roadmap he’s used many times before. Verse
1, chorus, verse 2, chorus, double pre-chorus,
etc.
When the song ends, for Paul it might not really
end. He might opt to sing the pre-chorus again.
He might pick a single line from the verse to
repeat again and again.
Yikes! I’m gonna freak out on the platform.
No, I won’t. Not at all. I can be confident
accompanying Paul wherever he goes because
I know several things. I know what key the
song is in. I know what 4 chords have been
used throughout the song. I know which of
those chords is used to start each section of
the song.
Ed Kerr + Paul Baloche at CMS 2019
So, in these moments as Paul is leading and
each song is ending I’ll remember what my a distraction to Paul and to people worshipping here to learn more. More to come about that in
friend Carl Albrecht - regular columnist for with us. Each of us in the band are giving our future articles, too.
drummers here in {WM} says, “A great musician attention to supporting Paul well, especially in has big ears!” those moments when he might be waiting on Some of you may play in worship teams where
the Lord for a possible direction for the worship you play the song as planned. You end the
Yep. I’ll be listening. Intently. Triple-shot-venti- time or something specific that is stirring in his song. You move to your next song and play it as
gigantic-iced-whatever intently. My role is heart for the session. planned, etc. That’s great. But at some point,
perhaps during a prayer time or a communion
to follow Paul. He will likely give some sort
of verbal cue that will tell us the section he’s So, I’ll be thinking carefully about what to time or some other moment, you’ll likely to be
about to sing or a lyric cue that lets us know do with these ten fingers of mine on Friday in a place where you need to listen to someone
what section is next. And if I’m not certain of morning. There is something I can confidently leading, follow them wherever they go and
exactly what he’s doing I’ll wait. Yep. I won’t say that I will do with at least two of them during support some timely worship ministry.
play for a moment or two. Since he leads with the worship set. I’ll focus on 2 notes that are great confidence and authority from his guitar, I going to work wherever Paul goes with the 4 What a beautiful thing that is, being part of
can listen for what he plays to determine what’s chords of the songs. I’ll limit myself to the 1 st moments “beyond the chart” where God does
happening. and 5 notes in the scale of whatever key we’re very specific things for a specific meeting.
using. For Hosanna, in the key of G, the 1 st note Know your songs well, know some basics of
So, along with listening intently for any cues is G and the 5 note is D. I can create activity modern worship music theory and listen well.
Paul gives about where he’s going musically, using these two notes with a piano or pad or You will find it deeply satisfying and rewarding.
there are a couple of things I won’t do. I won’t organ sound, and they’ll sound good whatever I’m praying for those of you who read these
throw in a colorful new chord I’ve found that chord Paul decides to play. I won’t dive into the words, that God will make you great supporters
works really well for that part of the song. I music theory of why this works, but it works of others who lead worship. If you’re the one
won’t do that. You shouldn’t do that. I’m not on well. leading, keep the things I’ve shared here in
th
th
mind as you bring your worship team along
the platform with Paul to demonstrate my deep
understanding of altered chords and chordal Okay, a little theory. The G and the D are part of
harmonies. Nope. I’m there to support a some variation of the G, C, D and Em7 chords,
worship leader. And I’m there to play well within the 1,4,5,6 chords in G major. That sentence
a band. Any chord that the guitarist and bass right there can lead you to creating some great
player aren’t expecting could result in a mess sounding keyboard parts regardless of the
within the band. Most importantly, this could be sound you’re using. Check my earlier articles
December 2019
with you. God bless you all.
Ed Kerr
Ed Kerr lives in Seattle with his family. He serves as
worship arts director at First Free Methodist Church,
teaches keyboards in Paul Baloche’s leadworship
workshops and is a clinician with Yamaha’s House
of Worship. He also manages the Yamaha Worship
Facebook group and invites you to join the group.
www.KerrTunes.com
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