LEARNING WORSHIP SONGS

Have a new song to work on for your team? Not too sure how to go about it? Or maybe you’re wanting to try something a little different. I’d love to go into detail on the many ways to learn a worship song, but today I’ll be sharing with you on how I personally go about that. Luckily, the many ways of learning contribute to my method of learning! 

First things first, do you know that song? Are you familiar with it or have you heard it before? That’ll determine how quick the process will go for you. 

Let’s say you’re not familiar with it. Take at least a day to listen to the album version. Get familiar with the structure of the song and the guitar (or whatever instrument you play) parts and how they sound. Are they clean/distorted/effect heavy?

Next, I tend to listen to live performances of the songs. Meaning live stream videos from their church, conferences or covers. These tend to have a different mix on instruments and sometimes helps you hear the music a little clearer and hear some parts you might have not been able to hear before. If you’re still having some trouble, look up some guitar tutorials! An easy look at what your hands should be doing and where on your guitar. 

Finally, learn the song verbatim. Don’t focus on adding your own flavor to the song, not yet at least, there will be a time for that. For now, learn all the parts on the track, practice with your team, lock down the song. Get comfortable with your delivery and practice executing your song well. Enjoy the parts you’ve been working hard on for a handful of services and allow the church to become familiar with the song. Every now and then, throw in a little guitar lick or quick riff to spice things up. But don’t over do it! Over doing it can easily be distracting, and in some cases annoying.

TIP: Become sensitive with the song. Is it calm and quiet? Is it very pop and synth oriented? Heavy guitars or dynamics that increase at every chorus? Be sure not to drop heavy distorted guitars on a calm song. Having sensitivity towards a song helps the church welcome the song, but you’re not only being sensitive to the song, but as well as His spirit. 

I’d love to go more in depth with my method of learning, so if you have any questions feel free to comment below or reach me @anhonestsound on either Instagram or Twitter!

-AO