Worship Musician January 2020 | Page 134

MAINSTAGE THREE SIMPLE WAYS TO FRESHEN UP YOUR KEYS SOUNDS | David Pfaltzgraff It’s a new year and people the world over have song. In modern worship, it could be a piano, attitude and approach changing up the lead made resolutions to ‘do things differently this a synth, a dulcimer, or any number of other keys sound can be a simple way to add energy year’, each resolution wrapped up in a hearty synth elements. to the song. Because it’s so important to identify and nail DOWN WITH THE GUITAR (SORT OF) that lead keys instrument sound when we’re Just as important as nailing the ‘lead keys Many times, worship bands enter a month or building our patches it can be easy to take instrument’ is nailing the lead keys part. At two of near-hibernation after the mad dash that lead sound for granted, but this shouldn’t least, until it’s not important. In today’s world through services. always be the case. Sometimes swapping out of infinite music availability, it’s never been January and February can feel like a step a grand piano sound for a vintage electric piano easier to identify the exact nuances of a song’s backwards for your worship team, but it doesn’t or a synth pad for a verbed-out organ can take arrangement, down to the distinct differences have to be that way. a song in an inspiring new direction, causing between ‘Keys Part 1’, ‘Keys Part 6’ and the other members of your team to freshen up ‘Rhythm Guitar 2’. dose of good intentions but many unfortunately also hampered by a lack of concrete planning. Advent and Christmas Today’s article is going to be ultra-practical for their contribution to the song’s textures as well. any and all worship keys players. Taking these It’s an amazing time to be a worship musician, steps can inject new energy into the sound of Now please understand that I’m not advocating but because we’re so often intimately familiar your band at a time when it can really make an for a sloppy ‘I’m just giving the song my own with the ‘right’ parts there’s a tendency to impact. Here’s three simple ways to freshen up spin’ approach that lends endless excuses for depend on that exact roadmap every time your keys sounds in the new year. not coming to band rehearsal prepared. Make a song is performed, possibly even across sure you’ve got the original textures nailed if multiple years. SOUND SWAP that’s what’s expected of you and check with One of, if not the most important aspect we the leader of your band before taking more If you’ve ever seen an arena-level pop star on listen for as we’re planning our worship keys creative liberties with the sounds you choose tour you may have noticed that it’s very rare sounds is the ‘lead keys instrument’ of a given for a given song. The point is, with the right their biggest single sounds exactly like the 134 January 2020 Subscribe for Free...