Tips and Techniques for Your Worship Bass Players
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- Опубліковано 20 чер 2024
- 🚩 www.worshipministrytraining.com/
The bass guitar is such an incredibly important instrument in a worship band context. Bass carries all the energy, and when played properly can really help your church enter in and engage during musical worship. Yet many bass players take the wrong approach to their playing in a worship setting. Worship calls for a specific style of playing. In this episode I share four key concepts to keep in mind when playing bass in a worship band context, and then demonstrate a whole host of techniques that your bassists can begin applying this upcoming Sunday. Consider this a crash course tutorial for your worship bass players.
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This is perfect! Everything a worship bass player needs to hear and more. Excellent presentation!
Awesome! Thanks Stephen! So glad it was helpful!
@stephenboutwell1012
I know you have all those James Jamerson licks in your toolbox, and that’s my style as well. It was very humbling and frustrating having to basically relearn my instrument and how I approach it when I joined a worship team. But that experience helped me understand space and context a lot better, which has helped me get country gigs (which pay the best here in Texas fortunately).
@@Roland7676-te2qc Just want to thank both of you guys for your humility. Especially you Roland. It can be so hard to lay down our preferences in order to follow someone else's lead. You are exemplifying the attitude of Christ. Thank you for being awesome and serving your church and your leaders faithfully!
Perfectly timed advice. I have been playing bass for 25 years but have been on hiatus for 10 years. I am watching to brush off the dust.
Great! So glad you are going to start serving in music again!
We're surely noticed when we aren't there. Learning and growing, I've played for 55 years and still take lessons. At 69 years old I still look to improve my skills.
Wow. I love that you are still willing to keep learning and growing and expanding. You are an inspiration! Thank you for bringing your best to the Lord!
Thank you so much! I just started playing in July. Our church needed a bass player so I volunteered to learn. I downloaded a note chart and started following a lead sheet. I have been searching UA-cam for videos that will help me improve and understand this instrument and its place in worship music. I greatly appreciate your heart and the emphasis on being a support, not a lead. You are the first person I've seen playing with his thumb. Thank you!!! I've been discouraged because that is the only way I can play right now, and I thought I was totally wrong. I'm practicing with my index finger, but I find it difficult to incorporate during the service with the other musicians.
Thank you for all the information and ideas. I will probably need to watch again so it sticks. Lots of new vocabulary for me! Right now my playing is super basic, but I'm hoping to learn how to add in some of the things you were talking about.
Thanks Josh! So happy it was helpful to you! Keep developing your gifts and your heart. The Lord will use you to build up His Church!
What a difference a year makes, huh? Never feel "less than" because of how you approach bass playing. The bass-playing community can be incredibly snobbish and parochial about how bass "should be played". You have your never-slappers, never-pickers, never (or rarely) beyond 5th or 7th fretters... The list goes on and on. Whatever style you're interested in, the key is TOI: Time On Instrument, but ultimately just play for the joy of worshipping and playing!
Wow! This is by far the best video I've seen on playing bass in worship music. It covers everything in an organized way. I will be watching it multiple times so that I can internalize everything and practice it and then put it into practice on Sundays. Thanks!!
Awesome! So glad it was helpful! Give me an update in a few weeks on how things are going when you use these techniques in your services! Excited for you! 🙌
just a comment about almost always playing in the very bottom register. I feel that you might be missing out on some very effective dynamic phrasing in many songs, many of which allow for the bass to come in in a more ambient way in a higher register. As the song builds then you drop down into the power notes.Many modern songs allow for this and are recorded by the original artists utilizing this technique.
Actually Rick you're TOTALLY right. That is an effective technique, and used quite often. Truth is, I'm just not talented enough to demonstrate it! :) But thank you for sharing! I hope someone reads your comment and gives it a try!
@@AlexonEnfiedjian Very glad I came across your video, what a blessing it will be to so many. Also God bless for being a worship pastor with a heart to encourage and to bring out our best in the worship of our Lord.
That is a totally correct technique.... I use that frequently, especially with my 5-string you must save those power notes for power spots, you can't just throw them on the floor anywhere..... :)
@@rickwestmacott7346 I have never listened to such a teaching. You need to be my trainer. God bless you. Let's be in touch Brother
@@rickwestmacott7346 I have never listened to such a teaching. You need to be my trainer. God bless you. Let's be in touch Brother
Thanks a lot for sharing. May our God bless you more.
Thanks for a great Christ Centered perspective on worship playing. This is definitely different than most, as "the fill" seems to be the focus on-line. I've been playing with the team for almost a year now after 33 years not playing. My diminished skills have forced me to focus on areas I can, such as the many things you mentioned here (and I took notes on several as well). As my skills build again, there is temptation to play more, yet, what does that accomplish? Am I honoring Him, or myself? I choose Him. Thanks for that focus again, we all need it. As iron sharpens iron... John
Thanks John! So glad it's helpful! God bless you as you serve your church with excellence and humility!
Great, great stuff brother!
God bless and keep it coming!!
Thanks for the tutorials, God bless you. Well noted
You're very welcome!
Thank you for the great advice and teaching. I will practice your methods and be a humble bass player.👍
Wow! Thank you for this. Can't wait to implement these techniques. For your right, we are there to support and honor God in our playing. God bless you ☝️🙌
Awesome! So glad it's helpful! thanks for taking the time to watch and comment!
Support the groove and hold it together 😎!
🙌
What a well done video..thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
wonderful. thanks for making us understand that its not about us but God
Amen!
Just getting back into bass playing at church. This was really helpful
Awesome! So happy to hear! Enjoy playing for the Lord! Excited for you!
This was very helpful. I am new to bass and only a few months into it and this has a good perspective. Thank you
You're very welcome! God bless you as you serve Donna!
This was great 👍🏻 thanks for the hard work!
Thanks man!
Awesome advice Thankyou
You're welcome! God bless you as you serve Him!
Thank you for this excellent video! It sums up a really good starting point for how to approach a worship song.
So glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
Awesome advise! Thank you so much for the lesson! I learned a lot!
So glad!
Amen 🙏 glory to God I'm a Pastor also learn how to play bass ,here in Philippines this help a lot.God bless 🙏 Pastor
Awesome! Keep serving the Lord with excellence!
Good tips!
Glad you like them!
Thank you precious bass player brother.
I appreciate the tips 🙏
Awesome! God bless you!
so much in this
Awesome! Thanks Neil! God bless you as you serve Him!
As a newbie this video was very helpful. Thank you 😊
You're so welcome!
It was a Great video Brother, but please try to leave us with positivity and keep the videos coming We need them, God Bless You Brother.
Excellent! Helps me a ton! Thank you so much!
Awesome! You're so welcome!
@WorshipMinistryTraining Thanks for noticing! I've taken up bass as a retirement hobby and really enjoy playing. Started last September, found a marvelous teacher. We needed a bass in our church's band in March and that's been a blast. Your video is totally aligned with our theology and philosophy of worship. This video gave me, as a newbie bass player, added details and vocabulary to help me serve well on the bass. Massively helpful! Thank you! Blessings on your ministry!
@@Joeely618 Bass is one of my favorite instruments. It's so powerful. All the energy comes from the bass. It's both foundational and subtle, yet can enhance worship so much for people! Glad you are serving the Lord with your gifts and talent. Keep it up!!!
@@WorshipMinistryTraining Thanks!! Just got home from playing in worship this morning. I applied your suggestion to "go low" and pivoted all my playing an octave lower than what I had played before...and it all ended up on the 6th fret or lower, all on the E and A strings. Really changed the sound and it improved it to my ear. Our guitarist really liked it and a musical attendee told me afterwards that he thought the bass and guitar worked great together today. Perhaps because I was well below him in frequency and we both had our own space? Also used gentle rhythmic fills, not "noodle" fills. This was very effective. Also, I found the songs easier to play...in particular "Honey in the Rock" was super easy to play, allowing me to enter into worship more during that terrific song. This is great advice and I look forward to trying a few of the other items you mentioned. Thank you so much...so happy I discovered this!! Totally bookmarked it!!
@@Joeely618 Hey! Awesome to hear! Yes, frequency separation (everyone staying in their lane) is key to a great sounding band a mix. Great job implementing what you learned! So happy to hear!
Great content. Did you go to seminary? I'm looking for an MDiv from a school that aligns with similar schools of thought on modern worship.
I went to Moody Bible Institute, but for my undergrad degree. Haven't done seminary yet. Not totally sure what would be a good school for modern worship philosophy. I'm sorry I don't have a better answer. Zac Hicks might be someone good to ask.
Hey, Alex! I just started playing bass a few months ago, but I’ve been having to use our churches bass because I don’t have my own. Do you have any bass recommendations specifically for modern worship music? The one I’ve been using is a Fender Precision, but I was wondering if you have any recommendations or advice on what to look for when buying a bass for worship. Thank you!
Hi Bailey! Hmm...best advice I have is to go to a music store and play as many as you can, and see which one "speaks to you most". I love my Fender P-Bass...but really you won't know until you play a few different basses and find which tone and feel is right in your hands. Let me know which one you end up choosing!
That precision bass you have will work forever. Period.
@@cptncanela Ha! AMEN!!
Amen 🙏 and amen
Not sure if I agree with the chapters about layers. There are plenty of Gospel bassists who play in the pocket both melodically and rhythmically
I actually completely agree with you. Gospel music and CCM (Contemporary Christian) have very different approaches to the music. Thanks for shedding light!
In CCM, as far as bass goes... stay low and in the pocket. Only time you really need to run up the fretboard is if you are doing a fill that you need to cut through the mix. People try to make bass a complicated thing. Lock up with the drummer on 1 and 3... don't over play.
Yes!! Preach!
Mate that bass sounds motown
Good or bad?
Really have to listen to the entire video to get over the eyebrow raising points and hear the balance. Finishing with a 9.5/10.
Aww! Thanks Dale! There most not be many thorough worship bass tutorials if youtube keeps recommending mine. I am DEFINITELY not a bassist! haha!
Where I struggle is, say we're playing over a G chord then it moves to a D, should I keep with that move and play over the d? Sorry if that's a basic question but I'm struggling to do anything other than root, third or octave in each chord change.
As the bassist you should play the "slash" chords. So if it's D/F# the bass note is the one on the right. And you should usually play that. Let me know if you need help with that more.
What do you think of the flatwound strings in worship?
Totally fine! It's just a different texture. Variety is good. All depends on the sound you (and your leader) are wanting.
I agree with what you’re saying for the most part but we do a lot of Shane and Shane and we use planning center. And the bass parts for Shane and Shane are very interesting but still serve the song well.
I agree with you that there's a lot of interesting flourishes we can add. I'm now going to listen to the Shane and Shane stuff more closely! Thanks for the tip!
I have been away from the bass guitar for over fifteen years, back then I was involved with heavy metal music. I recently obtained a bass guitar and started to refresh myself on it, my focus has heavily been on learning to play more classic blues (Delta and Chicago Blues). Though I have enjoyed listening to Blues music for hours on end I have really been having difficulty dealing with the lyrical content.
Since I desire to glorify the Lord and to have a witness for Him in my life and music I started thinking about just focusing upon Christian worship music. So I did a search here on UA-cam and found your video. I will be focusing upon the guidance and direction you are providing in regards to playing bass guitar in this setting.
Though I do have a question for you (or for the other bass guitar players here). I have played the electric bass in the past (Lotus, BC Rich, Washburn and Fender), but I recently received an acoustic bass (not a stand up bass). I really like the feel of the acoustic bass and plan on purchasing the Fender CB-60SCE acoustic bass guitar. How would you think the acoustic bass guitar would sound compared to an electric bass guitar in a worship band?
Thank you for your response.
Awesome!! I'm so happy to hear you are using your gifts to serve the Lord! Regarding acoustic bass...it can totally work. It's usually got a little less bite and attack than electric, but they can sound good, warm, and full. I think the main thing is to ask if your worship leader is OK with that sound, and be open to whatever their answer is...since you are serving as a part of a whole. I hope this helps!
@@WorshipMinistryTraining thank you for your quick response.
You are welcome!@@Crazy_The_Bus_Driver
My husband, the worship leader I most often play with prefers the sustain of my acoustic bass (Ibanez) and when he is on his acoustic and the keyboardist plays only piano I like the blend.
When all the other instruments lean more electric I think the electric is needed for the power of it. I tend to play the acoustic more gently - it kind of demands it.
For "Praise" by Elevation - I need the non-acoustic! 😂(They actually can both be electricly amplified).
I love how intentional you are in your musicianship. Well done!
I am a beginner and I love to play the bass do you have any tips or anything that I can Lori
Hey Leroy. Check out Scotts Bass Lessons channel. He's got a TON of bass specific content.
👍
I'm a newbie on Chase so yeah
Not playing is a seriously underrated technique
TRUTH!
This is a rock solid set of principles of the aptitude and attitude of a great worship team bass player (except for the endorsement of the cheesy octave slide intro).
What would make it much better is if you had a bass player from your worship band demonstrating the techniques, ideally with a backing track. You are not a bass player, by your own admission, and to hum or barely sing the songs you are using as examples assumes everyone knows them and the arrangement you are using.
Thanks Paul. Tried my best!
Do you offer an online course for bass players? Im using one but it is quite secular and I am hoping to find Christian instructions however I am very early stages of learning guitar
Hi Robert! No bass course, but if you're interested in taking lessons (via Zoom) I can connect you with someone who is great at teaching.
Yes Thank you@@WorshipMinistryTraining
@@roberttedder6608 Ok Robert, please email me and I'll try to connect you with a Christian bass teacher: alex@worshipministrytraining.com
When will you play/demo anything?😢
Good point. I'll have to make another video where I do actual play throughs. Thanks for the idea!
Modern pop, and modern rock is played that way because most of it is played by inexperienced musicians not all but trust me you can tell it very easily.
I understand what you are saying in this comment and also your other comment. We should strive to be musically excellent. But musical excellence means tasteful playing and knowing what the song needs...not always flashy...rather always supportive. Right?
@@WorshipMinistryTraining yes ,but you can do that without being, uninspired and boring. Musical ears have to be developed. Unfortunately the bass is a instrument that is not taken very seriously in worship/christian circles IMHO. It is usually viewed as a instrument that doesn't take much skill, simple and anyone can do it. Just given to the guys that can't cut it as guitar players right ?it only has 4 strings how hard can it be right? I tell you that those who have that view don't know very much about music at all. Its evident in the arrangements of most of the music i hear in church. I can tell you with full assurance that if the foundation (bass/drum) is off the rest is mediocre at best. That my brother is not excellence. No, im not referring to lick masters. That doesn't work on any instrument. One thing i had to learn when i was a young fella was less is more. And (two or three things sorry) lol The more people there are the less you play, space is your friend (the final frontier) LEARN TO LISTEN to other members in the band (the main reason im not a fan of the click track, but i get it) And tell that keyboard player to stay out of the bass keys( put that lefthand under your leg! lol There needs to be a real musical conversation going between the musicians not karaoke hour. That is where the life is. Trust me i understand why we do this backing track thing but "All things are lawful but not expedient" that is if you really intend to get true excellence out of your musical worship. Prosody is the word, where the words and music are one. I use to have my soon watch a old movie with his eyes close and tell what he thought was taking place with the dialog and the music as clues. Trust me it works. and you realize how cohesive and the importance of well written tunes and arrangements have power. Lost art. Okay enough wind. hope this helps.
@@wcvalentine5996 I hear you! Yes, let us be excellent, humble and invisible for the glory of God!
Chromatic scales are passé? Ow, when did that happen? I feel old.
They aren't passe. But if used in the wrong way, they can make a song feel dated. But I still use them when I play bass on my team. Just carefully. And music is subjective...so whatever your preference says is good, is good! :)
I AM NEW BASS player
Except that bass is not a simple instrument. It can start out as simple if one sticks to the roots to support the harmony. However, to do more, a good grasp of music theory is essential. One has to understand chord composition. Sometimes more than guitarists that go by chord shapes.
Totally agree with you. Bass (like anything) can be incredibly complex, nuanced and beautiful. But for church music, it doesn't have to be.
Thanks for stating the goal of most contemporary or modern worship music to which is very uninspiring lack the excellence that is so strongly boasted of but seldom presented. Most of the songs are not well written unfortunately. The line that it’s about Jesus and not about us is an excuse for not practicing or playing well. What you are describing is something you can do or might wanna do without a band. Maybe just a acoustic guitar and vocals. I’ve been playing for a little while and I can tell you that today’s modern worship music lacks a lot. I think maybe instead of a band backing tracks only maybe the way for most of this type of thing. Now, this was not said to offend and if you’ve taken it that way please forgive me cause that is not my heart. I’ve heard a lot of music over years and played quite a bit as well, and know it does not have to be complicated to be played well. The simplicity is always the best but , it doesn’t have to be lifeless and boring either.Trust me when I say people know the difference and most of the time they just won’t tell you cause they’re just nice. Learn to play well, Go through something, experience the lord and you’ll see your prospective on playing will totally change.i find that some church musicians are challenged by more experienced players not because of skill level but because they won’t humble them self to try and learn something that is a little challenging for them. That includes playing, playing styles, songwriting, arrangement and composition. Mediocrity is not part of Gods calling and we can’t be afraid to do better than what we are doing. There are times we’ve run across worship songs with great impactful lyrics but horrible arrangement. The whole tune is fighting itself. Things like no space, drum and bass not locked, to LOUD, no dynamics , bad harmony, off key , bad time, etc ..... these do not lend them selves to support of the song. So I’ve said this to say that we are singing about the Greatest Love of all and the most high God and presenting it in the weakest, worst way possible. Just want to be clear and honest here not mean spirited. We can do better. Let’s start by learning how to keep time and drop the click track so we can play as a worship band. Lost art for sure.
A newbie on the bass
The tom matching makes me cringe.
:) I like to do it if it helps build the song.
way to much talking and not enough playing
Thanks for the comment Mike! This was actually an audio-podcast initially... which is why I did so much talking / explaining and less showing. Definitely agree with you...for UA-cam it's too much tell and not enough show. Your comment will help me make better videos in the future. Thanks!
U talk too long. We are here to do the practical.
To much talking man
Thanks for the feedback Vince! I actually agree with you. I made this 3 years ago when WMT was primarily a podcast (thus, a lot of talking) I should make a new version specifically for youtube! I'll add it to my to-do list!
@@WorshipMinistryTrainingthe things you covered need to be heard man. If people don’t want to listen to your talking they don’t want to hear abt the role of the bassist. It’s something that needs to be TALKED about. If they don’t want to hear abt the role of a bassist they shouldn’t be on the team.