Just part of the job, ma'am.

[Parma_TeleMon]

This weekend I'm playing at two of our campuses, one tonight and the other tomorrow morning. Same team, different worship leader (normally it would be the same WL). Of course, one of them is male and the other female, so same set, different keys. No worries, we get the list on Wednesday so there's some time to prepare.

Just got a call, our worship leader for tonight (the guy) is out sick, his sister (killer voice, plays piano) is leading in his stead. Some new songs, different keys.

So this week I've had to learn the same song, which I've never played before, in three keys. And I'm not using a capo.

I'm not complaining, but this is fairly common to worship band folks.

Let's hear your stories!

[Bush Wiebe]

I hear ya talking! You learn your parts and then have to relearn them last minute. Sometimes the one guitar player on our team can't make it and I have to incorporate his guitar parts into mine just minutes before the service. That's a tough challenge but is a great skill to have. Maybe one day I'll actually have it! Good fun!

[bikeracr]

This is pretty much par for the course. At the end of the day, being able to change keys on the fly has made me a much better musician.

[still_fiddlin]

Tonight I'll be going to play with 2 singers and a percussionist - none of whom I've ever played with, and I'll have to consult with the media person to find out what/how many verses are being done. Yes, I'm packing my capo. But, my real secret weapon...

[Bush Wiebe]

Originally Posted by still_fiddlin

Tonight I'll be going to play with 2 singers and a percussionist - none of whom I've ever played with, and I'll have to consult with the media person to find out what/how many verses are being done. Yes, I'm packing my capo. But, my real secret weapon...

What is that thing? Whatever it is, if it works, I want one.

[Teleworshipkid]

Originally Posted by Bush Wiebe

What is that thing? Whatever it is, if it works, I want one.

A giant block of... cheese?

[Parma_TeleMon]

Originally Posted by Teleworshipkid

A giant block of... cheese?

That's what it looks like!

[Parma_TeleMon]

I remember having a conversation with one of our drummers a few weeks ago. He's a pro jazz cat who gigs a lot with different folks on the weekends. We decided that playing on worship teams (especially in mobile churches) frequently requires the skill set of a session musician.

[burtonfan]

It's common...brush up on your transposition. It's cheaper than a capo! lol

[still_fiddlin]

Ha. It's a pad of small post-it notes.

I can transpose just fine, maybe more than fine. But if I'm am *it*, carrying the music on a lone acoustic, and the singer who shows up says, "Can you take it down just a tiny bit?" I am not playing in Db. Sorry. And, there's a lot of acoustic parts that really only work (IMO) if they are done in the original voicings, or *maybe* one other open key. (Captivate Us, on this week's list, comes to mind.)

[christhee68]

Originally Posted by Parma_TeleMon

I remember having a conversation with one of our drummers a few weeks ago. He's a pro jazz cat who gigs a lot with different folks on the weekends. We decided that playing on worship teams (especially in mobile churches) frequently requires the skill set of a session musician.

Easy for him to say--drummers don't have to worry about changing keys.

[Bush Wiebe]

Another story from just this morning. We had a guest speaker and when the sermon ended, he called me to get the band together and come and lead the church in a song he had just written. What the...???? So up we went with no idea what was going on. It turned out it was just new lyrics to Amazing Grace so all was well, but there was a minute there where we were on the edge of panic. Whew!

[Parma_TeleMon]

Bush, that's hilarious! T remember being on a team a few years ago where we all took our rntire chart file to church every week because you never knew what the pastor was going to ask you to play for ministry time. Helped keep the lamp trimmed, ya know?

[Parma_TeleMon]

Originally Posted by christhee68

Easy for him to say--drummers don't have to worry about changing keys.

Come to think of it - that same drummer complains he can't hear the trombone in the monitors. Of course, we have no trombone player....

[rolling56]

off topic and sorry but:

Every time i see this thread i haven't clicked on it to view but kept thinking it would have a pic of Jack Webb (Dragnet) with the "Just part of the job, ma'am"

[Parma_TeleMon]

Originally Posted by rolling56

off topic and sorry but:

Every time i see this thread i haven't clicked on it to view but kept thinking it would have a pic of Jack Webb (Dragnet) with the "Just part of the job, ma'am"

That was definitely my inspiration.

[livinblood]

Those situations is what makes playing worship fun. Using all your skills to get through. I love it! And of course the added bonus of having the privilege of bringing in God's presence.

[adkima00]

Originally Posted by livinblood

Those situations is what makes playing worship fun. Using all your skills to get through. I love it! And of course the added bonus of having the privilege of bringing in God's presence.

I completely agree... And it's also why I always have a sharpie with me in my case. I occasionally miss Tuesday night rehearsal. We also rehearse on sunday at 10 for the 11 service. I've been spotted a time or two transposing during rehearsal after the piano player modulates up a step without a heads up. A thick black sharpie is easier to see than a thin blue pen.

[LiveOak]

I can relate my friends. We get our setlist and music scores early as well, but sometimes the worship leader will change the key at the last minute for any number of perfectly understandable reasons. I just adapt as best I can and things usually turn out O.K.

[bawdyli'lmonkey]

Had a WL who couldn't pick a key for as many singers as we had, so we'd do half of each song in 3-5 different keys... too screechy for sopranos, too low for baritones, etc. Nashville number system made it way easier. By the time we were done, practice had taken about 90 minutes.