BASS
CHARTS: TEAR THE SYSTEM DOWN! | Gary Lunn
I am kidding, but how many of you are frustrated is way more important than playing a song So, what do you do if you have a split bar (at
with the modern style charts for worship music? without one in rehearsal!). least two chords within a measure)? Let’s take
I certainly am! There is not a single one that I
the song “(He’s a) Waymaker” as an example in
have not had to mark-up beyond recognition Typically, a chart will have one chord over the the key of G. In the chorus, the song plays three
or totally rewrite. I really don’t think that my lyric with no indicator of how many beats you beats of G and one beat of C in the first measure.
moaning about it is actually going to change actually play that chord (big problem). If a song Your chart probably looks like G C G. If
anything, so I am going to go back to basics has an A chord and a D chord over the first you aren’t very familiar with the song you really
in chart editing… so that you can help yourself line, I have to know how many measures I won’t know how long to play each chord. One
make it through. am to play those chords. It might be one bar of the quickest ways to fix this is to draw a line
apiece or it might be two. The bass player must under the G and the C and make “hash” marks
know this! under the chords… indicating how long you
Whenever I see a freshly printed chart, my
first thought is always something like, “You are supposed to play each chord. Another way
really have to know the song before you can is to put parentheses around all of the chords
read this, and I have no clue where the chord
changes fall!” It’s true. You really have to
practically have the song memorized before
you can read the chart! For worship leaders
who play an instrument while they lead... yes,
these charts are great. For bassists who have
to play correctly on every downbeat, lest they
destroy the anointing? Disastrous! Yes, the
chord changes are above the word in the song
when they occur. But how do you accurately
count and play on the previous chord until that
new chord change? If you don’t already know
the song, the answer is, “Who knows?” It’s
impossible to guess your way through a song
that you are not too familiar with.
You really have
to know the song
before you can
that are in one measure, separating them with
hash marks that each count for extra beats
played by the previous chord. Remember
that I said the first measure was three beats
of G and one beat of C? It will now look like
(G / / C). Notice that each chord represents one
beat and each hash mark represents one beat.
Now you have 3 beats of G and one beat of C
read this, and
clearly indicated.
I have no clue The only way to get good at this is to practice,
where the chord find that it will be a huge confidence builder for
practice, practice! But, as you learn you will
you to master this skill. Join me in the fight to
beat the inadequate chart monster! Seriously,
changes fall!
this will help you better represent your most
So, you are wondering (if you don’t already
important post in the band, and bring a new
have your own system) what’s the easiest
level of excellence to the service or concert.
way to fix these glorified lyric sheets? Here is So lets say its two bars of A and two bars of D
my process. and my chart looks like A D over
Many blessings!!
the lyrics. The easiest way to fix it is to insert
If I haven't had time to listen to the song before an extra bar per every measure played. Now
rehearsal (it does happen...) then I will get my my chart will look like A A D D .
trusty Apple Pen and enter into edit mode in This totally shows me that I play two bars of A
Music Stand. As the band plays the song I turn and two bars of D. Each letter name represents
my bass off and start counting/marking my on bar (4 beats in 4/4 time, etc.) Easy fix, but
chart as fast as I can (having a correct chart very necessary!
146
May 2019
Gary Lunn
Gary is a session player/producer/writer in Nashville,
TN. Contact him at [email protected] for scheduling
or any questions.
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