Worship Musician November 2019 | Page 159

A KEYBOARDIST WILL… Using “Great Are You Lord” as the demo song, For a closer analysis of the keyboard work in
• Explore and be ready to use different watch my Nashville band’s congregation- our congregation-friendly version of “Great Are
keyboard sounds: a range of acoustic and friendly rendition for a sample of keyboardist You Lord” watch and play along with this static
electric pianos, organs, pads and perhaps Lucas’s abilities, camera video.
even synths.
• Be acutely aware of the need to leave sonic
space and support other instruments.
• Only take the rhythmic “driver’s seat” when no
other instrument is filling that role.
• Allow the bass guitar to reign supreme in the
lower register, either by avoiding lower notes
or by precisely doubling the bass guitar.
• Craft parts for themselves that serve the
band’s overall arrangements. They’ll be ready
to play very little, or even take a break if that’s
what works best.
In this video, Lucas and I chat about the
keyboard sounds, parts and choices he made.
Each is demonstrated.
Stay tuned for the final instalment in this series
in next month’s issue. We’ll be working with the
acoustic guitar!
Nashville, Tennessee-based musician Lucas “Great Are You Lord” Words & Music by David
Morton is a great pianist. But Lucas knows Leonard, Jason Ingram, Leslie Jordan (© 2012
how to become a keyboardist in a band setting Integrity's Alleluia! Music)
too. He also recognizes that many of the recent
popular songs for congregational worship are
Grant Norsworthy
Founder of More Than Music Mentor, providing
online and onsite training for the heart and the art
of worshipping musicians.
www.morethanmusicmentor.com
guitar-driven, not keyboard-driven. With that
being the case, Lucas knows how to use the
keyboard to make a valuable contribution to the
overall sound, without making it the main thing.
November 2019
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