KEYS
IT’S STILL THE SONG | Ed Kerr
We’re in a season when thousands of churches
having a harmonic rhythm of a whole note. (1)
around the world, including mine, are offering
There’s another change that we made to the
progression that I think you might enjoy. Notice
online only services. Lots of different approaches I experimented with different harmonic rhythms, the half note in the second half of each measure.
are being taken to creating the worship music in allowing myself to consider changing chords I won’t get too deep into the theory of what I’m
these services. I’ve found a number of websites more often during the measures. I landed on a about to add, but I’ll just say that on beat 4 I’m
that enable my musicians to collaborate on pattern that brought more movement to each bar. going to add a 5 chord for the chord I’m heading
arrangements relatively simply, sites like Bandlab After that rest, the bass walks up the scale. (2) to in the next measure. Like this: (5)
If you look closely at these chord changes you You can see there are unlimited possibilities for
may notice that the root of the first chord in developing this and any other chord progression.
I’ve discovered that there is joy to be found in each measure is a third away from the root of I’ll show you one more to wrap things up here.
embracing this season as an opportunity to the second chord. I thought it might be nice I can increase the impact of that 8 th rest on the
reimagine the songs on our playlist. While my to walk up the scale, connecting those notes. downbeat by holding the chord after the rest a
worship team isn’t able to sit together in a rehearsal Here’s the result. (3) little longer. Like this: (6)
myself permission to rethink the arrangements we This is quite a contrast to the inactivity of the Of course, none of these changes need to
play. Our pastor had requested that we sing “Way original version harmonically, isn’t it? happen. “Way Maker” is a great song that
and Soundtrap. How has your church dealt with
these challenges?
space and prepare the songs, I’ve been giving
ministers to believers around the world every
Maker” after the sermon this past Sunday. So, I
thought about the song, thought about the way Our arrangement evolved a bit further by inserting week. But I’m convinced, perhaps more than
it’s most often played, and asked myself where an 8 th rest at the beginning of each measure. ever, that the joy the musicians who are playing
my team could take the song? I figured we might This felt like a nice surprise that added to the have as they make music together has an impact
as well venture into some new musical territory groove that was evolving. It also creates some on the way a song touches those who hear. My
rather than just record what we’d played together nice moment for the bass player. If your drummer team definitely felt that as we recorded our tracks
many times before. plays the kick on the downbeat, the bass player’s for this song this week. Hopefully you can try
entrance on the “and” of 1 is even more impactful. these devices in some of your songs soon and
(4) find it yourself. God bless you all and thank you
So, I thought about the harmonic structure of the
for what you bring to your worship teams.
song. Much of the song uses four chords. In the
key of D, for example, the chords are G, D, A and If you can get your band playing this progression,
Bm. Think of those as chord numbers in the key even if it’s over Zoom or Facetime, I think you’ll
and the progression is 4, 1, 5, 6. One chord is hear the energy that’s developing. I think your
played per bar, and that pattern repeats again and bass player might enjoy the bass line, too. That’s
again. You can describe this chord movement as a plus, right?
130
May 2020
Ed Kerr
Ed Kerr lives in Seattle with his family. He serves as
worship arts director at First Free Methodist Church,
teaches keyboards in Paul Baloche’s leadworship
workshops and is a clinician with Yamaha’s House
of Worship. He also manages the Yamaha Worship
Facebook group and invites you to join the group.
www.KerrTunes.com
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