TUNING IN
[ WHAT IS THE BEST CONGREGATIONAL KEY? | Mitch Bohannon ]
Changing keys. There can’t be an instrument but a terrible key for the leader, it’s a recipe for that is easier to change keys on than the guitar a bad situation. The congregation will most (unless you’re using the transpose button on probably be more distracted with the poor At our church, we’ve sung “What A Beautiful
your keyboard)! I’ve explained in other articles leadership than they will be singing out. Name” in the key of D when a female took
before that the capo is used to raise pitch or to
made a difference?
the lead, and in the key of G with a male lead.
change the voicing of guitar chords. My normal On the other hand, if the key is comfortable for Guess what? The congregation sang out strong
response to non-musicians when they ask me the leader to sing with confidence, the whole in both keys! As the leader, I will often change
what a capo is…is that it’s used to change keys room will most probably be more comfortable, the key of a song so that I can slide smoothly
on the guitar. The capo is truly just as important even if the key is a stretch for many. It’s really part from one song to another rather than end
as a guitar pick; you can play without it, but it of good leadership…passing along confidence. I up playing song 1 in F and song 2 in E… So,
sure can make things easier and sound better also believe a rule of thumb is to really know your guitar players, that’s the beauty of the capo!
when you use one regularly. congregation. Every group is different and will Capos make for easy key changes and multiple
respond differently. Even having the same people voicing options. Now a side note… do you
For church worship, we play music not to week to week, they may sing differently when ever play in Eb? Have you tried simply tuning
be heard, but for people to sing. Lately, on there are more or less of them in attendance. your guitar down a half-step and then using
Facebook, I have read many discussions around Smaller groups usually won’t sing as loud, and a capo on fret 1 to place the guitar back into
the topic of finding or deciding on the best will often need a slightly lower key. standard tuning?
ended unresolved and/or spun off into varied When leading vocally, we need to be flexible My bottom line is that I feel like a leader who
and, sometimes, heated opinions. Well, after and realize that there are times a key can is being stubborn about a song key often boils
leading worship for over 30 years, I’ve got a few really feel out of reach to the average singer down to a pride issue. If we can comfortably
opinions of my own! in the congregation, and it should be US who sing a song in the key of E, we should most
make adjustments that will make folks more certainly be able to sing the same song in Eb
When you have a congregation like I do at comfortable singing. When you’ve been leading or F…and most can probably stretch to D or
my current church, where there is an 80- new songs, have you ever been surprised that F#. Remember, we are the leaders…in order
year age spread from youngest to oldest, I one fell flat even though you really were excited to BE a leader, we need to help followers
believe that question really should not start about the song and expected the congregation sing successfully.
with “congregational” key! It should start with to grab ahold of it like you did? Have you tried what the best key is for the leader. If the key is bumping your capo down a fret or two (drop comfortable for the majority of the congregation the key a half-step or full step) to see if that
congregational keys. Many of those discussions
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January 2018
Mitch Bohannon
Developed the Short-Cut Capo for Kyser. Worship
Leader in Louisiana. Married to his beautiful
wife, Noelle, for 23 years and they have three
awesome kids.
WorshipMusician.com