Most Bizarre Experience in P&W

asatattack · June 15th, 2008, 10:00 PM

The second time I played in church, during the middle of the opening song, the worship leader got mad at the people and walked off the platform. Here I am just adjusting to the situation and he leaves! UH UH... ...UH... ... another worship leader pinch hitted, but it was very uncomfortable.

e-merlin · June 15th, 2008, 10:12 PM

There is no such word as hitted, just use hit.

Anyhow, so much for brotherly love.

Rick Towne · June 16th, 2008, 01:06 AM

How about playing (and being band organizer) for a visiting WL (with backup singers) who refused to tell me the songs or then keys before we started? It was a 2,000 person conference event.

bobthecanadian · June 16th, 2008, 09:05 AM

Most bizarre? Does this include barking, roaring, laughing/weeping uncontrollably, screaming, shrieking, shaking on the floor and running around the sanctuary?

Or, are we talking about the less bizzare and more easily to accept things? For example, not being able to play with the worship team because my hair was too long, I was too young a Christian and too... well, different. However, when the guest speaker asked where the drummer was, I was quickly rushed to the stage to fill in. After I cut my hair (of my own accord) I was then asked to be a part of the main team.

Or was it the time, during a retreat with another church that we were asked to take turns leading the P and W time, but when it was discovered that it wasn't their friend scheduled to lead that they rescinded.

What kind of bizarre are we talking about here? I think the first one is the most bizarre. The other two examples are just examples of poor judgment and veiled religion.

I think I would rather not have a set list before the set started than the other things I mentioned. I actually like that kind of challenge. I really don't like "worship" rehearsals either... but I love to practice and to play.

Bob

DickensCPA · June 16th, 2008, 11:39 AM

Funny that I clicked in and read this today. I've been playing guitar for 30 of my 36 years, BUT just got the nerve to do what I knew I was supposed to recently. We got a new WL about 5-6 weeks ago and much to my amazement we had tryouts (kinda) and I got the role of lead guitarist.

This was a HUGE step for me. I'm very shy and have been content to be a bedroom hacker all these years. Yesterday was my 3rd Sunday up there. The first Sunday I had to keep wiping the sweat of my Tele where my picking arm rested on the top. I'm not a sweater at all, but it was running down I was so nervous.

Anyway we play and everything goes well. The butterflies start heading north for the summer. Last week was very good. This Sunday he didn't e-mail any of us the songs we would be playing during the week. I like to familiarize myself with them before Sunday morning. Everyone else on the P&W team have been playing most of these songs every Sunday for years. My wife is over the pre-school and I'd been spending a lot of time back there helping her and didn't have the luxury of even hearing them.

He goes thru 10 songs before Church. We play about 6 or 7 and break for the message. Come back up for alter call and play the next song in line. He then breaks into a new song. He plays keyboards so it took me a second to hear what he was playing. The rest of us were looking at each other. I pick out the chord progression and the bass and rhythm guitar start following me. As soon as we get it, he breaks into another unfamiliar, then he does it a 3rd time.

After Church the rhythm guy says he doesn't think he's heard those last 3. None of us had, they were originals he'd written a month or so ago.

Some of you seasoned guys that have played live a bit probably don't give that another thought. I'm like the OP and I'm trying to get into this and get some kind of comfort level and it threw me off. It would have been A LOT easier if another stringed instrument took off on an original. My ears have to take a second to get with an electronic keyboard.

I made it thru though and be there next Sunday, happy as a lark.

Brad

SatelliteOrders · June 16th, 2008, 12:07 PM

One time, the worship leader started going somewhere that nobody else understood, and everyone backed off to see where this was going.

This meant that the worship leader was suddenly a capella, without meaning to be or wanting to be.

Preacher · June 16th, 2008, 03:07 PM

I had a young guitar player do a behind the head thing with his strat while in the middle of one of my youth worship sets. WHILE the new Pastor's wife who was checking out our youth group, which I WAS applying for the youth Pastor's job as we had also lost our Youth Pastor with the previous Pastor.
Needless to say I did not get the job, I don't think it was from the guitar show, although I am not sure... hehe

goldtopper · June 17th, 2008, 04:10 AM

The guy I share duties guitar and vocals-wise with changed keys mid song. Sometimes he thinks his voice is too low or high at the moment.
One day we were hummin along and he yells "go to F".
WTH?
Thankfully it was an easy transposition, but our keyboard player was lost for a bit.

refin · June 17th, 2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SatelliteOrders

One time, the worship leader started going somewhere that nobody else understood, and everyone backed off to see where this was going.

This meant that the worship leader was suddenly a capella, without meaning to be or wanting to be.

Now THAT'S funny.........

LeroyBlues · June 17th, 2008, 10:39 AM

I like the "Go to........"'s in the middle of a song, challenging.

Just don't yell out "Go to fb" you'll lose me for a second.

refin · June 18th, 2008, 10:40 AM

I've had so many,let me see.........

Once I was sitting in church after playing praise and worship.The teaching was on "spontaneous offering of praise" or something like that.All of a sudden the woman speaking said," Steve,come on up here and do some spontaneous praise on your guitar!" Talk about being caught off guard! This was one of those "you-never-know-what-might-happen-next" churches,so I wasn't super surprised.
Anyway,I was playing electric,and the band was pretty current on upbeat stuff-----so after all eyes turned on me,I got up on stage and picked up my guitar.What the heck was I going to do? I started playing some cool chord inversions with delay and a little reverb.I then kicked it up a notch with some solo lines (overdriven),afterwards backing the volume way down with volume swells,chasing the delay setting.After about a minute and a half,I stopped playing,and you could have heard a pin drop

.Everyone was staring,not knowing what to think("Is he done? Was that it? Did God like it?").
I slinked offstage,got into my seat,and for the rest of the night I was thinking,"What the heck was that for?"

golfnut · June 18th, 2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by refin

I've had so many,let me see.........

Once I was sitting in church after playing praise and worship.The teaching was on "spontaneous offering of praise" or something like that.All of a sudden the woman speaking said," Steve,come on up here and do some spontaneous praise on your guitar!" Talk about being caught off guard! This was one of those "you-never-know-what-might-happen-next" churches,so I wasn't super surprised.
Anyway,I was playing electric,and the band was pretty current on upbeat stuff-----so after all eyes turned on me,I got up on stage and picked up my guitar.What the heck was I going to do? I started playing some cool chord inversions with delay and a little reverb.I then kicked it up a notch with some solo lines (overdriven),afterwards backing the volume way down with volume swells,chasing the delay setting.After about a minute and a half,I stopped playing,and you could have heard a pin drop

.Everyone was staring,not knowing what to think("Is he done? Was that it? Did God like it?").
I slinked offstage,got into my seat,and for the rest of the night I was thinking,"What the heck was that for?"

Was that a church praise and worship or a guitar workshop? I think I would have gone up and played and sang some praise and worship song that I knew rather than doodle on the guitar. Thats probably what they were expecting you to do. If you know you're in a church that pulls that kind of thing it may help to learn a few worship songs that you can break in to at will. I bet you'll have them ready if there is a next time.

refin · June 19th, 2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfnut

Was that a church praise and worship or a guitar workshop? I think I would have gone up and played and sang some praise and worship song that I knew rather than doodle on the guitar. Thats probably what they were expecting you to do. If you know you're in a church that pulls that kind of thing it may help to learn a few worship songs that you can break in to at will. I bet you'll have them ready if there is a next time.

I understand what you are saying,but this wasn't a singing request.She wanted me to be spontaneous with improvision,playing unto the Lord on the spot.
This was a church that was ...well....different.

ChurchPlayer · June 19th, 2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by refin

I understand what you are saying,but this wasn't a singing request.She wanted me to be spontaneous with improvision,playing unto the Lord on the spot.
This was a church that was ...well....different.

I've encountered stuff like this, and I know some folks here are involved in worship projects that are based on spontaneous, "prophetic" playing. I'm sure that's what they were looking for, but they likely expected a familiar phrase from a hymn or chorus to anchor it down a bit. That said, if your playing was an offering to the Lord then they got what they asked for.

stoopalini · June 19th, 2008, 11:55 AM

On one sunday morning, we were between songs and someone was giving announcements, or a 'Welcome to our Church' speach. At the end, she said "Let's pray" but the 15/16 year old lead guitarist thought she said "Let's play" and much to our surprise, he started the next tune which was a heavy distorted lead intro song (News Boys maybe?) We all just looked at each other, and joined in. The prayer ended up coming after that song LOL!

This was about 2 years ago, and we still have a big laugh over this!

Thomas.

Psyclone · June 20th, 2008, 12:37 PM

Played a solo version of "This Train" and rocked the house. Had this strange kinda Leadbelly thing goin' on, complete w/ the 12 string and foot stomping on a hollow stage. Sounded like a big bass drum.

It was one of about three performances in my life where I felt like I was playing and singing like I would really like to hear myself play and sing like.

guitarzan13 · June 20th, 2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by refin

I've had so many,let me see.........

Once I was sitting in church after playing praise and worship.The teaching was on "spontaneous offering of praise" or something like that.All of a sudden the woman speaking said," Steve,come on up here and do some spontaneous praise on your guitar!" Talk about being caught off guard! This was one of those "you-never-know-what-might-happen-next" churches,so I wasn't super surprised.
Anyway,I was playing electric,and the band was pretty current on upbeat stuff-----so after all eyes turned on me,I got up on stage and picked up my guitar.What the heck was I going to do? I started playing some cool chord inversions with delay and a little reverb.I then kicked it up a notch with some solo lines (overdriven),afterwards backing the volume way down with volume swells,chasing the delay setting.After about a minute and a half,I stopped playing,and you could have heard a pin drop

.Everyone was staring,not knowing what to think("Is he done? Was that it? Did God like it?").
I slinked offstage,got into my seat,and for the rest of the night I was thinking,"What the heck was that for?"

Sounds like a Marty McFly moment!! LOL

guitbusy · June 20th, 2008, 02:23 PM

Not too crazy, but very painful to sing to. The drummer played a 3/4 song in 4/4, the whole thing. Nobody knew except the band, I think they thought it was our own rendition. Proof positive that most people don't notice your mistakes even if they last the whole song.

Another time my wife, the keyboard player, forgot to transpose on the keyboard. We did the whole song in the wrong key. The lead guitarist played right along in the wrong key and everything sounded fine. After the song he moved in and whispered to my wife, the next one is in E right?

Not too exciting, but I like it that way.

Deadduck · June 27th, 2008, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DickensCPA

After Church the rhythm guy says he doesn't think he's heard those last 3. None of us had, they were originals he'd written a month or so ago.

Wow, I'd never do that. Most of my band would walk out on me.

To me, that's pretty arrogant of him, and risks ruining a worship service.

I read and hear alot about sponteneity, but personally, I plan out everything. On Monday, the pastor and I talk about what his next sermon will be on, and I pick out music to go along with it. I send the set list out to the band Monday afternoon. If it happens to be something new or one that we haven't done in a while, I'll send an .mp3 of the song, along with copies of the chord sheet. Usually, we'll practice a new song several weeks before we introduce it. Every once in a while we'll do a new song on one practice. And we have some pretty good musicians who have been playing together a while.

Most of us don't use chord sheets on stage, but we have a set list which shows the key of each song, just to remind us.

Gaber_771 · June 27th, 2008, 08:11 AM

Wow guys, these P&W group stories make a blues jam sound really simple...

Broley · August 7th, 2008, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deadduck

I read and hear alot about sponteneity, but personally, I plan out everything.

Same here. I play guitar/bass and (occasionally) sing in our church's youth praise band, and our youth leader usually likes for everything to be planned too. He likes for the songs to lyrically tie in with his message, which is sometimes difficult, but usually effective.

As for "bizzare" moments? One of the most embarrassing things happened last year, playing "If We Are The Body." Our regular bass player was starting a song out on electric guitar. He was playing a really soft, melodic intro over a peaceful keyboard progression. It was all very lovely, and after awhile I was to come in with the main acoustic progression (started on F#m, I believe). Anyways, it sounded awesome in practice, and we had all gotten this simple transition down. So the keyboards and electric are doing their intro, and then the time comes, and I come in on that big F#m annnnnndd.. OUT OF TUNE!!

It was really obvious too, and our drummer started laughing, which made me laugh. It wouldn't have been a big deal if the song wasn't so serious, but we were already a minute and a half into playing it so I just kept on. Luckily, not much of the congregation noticed, and by the time we got to the first chorus all was normal again.

Now I get paranoid that my guitars will magically detune at just the wrong moments!

guitarzan13 · August 7th, 2008, 08:28 AM

Broley..... Welcome to the forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Broley · August 7th, 2008, 08:49 AM

Thanks guitarzan!

I also want to say that it's a great thing to have this section in a guitar forum. Music is such a huge part of worship!

June 15th, 2008, 10:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
asatattack NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Peace Country Posts: 5	Most Bizarre Experience in P&W The second time I played in church, during the middle of the opening song, the worship leader got mad at the people and walked off the platform. Here I am just adjusting to the situation and he leaves! UH UH... ...UH... ... another worship leader pinch hitted, but it was very uncomfortable.

June 16th, 2008, 09:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
bobthecanadian Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Age: 42 Posts: 1,531	Most bizarre? Does this include barking, roaring, laughing/weeping uncontrollably, screaming, shrieking, shaking on the floor and running around the sanctuary? Or, are we talking about the less bizzare and more easily to accept things? For example, not being able to play with the worship team because my hair was too long, I was too young a Christian and too... well, different. However, when the guest speaker asked where the drummer was, I was quickly rushed to the stage to fill in. After I cut my hair (of my own accord) I was then asked to be a part of the main team. Or was it the time, during a retreat with another church that we were asked to take turns leading the P and W time, but when it was discovered that it wasn't their friend scheduled to lead that they rescinded. What kind of bizarre are we talking about here? I think the first one is the most bizarre. The other two examples are just examples of poor judgment and veiled religion. I think I would rather not have a set list before the set started than the other things I mentioned. I actually like that kind of challenge. I really don't like "worship" rehearsals either... but I love to practice and to play. Bob __________________ It don't mean a thang if it ain't got that TWANG!!!

June 16th, 2008, 12:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
SatelliteOrders Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lafayette, IN Age: 38 Posts: 505	One time, the worship leader started going somewhere that nobody else understood, and everyone backed off to see where this was going. This meant that the worship leader was suddenly a capella, without meaning to be or wanting to be. __________________

June 16th, 2008, 03:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
Preacher Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma Age: 40 Posts: 243	I had a young guitar player do a behind the head thing with his strat while in the middle of one of my youth worship sets. WHILE the new Pastor's wife who was checking out our youth group, which I WAS applying for the youth Pastor's job as we had also lost our Youth Pastor with the previous Pastor. Needless to say I did not get the job, I don't think it was from the guitar show, although I am not sure... hehe __________________ So many guitars... so little time.

June 17th, 2008, 04:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
goldtopper Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell Posts: 852	The guy I share duties guitar and vocals-wise with changed keys mid song. Sometimes he thinks his voice is too low or high at the moment. One day we were hummin along and he yells "go to F". WTH? Thankfully it was an easy transposition, but our keyboard player was lost for a bit. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

June 16th, 2008, 01:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rick Towne Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 809	How about playing (and being band organizer) for a visiting WL (with backup singers) who refused to tell me the songs or then keys before we started? It was a 2,000 person conference event.

June 16th, 2008, 11:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
DickensCPA TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lebanon, TN Age: 36 Posts: 66	Funny that I clicked in and read this today. I've been playing guitar for 30 of my 36 years, BUT just got the nerve to do what I knew I was supposed to recently. We got a new WL about 5-6 weeks ago and much to my amazement we had tryouts (kinda) and I got the role of lead guitarist. This was a HUGE step for me. I'm very shy and have been content to be a bedroom hacker all these years. Yesterday was my 3rd Sunday up there. The first Sunday I had to keep wiping the sweat of my Tele where my picking arm rested on the top. I'm not a sweater at all, but it was running down I was so nervous. Anyway we play and everything goes well. The butterflies start heading north for the summer. Last week was very good. This Sunday he didn't e-mail any of us the songs we would be playing during the week. I like to familiarize myself with them before Sunday morning. Everyone else on the P&W team have been playing most of these songs every Sunday for years. My wife is over the pre-school and I'd been spending a lot of time back there helping her and didn't have the luxury of even hearing them. He goes thru 10 songs before Church. We play about 6 or 7 and break for the message. Come back up for alter call and play the next song in line. He then breaks into a new song. He plays keyboards so it took me a second to hear what he was playing. The rest of us were looking at each other. I pick out the chord progression and the bass and rhythm guitar start following me. As soon as we get it, he breaks into another unfamiliar, then he does it a 3rd time. After Church the rhythm guy says he doesn't think he's heard those last 3. None of us had, they were originals he'd written a month or so ago. Some of you seasoned guys that have played live a bit probably don't give that another thought. I'm like the OP and I'm trying to get into this and get some kind of comfort level and it threw me off. It would have been A LOT easier if another stringed instrument took off on an original. My ears have to take a second to get with an electronic keyboard. I made it thru though and be there next Sunday, happy as a lark. Brad

June 17th, 2008, 10:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
LeroyBlues TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 56 5 Photos	I like the "Go to........"'s in the middle of a song, challenging. Just don't yell out "Go to fb" you'll lose me for a second.

June 18th, 2008, 10:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
refin Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Florida Panhandle Age: 52 Posts: 1,880	I've had so many,let me see......... Once I was sitting in church after playing praise and worship.The teaching was on "spontaneous offering of praise" or something like that.All of a sudden the woman speaking said," Steve,come on up here and do some spontaneous praise on your guitar!" Talk about being caught off guard! This was one of those "you-never-know-what-might-happen-next" churches,so I wasn't super surprised. Anyway,I was playing electric,and the band was pretty current on upbeat stuff-----so after all eyes turned on me,I got up on stage and picked up my guitar.What the heck was I going to do? I started playing some cool chord inversions with delay and a little reverb.I then kicked it up a notch with some solo lines (overdriven),afterwards backing the volume way down with volume swells,chasing the delay setting.After about a minute and a half,I stopped playing,and you could have heard a pin drop .Everyone was staring,not knowing what to think("Is he done? Was that it? Did God like it?"). I slinked offstage,got into my seat,and for the rest of the night I was thinking,"What the heck was that for?" __________________ "For You,Lord,are good,and ready to forgive,and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You." Ps. 86:5 http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/refin_music.htm MASTER VOLUME? WHAT'S A MASTER VOLUME?

June 19th, 2008, 11:55 AM	#15 (permalink)
stoopalini NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 6	On one sunday morning, we were between songs and someone was giving announcements, or a 'Welcome to our Church' speach. At the end, she said "Let's pray" but the 15/16 year old lead guitarist thought she said "Let's play" and much to our surprise, he started the next tune which was a heavy distorted lead intro song (News Boys maybe?) We all just looked at each other, and joined in. The prayer ended up coming after that song LOL! This was about 2 years ago, and we still have a big laugh over this! Thomas.

June 20th, 2008, 12:37 PM	#16 (permalink)
Psyclone TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, Ohio Posts: 32	Played a solo version of "This Train" and rocked the house. Had this strange kinda Leadbelly thing goin' on, complete w/ the 12 string and foot stomping on a hollow stage. Sounded like a big bass drum. It was one of about three performances in my life where I felt like I was playing and singing like I would really like to hear myself play and sing like.

June 20th, 2008, 02:23 PM	#18 (permalink)
guitbusy TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 36	Not too crazy, but very painful to sing to. The drummer played a 3/4 song in 4/4, the whole thing. Nobody knew except the band, I think they thought it was our own rendition. Proof positive that most people don't notice your mistakes even if they last the whole song. Another time my wife, the keyboard player, forgot to transpose on the keyboard. We did the whole song in the wrong key. The lead guitarist played right along in the wrong key and everything sounded fine. After the song he moved in and whispered to my wife, the next one is in E right? Not too exciting, but I like it that way.

June 27th, 2008, 08:11 AM	#20 (permalink)
Gaber_771 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WV Age: 23 Posts: 291	Wow guys, these P&W group stories make a blues jam sound really simple... __________________ "floor it... thats a technical term"

August 7th, 2008, 08:28 AM	#22 (permalink)
guitarzan13 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: LaGrange, GA Age: 43 Posts: 1,203 8 Photos	Broley..... Welcome to the forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ Practice make permanent!!!!....Perfect practice makes perfect!!! Chris B. Current Band www.productoffaith.net Last band as a bass player www.neonjones.com

August 7th, 2008, 08:49 AM	#23 (permalink)
Broley TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Age: 17 Posts: 16	Thanks guitarzan! I also want to say that it's a great thing to have this section in a guitar forum. Music is such a huge part of worship! __________________ "Why do they always teach us that it's easy and evil to do what we want and that we need discipline to restrain ourselves? It's the hardest thing in the world--to do what we want. And it takes the greatest kind of courage. I mean, what we really want."