five years ago . In fact , it seems that trends come and go faster than ever before . You could choose to be overwhelmed by this , but I ’ d encourage you to view it as a never-ending source of new inspiration instead .
A growing number of worship songs feature leads performed on a B3 organ , with its gritty , swirly texture immediately hearkening to gospel influences both old and new .
DON ’ T THINK TWICE
My advice ? The next time you know you need to stand out in the mix , make a musical statement , or add brightness and emphasis to a part in the right hand , take a second to think if it ’ s a good time to experiment . If you ’ re like me , you doubtless have a stable of go-to lead sounds that are comfortable , familiar , and safe to lean on . keys players get the most intimidated . Out in front of the mix , perhaps proving yourself a bit to your guitarist friends , and with no room to hide if you hit a sour note . But don ’ t let that moment of emphasis keep you from innovating and experimenting . Taking the time to hone your craft and seek out new colors for your palette is its own act of worship , as you give the best of your ear and creativity in service to your congregation .
In the same way , the classic , tape presets on a mellotron are now just as likely to show up on a modern worship recording as the bright , digital presets of an early 90s synthesizer .
Over the last few years , it ’ s also been quite common to see lead lines doubled with chopped up samples of the human voice itself . Discussing how to pull off those parts live would require me to write a whole different article in itself .
Consider that simply swapping out one familiar sound for an unexpected one could make all the difference . Perhaps your guitarist will notice the change in timbre and bring something a bit different themselves . Or the uniqueness of the lead sound you choose might inspire your drummer and bassist to change up their rhythm , because it reminds them of a different musical genre .
Playing lead sounds for worship is where many
Who knows , maybe you ’ ll be the next Chris Pratt .
David Pfaltzgraff Founder and Lead Sound Designer at SundaySounds . com , a site that resources worship keys players and guitarists around the world . David currently resides in Des Moines , IA with his wife and two boys . He enjoys volunteering in his church ’ s worship ministry , old synthesizers , and a good super-hero movie .
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92 May 2023 Subscribe for Free ...