Is the music at your church guitar or keyboard driven?

broadcaster · December 26th, 2003, 09:52 AM

Our team is primarily driven by the keys. The guitar(s) are mostly just fill.

My observation is a great deal of music, contemporary or worship, being recorded today is guitar driven.

Personally, I prefer guitar driven worship. What do you all prefer?

God bless,
b

tom grossheider · December 26th, 2003, 10:10 AM

Ours is mixed up pretty well. It used to be almost all piano based, but not any more. Acoustic or electric guitars are much more prominent than before.

reverbbb · December 26th, 2003, 11:18 AM

I know . . . ambiguous answer.

It actually depends on who is choosing songs for the week. We are in a four part rotation of who selects songs. The E.C., the P&W leader, will pick a variety of songs that tend to lean towards the modern P&W energy (meaning guitar). Michael (25 y.o.), selects primarily guitar songs. Holly, our keyboardist, selects - hmm, keyboard songs. Actually, several of the songs that she picks are traditionally guitar driven songs, but she excells at keyboard and does a great job of steering them with keys. I play both guitar and keys. I find myself enjoying guitar songs more often. However, I will often take the time to get really focused on keys for a particular series of songs during P&W time. When I play the keys, I usually add more heart and soul to what I play. Also, I have been known to play the whole P&W on keys either when another guitarist was not available, or we had the guitar well covered by someone else.

In general, I think our church is mostly a modern guitar driven presentation. I often use electric guitars to liven the sound, but I love using the accoustic most of the time.

This Sunday, I'm considering to allow the other guitarist to play the acoustic, while I toy around with an electric mandolin on some of the songs. The problem is, the mandolin sounds good on 2 songs out of 3 (#1 & 3), but the middle song is not so sweet . . . yet.

broadcaster · December 26th, 2003, 06:19 PM

I occasionally sub bass at another church where the guitarist is very talented. The music here is guitar driven and to my ears comes off really tight and skillfull. I think this helps worshipers "enter in" the Lords presence, the skillfull part.

b

PVTele · December 27th, 2003, 03:35 PM

Without a doubt, guitar driven - though we do play quite a few hymns & older worship songs originally written for piano. Keeps the fingers exercised

For quite a long time we were without a regular keyboard player - and now Stacey's coming on board (sorry about the pun) it will take her a while to pull us into keyboard mode. That will be fun - while I love acoustic guitar worship with electric lead bits (our usual), keyboard-led music is a totally different challenge, and can make a truly 'joyful noise unto the Lord'!

Wahwax · December 29th, 2003, 11:12 AM

Both. We mix it up pretty good. We don't shy away from a song based on what drives it. I prefer the guitar driven songs, but I wouldn't want it to be all guitar. I like diversity. Some of my favorites are the slower keyboard songs where I can just play little fills.

daweed · December 31st, 2003, 11:10 AM

Very guitar-driven. When our keyboard player leads worship, she has a little trouble, because of the guitar-driven songs (she's used to playing fills and accompanying, rather than leading on the songs).

Hoss · December 31st, 2003, 01:18 PM

definitely guitar driven...

our keyboard player goes to a different church now...lol.

Rick Towne · December 31st, 2003, 02:09 PM

Our pastor plays a strat w/EMG's through a Line 6; I play various Tele-styles, a 12 string, and a mandolin through an AC-15 or Allen Old Flame 2x10. The funny thing is that he is very much a distorted tone guy, while I tend to live in the clean to light over drive world. We sometimes do harmonized melody guitar parts. We are thus very guitar oriented. However, our main lead singers are the drummer and keyboard player, who used to be the lead singer in a mainstream Nashville country band. Both of their spouses sing as well, as do Pastor Don and I, so we have a full sound (no bass player at present beyond the key's left hand).

LesStrat · January 2nd, 2004, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoss

definitely guitar driven...

our keyboard player goes to a different church now...lol.

LOL

We haven't reached this point. P&W is guitar-driven in our church, but altar calls and prayer times are still keyboard-driven.

broadcaster · January 6th, 2004, 09:21 PM

Replys here show most are guitar driven. I would have thought most would be keyboard driven, according to my church experience. Of course this is a Tele guitar forum, maybe not a big hang for pianists.

PraiseCaster · January 6th, 2004, 09:35 PM

Were definitely guitar driven: one acoustic, one electric (me), a bass, and drum's. One of the ladies that sings, plays keyboards, but she hasnt for the P&W Team yet: lacking in confidence. But we keep encouraging her during practice, and one of these days I'm sure she will be up there!

zsno · February 2nd, 2004, 08:13 PM

we have a keyboard and piano! and all the singers are old...so the 15 year old lead player(me) gets left out a lot...i never get solo breaks and people in the church seem to think that an overdriven tone is louder then my clean and it "gives them headaches", although I've gotten my own mother to tell me how I sound...her response "I didn't know you were playing". I've gotten complaints saying I can't be heard and ones saying I'm too loud. All the singers think I'm too loud cause the PA isn't set up good and the monitors aren't good, plus they aren't projecting their voices. So I feel like I've been kicked aside....things are gonna change...I'll show 'em a guitar-driven song...

-zsno

Matt Plescher · February 2nd, 2004, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zsno

...so the 15 year old lead player(me) gets left out a lot... So I feel like I've been kicked aside....things are gonna change...I'll show 'em a guitar-driven song...

-zsno

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you are frustrated with your worship team. It could be your church just isn't that interested in guitar driven music - and there is nothing wrong with that. One style is not better than another, the right style is the one that enables the people to meet with God in worship. If the electric guitar fits in at your chuch, great, if it doesn't it may not be productive to fight for your taste.

Not trying to lecture here, the last church I attended my acoustic fit the best so that is what I played. Playing electric would have been fun but it would have been the wrong fit.

Again welcome,

Cheers
Matt

zsno · February 2nd, 2004, 10:38 PM

it's not that the congregation doesn't like guitar driven music...I get compliments when I do get solos and stuff...it's just that most of the team is hard to work with and doesn't understand the musical aspect of performing live, such as they don't know how to read music or know how to use repeats and stuff or what an instrumental break is or how to set up the sound system and blend everything...everything is starting to get monotone, everyting sounds the same. i just gotta try to explain to them that it won't hurt to play the songs different then we've been playing them for the past two or three years...add some spice, different guitar lines, tempos, modulations, etc...

- the less angry zsno

reverbbb · February 2nd, 2004, 11:28 PM

Is "everyone" on the same page that seems to be different from you? The reason I ask, is if there is even one person with some creative clout in the choir that you can befriend, you could make some head way towards getting your perspective presented.

Once you have established a relationship with someone who you think can help, explain (BUT DON'T CRITISIZE) your point of view to them. Eventually, ask them to be your advocate in a meeting with the P&W leader. All of this is assuming that you are right and not being rightious. As Matt pointed out, it is very unproductive to create tension for the sake of getting your style observed, if everyone else is dead set against it.

If this approach fails, then fear not. Use these days as your backbone for learning. Nothing stays the same forever (except God of coarse). There may be a day when you are the leader of that team, or you may be asked to lead a break out group for the youth. Or even still, there may be a day when you get a new P&W leader or that you move to another church. I would recommend that you develop and polish you skills and do your best to raise your voice, without raising their concerns (gradually, in other words).

Just another $.02 worth. (believe it or not, I've given away a fortune in $.02 advice).

BTW, please foregive my assuming writing style. I don't mean to be condescending. I still working on trying to offer heart felt advise without sounding condescending. As I reread my post, it appears that I still have a ways to go.

zsno · February 3rd, 2004, 06:21 PM

we used to have a music minister who saw things the way the younger more "rocky" people do...but he left...then things got a little mellower...then we got a new mm and he didnt want to intrude and do things his way...but i think he should step in and take some more control now...seeing as we lost one electric player to another church...bassist went to college...and our acoustic player who's really rocky is on deployment for 6 months. so basicly im left alone...well my dad platys keys and he doesnt really care which way we go...and of course he likes to see me playing stuff i like...so basicly i think i need to convince the mm to take some more authority and help change things some...i know the guitar side is in everyone...its just that we lost it for a while and we need to find it again....

-zsno

ducatiman · February 18th, 2004, 10:02 PM

on no , PERCUSSION driven. 2 drummers and exedrin headache # 876.

ducatiman

Geno · February 21st, 2004, 04:54 AM

Our church is guitar driven the band used to get paid and they were not members.So now it is recorded on Mini Disc and the guitar player does it all,he has a sax player who plays flute to.I would like to play but I don't read music and beleive me I have tried to learn how, it just doesn't register in my mind.All greek to me.I play by ear and am very lucky that way I can usually pick up a song in just a few min.Someday I will go up and do a couple of songs by myself but for now I just listen in Awe.The music leader(guitar) player is way good ,I learn stuff just watching him.

reverbbb · February 21st, 2004, 12:08 PM

Do you know Matt Plescher? You guys live in the same town, way up there.

Geno · February 21st, 2004, 09:38 PM

I don't beleive I have,might have been at the same place at same time though,its a small world.Even in a state this size.We have a lot of musicians and different venues and lots of church's.My Aunt and I go to the "New Grace Christian" and have been since it was restarted.I plan to do some songs there in the future.I play some of the open mic's in town and we have a street gig every 4th of July.This will be our 6th year.I slip in some christian music sometimes,our band plays all styles.

Matt Plescher · February 23rd, 2004, 02:01 PM

We might be doing a benefit concert with a bunch of bands in March over at Crosspoint Community (that's where I attend). Doesn't have to be Christian material, my band does both.

The last one we did was the FreeFall festival last year.

Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

Cheers
Matt

Tom A. · February 23rd, 2004, 04:17 PM

Definate guitar driven, I play the Tele and there is also one acoustic and one bass, of course ONE drummer

esquire_player52 · February 24th, 2004, 10:31 AM

we have three guitars. if i were to play and the other guy that plays guitar (we play occasionally) we would have 5 guitars and 1 bass guitar.

December 26th, 2003, 09:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
broadcaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Midwest Age: 50 Posts: 579 1 Photos	Is the music at your church guitar or keyboard driven? Our team is primarily driven by the keys. The guitar(s) are mostly just fill. My observation is a great deal of music, contemporary or worship, being recorded today is guitar driven. Personally, I prefer guitar driven worship. What do you all prefer? God bless, b __________________ The tone is in your fingers.

December 26th, 2003, 11:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
reverbbb Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Just Plano, Texas Age: 50 Posts: 3,702 34 Photos	Yes I know . . . ambiguous answer. It actually depends on who is choosing songs for the week. We are in a four part rotation of who selects songs. The E.C., the P&W leader, will pick a variety of songs that tend to lean towards the modern P&W energy (meaning guitar). Michael (25 y.o.), selects primarily guitar songs. Holly, our keyboardist, selects - hmm, keyboard songs. Actually, several of the songs that she picks are traditionally guitar driven songs, but she excells at keyboard and does a great job of steering them with keys. I play both guitar and keys. I find myself enjoying guitar songs more often. However, I will often take the time to get really focused on keys for a particular series of songs during P&W time. When I play the keys, I usually add more heart and soul to what I play. Also, I have been known to play the whole P&W on keys either when another guitarist was not available, or we had the guitar well covered by someone else. In general, I think our church is mostly a modern guitar driven presentation. I often use electric guitars to liven the sound, but I love using the accoustic most of the time. This Sunday, I'm considering to allow the other guitarist to play the acoustic, while I toy around with an electric mandolin on some of the songs. The problem is, the mandolin sounds good on 2 songs out of 3 (#1 & 3), but the middle song is not so sweet . . . yet. __________________ "I come here to reflect a little."™ Myspace Guitarist P&W Forum

December 27th, 2003, 03:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
PVTele Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Wool, Dorset, UK Posts: 282	Guitar Without a doubt, guitar driven - though we do play quite a few hymns & older worship songs originally written for piano. Keeps the fingers exercised For quite a long time we were without a regular keyboard player - and now Stacey's coming on board (sorry about the pun) it will take her a while to pull us into keyboard mode. That will be fun - while I love acoustic guitar worship with electric lead bits (our usual), keyboard-led music is a totally different challenge, and can make a truly 'joyful noise unto the Lord'! __________________ The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord - Isaiah 38:20

December 29th, 2003, 11:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
Wahwax Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Location: Missouri Posts: 430	Both. We mix it up pretty good. We don't shy away from a song based on what drives it. I prefer the guitar driven songs, but I wouldn't want it to be all guitar. I like diversity. Some of my favorites are the slower keyboard songs where I can just play little fills. __________________ www.guitarforum.net My guitars

December 31st, 2003, 01:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
Hoss NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: new albany in. Posts: 6	definitely guitar driven... our keyboard player goes to a different church now...lol. __________________ I don't claim to be a musician or singer...but i sure do love to sing and play!

December 26th, 2003, 10:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
tom grossheider Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mokena, IL Posts: 730	Ours is mixed up pretty well. It used to be almost all piano based, but not any more. Acoustic or electric guitars are much more prominent than before.

December 26th, 2003, 06:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
broadcaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Midwest Age: 50 Posts: 579 1 Photos	I occasionally sub bass at another church where the guitarist is very talented. The music here is guitar driven and to my ears comes off really tight and skillfull. I think this helps worshipers "enter in" the Lords presence, the skillfull part. b

December 31st, 2003, 11:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
daweed TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 41	Very guitar-driven. When our keyboard player leads worship, she has a little trouble, because of the guitar-driven songs (she's used to playing fills and accompanying, rather than leading on the songs).

December 31st, 2003, 02:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rick Towne Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 818	Guitars.... Our pastor plays a strat w/EMG's through a Line 6; I play various Tele-styles, a 12 string, and a mandolin through an AC-15 or Allen Old Flame 2x10. The funny thing is that he is very much a distorted tone guy, while I tend to live in the clean to light over drive world. We sometimes do harmonized melody guitar parts. We are thus very guitar oriented. However, our main lead singers are the drummer and keyboard player, who used to be the lead singer in a mainstream Nashville country band. Both of their spouses sing as well, as do Pastor Don and I, so we have a full sound (no bass player at present beyond the key's left hand).

January 6th, 2004, 09:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
broadcaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Midwest Age: 50 Posts: 579 1 Photos	Replys here show most are guitar driven. I would have thought most would be keyboard driven, according to my church experience. Of course this is a Tele guitar forum, maybe not a big hang for pianists.

January 6th, 2004, 09:35 PM	#12 (permalink)
PraiseCaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Whittier, California Posts: 4,310 16 Photos	Guitars can drive? Were definitely guitar driven: one acoustic, one electric (me), a bass, and drum's. One of the ladies that sings, plays keyboards, but she hasnt for the P&W Team yet: lacking in confidence. But we keep encouraging her during practice, and one of these days I'm sure she will be up there! __________________ Later! PraiseCaster Visit Guitarists Praise and Worship Forum!! Dance Like David, MySpace

February 2nd, 2004, 08:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
zsno Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newport News, Virginia Posts: 112	keys.... we have a keyboard and piano! and all the singers are old...so the 15 year old lead player(me) gets left out a lot...i never get solo breaks and people in the church seem to think that an overdriven tone is louder then my clean and it "gives them headaches", although I've gotten my own mother to tell me how I sound...her response "I didn't know you were playing". I've gotten complaints saying I can't be heard and ones saying I'm too loud. All the singers think I'm too loud cause the PA isn't set up good and the monitors aren't good, plus they aren't projecting their voices. So I feel like I've been kicked aside....things are gonna change...I'll show 'em a guitar-driven song... -zsno

February 2nd, 2004, 10:38 PM	#15 (permalink)
zsno Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newport News, Virginia Posts: 112	well... it's not that the congregation doesn't like guitar driven music...I get compliments when I do get solos and stuff...it's just that most of the team is hard to work with and doesn't understand the musical aspect of performing live, such as they don't know how to read music or know how to use repeats and stuff or what an instrumental break is or how to set up the sound system and blend everything...everything is starting to get monotone, everyting sounds the same. i just gotta try to explain to them that it won't hurt to play the songs different then we've been playing them for the past two or three years...add some spice, different guitar lines, tempos, modulations, etc... - the less angry zsno

February 2nd, 2004, 11:28 PM	#16 (permalink)
reverbbb Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Just Plano, Texas Age: 50 Posts: 3,702 34 Photos	zsno Is "everyone" on the same page that seems to be different from you? The reason I ask, is if there is even one person with some creative clout in the choir that you can befriend, you could make some head way towards getting your perspective presented. Once you have established a relationship with someone who you think can help, explain (BUT DON'T CRITISIZE) your point of view to them. Eventually, ask them to be your advocate in a meeting with the P&W leader. All of this is assuming that you are right and not being rightious. As Matt pointed out, it is very unproductive to create tension for the sake of getting your style observed, if everyone else is dead set against it. If this approach fails, then fear not. Use these days as your backbone for learning. Nothing stays the same forever (except God of coarse). There may be a day when you are the leader of that team, or you may be asked to lead a break out group for the youth. Or even still, there may be a day when you get a new P&W leader or that you move to another church. I would recommend that you develop and polish you skills and do your best to raise your voice, without raising their concerns (gradually, in other words). Just another $.02 worth. (believe it or not, I've given away a fortune in $.02 advice). BTW, please foregive my assuming writing style. I don't mean to be condescending. I still working on trying to offer heart felt advise without sounding condescending. As I reread my post, it appears that I still have a ways to go. __________________ "I come here to reflect a little."™ Myspace Guitarist P&W Forum

February 3rd, 2004, 06:21 PM	#17 (permalink)
zsno Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newport News, Virginia Posts: 112	well.... we used to have a music minister who saw things the way the younger more "rocky" people do...but he left...then things got a little mellower...then we got a new mm and he didnt want to intrude and do things his way...but i think he should step in and take some more control now...seeing as we lost one electric player to another church...bassist went to college...and our acoustic player who's really rocky is on deployment for 6 months. so basicly im left alone...well my dad platys keys and he doesnt really care which way we go...and of course he likes to see me playing stuff i like...so basicly i think i need to convince the mm to take some more authority and help change things some...i know the guitar side is in everyone...its just that we lost it for a while and we need to find it again.... -zsno

February 18th, 2004, 10:02 PM	#18 (permalink)
ducatiman TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 76	guitar or keyboard driven? on no , PERCUSSION driven. 2 drummers and exedrin headache # 876. ducatiman

February 21st, 2004, 04:54 AM	#19 (permalink)
Geno TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Anchorage,Alaska Posts: 48	Guitar Our church is guitar driven the band used to get paid and they were not members.So now it is recorded on Mini Disc and the guitar player does it all,he has a sax player who plays flute to.I would like to play but I don't read music and beleive me I have tried to learn how, it just doesn't register in my mind.All greek to me.I play by ear and am very lucky that way I can usually pick up a song in just a few min.Someday I will go up and do a couple of songs by myself but for now I just listen in Awe.The music leader(guitar) player is way good ,I learn stuff just watching him.

February 21st, 2004, 12:08 PM	#20 (permalink)
reverbbb Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Just Plano, Texas Age: 50 Posts: 3,702 34 Photos	Geno Do you know Matt Plescher? You guys live in the same town, way up there. __________________ "I come here to reflect a little."™ Myspace Guitarist P&W Forum

February 21st, 2004, 09:38 PM	#21 (permalink)
Geno TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Anchorage,Alaska Posts: 48	I don't beleive I have,might have been at the same place at same time though,its a small world.Even in a state this size.We have a lot of musicians and different venues and lots of church's.My Aunt and I go to the "New Grace Christian" and have been since it was restarted.I plan to do some songs there in the future.I play some of the open mic's in town and we have a street gig every 4th of July.This will be our 6th year.I slip in some christian music sometimes,our band plays all styles.

February 23rd, 2004, 02:01 PM	#22 (permalink)
Matt Plescher Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West Michigan Posts: 837	Hey Geno- We might be doing a benefit concert with a bunch of bands in March over at Crosspoint Community (that's where I attend). Doesn't have to be Christian material, my band does both. The last one we did was the FreeFall festival last year. Shoot me a PM if you're interested. Cheers Matt __________________ She's not your satellite She doesn't miss you So turn off your smoke machine And Marshall stack

February 23rd, 2004, 04:17 PM	#23 (permalink)
Tom A. Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Byram, Mississippi Age: 57 Posts: 426 9 Photos	Definate guitar driven, I play the Tele and there is also one acoustic and one bass, of course ONE drummer

February 24th, 2004, 10:31 AM	#24 (permalink)
esquire_player52 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 482	we have three guitars. if i were to play and the other guy that plays guitar (we play occasionally) we would have 5 guitars and 1 bass guitar. __________________ let's let love give what it gives