I was just sitting in a worship leading class led by Paul Baloche last week at the Empowered conference held at Oral Roberts University.  What’s not to love about Paul Baloche?!  He brought up a couple points in worship leading that had me pleasantly surprised to find I was unconsciously competent.

Let’s be basic with the first one:  What keys should we do songs in?

We listen to lots of great worship leaders who write a current sound:  Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, to name a few. The recordings will have the songs in the keys that are good for the artists’ own voices.

By contrast, a congregation has John/Jane Q. Public standing there.  For this guy, I like to put songs in keys to have the melody going no higher than a D or an occasion E, and no lower than and A below middle C (with the occasional G).

Great songs need to be sung by everyone.  Let’s write some great ones about our great Savior!

-Faye

The music on “Deeper Still” CD can now be heard on Pandora Radio.  You can hear it there by setting up a Faye Smith Radio Station on your personal Pandora application (and, it’s free!).  You will hear my songs, as well as many other songs and artists in my same genre.  Be sure and give my songs a “Thumbs Up” when you hear them!

Thanks,

Faye

What do I sound like? Here’s what Mark said:

“The long lost love child of Grace Slick and Pat Boone has been found crafting worship songs in the wilds of Texas Suburbia”.  How did he know???

Someone slightly more mainstream said this:

“BUTTERY vocals (like a modern Carly Simon) can take you to a deep place but the CRISP ELECTRIC GUITARS (a la Toto) take you up and let you have a little fun – Translation:  REFRESHING ACCESSIBILITY with SLIGHT EDGINESS.”

You decide.  Make a comment.  (Be kind.)

This blog is what I call “The Worship Living Room”.  It’s where the worshiping songwriter can find encouragement and practical ways to see how to get a song “idea” into a singable form.

Join the BLOG, and you’ll be notified by email when a new blog has been posted here – probably about once/month.  (Your information will be protected – honest!)  Anyone can join.  We’re not just limited to church worship leaders or songwriters.