KEYS
EXPLORE USING SYNTHS FOR WORSHIP | David Pfaltzgraff
I remember the first time I actually saw a vintage synth in person . I was a young worship leader at a small church plant in North Carolina at an after-church BBQ , hosted by some distant relatives of my pastor ’ s wife ’ s family . It was a sunny day , the air filled with the aroma of perfectly smoked BBQ . But as mouthwatering as the BBQ was ( this was North Carolina , after all ), it was the unexpected discovery in the basement that made the day truly memorable .
Tucked away in one corner , under an old bedsheet , I found a pristine collection of early issue Moog synthesizers . This wasn ’ t just a lone synth ; it was an array of some of the most coveted pieces of synth history , hidden away like treasure . I didn ’ t know enough then to truly comprehend the value , history , and character I ’ d come across , but I ’ d come to appreciate it as I found my way along a journey of exploring using synth sounds for worship .
But don ’ t worry , you don ’ t need a mythical treasure trove of tens of thousands of dollars of vintage gear to bring great synth sounds to your worship team . In fact , you have all you need to get started right now .
UNDERSTANDING SYNTH BASICS Let ’ s start with the basics . By definition , synths are versatile . Their ability to emulate a wide variety of tones and timbres , and to push into sounds that wouldn ’ t be possible otherwise , make them a moving target that can lead to inspiration , or confusion , depending on your posture . At its core , a synthesizer can be broken down into a linear chain of simple parts , using waveforms , filters , and envelopes to shape the resulting sound . This process is known as subtractive synthesis , and it ’ s the foundation of many synth sounds .
Different types of waveforms - square , sawtooth , sine , and more- combined with various filter and envelope settings , can create a whole range of synth sounds . Pads , with their lush tone and ability to glue together the mix are the most common kind of synth sound used for worship . Lead synths typically stand out in the mix with a more noticeable timbre and attack and can carry a melody or provide counterpoint in between the lyrics . Synth bass can deepen the low end of your band , complementing your electric bass player , and arpeggiated sounds are often used to add rhythmic intensity and motion .
It ’ s useful to know that there are virtually no limits to the other kinds of sounds a synthesizer can create but focusing on the ‘ core four ’ just mentioned will help you achieve success when
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