Good stuff. Keep on Praising! Brian __________________ "..and I've got some tricks up my sleeve...oh yes indeed! It might come back to haunt 'cha..don't you throw that Mojo on me!"

April 2nd, 2005, 11:34 PM	#15 (permalink)
hippietim Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Raleigh Posts: 2,082	I don't care if it rains or freezes...

April 4th, 2005, 03:13 PM	#17 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 48 Posts: 2,424	humm Angel Band by Ralph Stanley does it for me. Will the Circle be Unbroken is mandatory. __________________ "Yeap, I like the American Standard Telecaster, I can even live with one a them PCB amps, and I even use one a them mul-tie-effects things too."

April 4th, 2005, 03:31 PM	#18 (permalink)
Vincent Caster Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Peekskill, New York Posts: 624 6 Photos	Couple "This little light of mine" can be done as 12 bar blues. "Jesus just left Chicago" might be stretching it but depends on how you arrange it.