PADS
3 WAYS TO CREATE TRANSITIONS WITH PADS | Mike Graff
There's no question that worship pads do a this do just fine with light instrumentation. moment as well, and can't concentrate on both
great job of giving you an ambient, full sound Bonus: Since it's a spontaneous moment - without one of the two suffering.
during your worship songs. especially if you introduce it as such (‘Why don't
we sing the chorus again’), the congregation So, what I do is this: decide on a few simple
But what about the moments in between your isn't likely to be alarmed if you don't show the ‘prayer progressions’ you can pull out at any
songs? You have the opportunity to really use lyrics on the screen. Simply enjoy! given moment (1 4 m6 4, 4 1/3 m2 5, etc.), and
the space between one song (or other worship don't have any other team member play at that
service element) and the next to its fullest. But, CREATE AN ‘IN-BETWEEN’ SONG. moment. It's just you, your lead instrument, the
you also have the opportunity to potentially During rehearsal, decide on a simple chord pads, and your prayer. If you've decided on the
disrupt the focus or flow of the worship service progression that you can repeat multiple times as progression, you don't have to think about that.
too. a worship team. I usually repeat this progression The pads fill a nice space so you can finger-pick
lightly with light cymbal taps from the drummer, without having to be precisely on the tempo
So how can pad loops help? Let's walk through a the bassist playing simple notes up an octave, (it can ebb and flow as your prayer ebbs and
few ideas, tutorial style. If you started a pad loop and everyone else simply doing much less than flows). At this point, you can provide a beautiful
at the beginning of the song, it will continue to during the song. The pads will add the perfect musical atmosphere that you're able to mold
play as the song ends, filling the perfect amount amount of atmosphere, and you'll be set to and shape around the pacing and length of your
of your sound for you to do several things over improv as long (or as short) as you'd like to. At prayer.
it. Here are a few ideas. this point, you can share Scripture, pray, simply
enjoy the musical interlude, spontaneously sing, Transitions can be intimidating, but some
etc. - the sky's the limit! beautiful pad loops and some proactive work
EXTEND THE SONG ENDING.
When the song ends (and the pad continues to
will prepare you for being more ‘in the moment’
play), ask yourself if there's a section of the song DECIDE ON A FEW ‘PRAYER PROGRESSIONS’.
you just sang that's worth repeating. Or perhaps I like to pray after a song if the moment is right,
God is prompting you to repeat a section. This and without an ambient pad filling the space, I
can be easily led on just your lead instrument usually (and subconsciously) start playing more
plus pads. You can certainly signal your team in notes on my guitar to try to fill that missing
to play as well, but spontaneous moments like space. The problem is, I'm also praying at that
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December 2018
when it comes. Now go lead worship well!
Mike Graff
Mike is the Chief Creative of internationally-
acclaimed Coresound Pads, and worship musician/
leader for over 20 years.
CoreSoundPads.com
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