This was the biggest question I had when I started playing, and I still ask this question.  What in the world to I play?!  I mean, I could play pads on everything, but that’d be boring!  And I can’t play cool lead synth lines on everything.  Somehow that’s not going to work for the response song.

The answer is play whatever fits best.

I can hear you now, “Well thanks for nothing!”, but that’s the answer.  Think about it.  For every song you play, you need to find something that fits.  For We Unite by Elevation Worship, the lead synth sounds good, because it suits the style of the song.  Playing The Stand by Hillsong you’re probably better off playing a pad.  For other songs, a straight up piano sounds great.

Now, as always, you can change it up for effect.  Elevation Church did this with their Remix stuff.  But again, the parts fit with the style of the song they wanted to play.

Ok, so now I’ve got a sound, but what do I play with that part?  Wait for it…  Play what fits.  For a song busy with guitars and drums, you really shouldn’t be soloing the whole way.  You could add a bit of dirt with a biting synth pad and let the guitars go to town.  If it’s a slower song where the drums are down and the guitars are playing swells, break out a pad or pay some piano lines.

The moral is that you don’t want to step on any of the other players parts.  If someone has a soloistic part, don’t play a solo over top of them.  Sometimes it’s great just to hang out on the chords and make the band sound better.  Add your cool riffs between lyrical lines.  Add an instrumental break if you need some musical relief!  (With your band leader’s permission first!)  If you want some inspiration, listen to other bands.  Listen to some good jazz music.  Listen to good pop music even.  The more you listen, the more ideas you’ll have, and the more you’ll hear what other good keyboardists are doing.

So what do you play in your band?  Lots of pads?  Synths?  Melodic?  Rhythmic?

[ Photo by orange grove media ]

Virtual instruments.

Basically anything that can replicate a keyboarded instrument inside a computer.  Anything from modeling analogue synthesizers to samplers with sound from vintage organs and electric pianos and string instruments.  You get the idea.

For my setup, I love using Reason.  It’s basically the synth rack of your dreams in your computer.  Multiple MIDI controllers to play multiple synths, control different instruments by MIDI channel out, ReWire into your favorite DAW, and it’s all fairly straightforward to configure (Google always helps).

I’ve got a master Reason file that holds all of my basic setup.  I have 4 audio channels out (2 stereo pairs); one for mostly synth/pad/lead items, and one for loops/beats/FX items.  These usually are run through Live and into the house.  Most weeks, I use maybe a patch or two.  The most I’ve used in a set I believe was four, which includes a loop.

The synths are set up simply enough, with basic pads up top, a synth lead, and a rhythmic lead (or two).  These are the bread and butter for my controllers.  I usually sit on a nice airy pad with a filter mapped to the mod wheel.  I can go from being under the band to being on top depending on the song.  I’ve got a nice Moog-type square lead that I use a lot that was set up for We Unite by Elevation Worship.

For the loops, I have two ReDrums set up with patterns all ready to go, which are triggered by the number keys on the laptop keyboard.  I also have an FX spot that I usually don’t use, but if I need some atmospheric goodies it’s right there.

The only think lacking in my setup is a good vintage electric piano instrument.  Native Instruments look like they have some nice samplers for that, so that’s on my list.

Any thoughts on this?  What do you (or your church) use, if anything?

To start, I wanted to go over my current set-up at my church.

I have a Yamaha S90, a Korg CX-3, and an M-Audio Oxygen 61 for my boards.  I sometimes use a Yamaha S03 as a MIDI controller as well.  I’m running the MIDI controllers though Reason and Live on a MacBook Pro.  I usually have the S90 and the CX-3 on a two-tiered stand (S90 on bottom).  I’ll have the Oxygen on it’s own single stand near the computer, and the S03 is similar when I use it.

The S90 has a great piano sound and feel.  It’s hammer weighted, so it’s great for that piano feel.  I usually use it just for piano and a particular synth pad sound that sits well with a variety of songs.  I’ve also found some other cool synth/pad sounds I use occasionally.

The CX-3 is a great Hammond B3 emulator.  I’m sure it won’t pass as the real thing, as it seems nothing will, but it sounds great in the house and the manual drawbars are wonderful for changing the sound on the fly.  I only use one preset, really, even though I should use more.  But I just change drawbar settings and turn percussion on and off for most of my patches anyway.

The Oxygen I use for transport control of Live to fire clicks and the occasional loop.  All of the sounds are from a custom Reason rack that I have set up.  There are a few pads, a few leads, and some programmed beats for whatever the service might need.

The setup works well for me.  The only addition I might make would be for a Nord Electro in place of the CX-3, because I’d get a good B3 sound plus good electric pianos to boot.  I’m not a fan of the S90’s Rhodes or other piano sounds.  But I was also thinking of just getting a virtual instrument for those sounds too.

This is just an overview, and I’ll probably get into specifics as I go.  Please let me know if there is anything you’d like to hear about.  I’d love some conversation on this!

Sometimes the way forward is just that; forward.  Sometimes the next thing you need to do is the thing that you should have been doing all along.  Most times, we know where the next step is, we just don’t want to take it.  We feel like we can’t, or aren’t allowed, or shouldn’t.  We just need to start walking in that direction.

I play music.  It’s something I’ve loved since I was in grade school.  I’ve played in bands at church before, but recently I haven’t been playing.

Here’s the thing: I have been given a talent from God to play music.  It’s something that I am passionate about, and I love playing music.  But lately I haven’t been using my gifts.

Now, for a time, taking a break is fine.  But to not use the gifts God has given you is bad.  You lose something about yourself when you don’t use your gifts.

This past month, I started using my gifts again by getting involved in a new band at my church.  And it feels great!  I don’t know why I waited so long to get back into playing.

So here’s the point.  You all have talents and gifts from God that you can use.  Are you using them?  You can’t keep your gifts and talents to yourself and stay whole.  You have gifts and talents for a reason.

Move towards using them.  Move forward with your task.  Take the next step.

[ Image by carnavalet ]

Adding Layers

Adding words to a song makes it more specific.  The sounds of music are like broad strokes on the canvas.  Lyrics are the details.  They bring the fuzziness of emotions into focus, or increase the effect.

When you add somber lyrics to a somber tune, it intensifies the effect.  When you add worshipful words to a glorious melody, it makes you want to worship.  You can also add irony and tension.  If you mix the two (happy tune, sad lyrics) you can add shades of meaning, ranging from comical to satire.

This is why music says it better.  If you say “I love you” to your spouse, that says a lot.  If you sing it to your spouse, that adds the extra emotions.  (Valentine’s Day hint…)

Creating a Response

We write music to convey something.  The human who creates the music shapes the meaning.  And this applies, I think, to individual performances as well.  One band can mean one thing with a song, but another band plays it and it conveys something else.

We also have our own response.  Art is about expressing Truth beautifully.  As such, the same music can have different meanings to different people.  Rock music is a good example.  To some people, it means to express freely.  To others, it is connected with rebellion.  Always remember the context!  And when you use context well, it empowers the song you write.

Remember, oh you writers of music, the power you wield.

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When the Church creates art, it is expressing what the soul wants to say to God.  It is our expression of what God has revealed to us to be Truth (as in absolute Truth).  This can be in a worship song of adoration, a novel based on a biblical story, or a painting of a sunset.

So how is it that we glorify God with our art?

From my standpoint, I see three big ways art from the Church glorifies God.

Building Up

When art builds up the community of God – His Church – then the art brings glory to God.  Some examples include worship music and books dealing with our relationship with God.  When a local church sings praises to God, the people get closer to God.  When we read a book that shows us how to pray, then we are encouraged and given knowledge.  These things build the community.  As the community is strengthened in God, He is given the honor for it.

Reaching Out

When art reaches people outside of the Church – as in leading people to Christ – then the art brings glory to God as well.  When the Church grows, the fame of God increases.  He receives the credit.  Examples here include movies or plays that intentionally reach out to people.  If someone goes to a church Christmas production and realize that a relationship with God is what they need, then God receives glory.

Personal Expression

Art leads the soul to some Truth, and there God is given glory too.  This category is quite broad, and it also gets into some gray areas.  What I mean here are the works of art that point to God.  Much of Christian music can fall into this category.  Hawk Nelson doesn’t make music that is designed for worship.  They play music from a biblical standpoint, pointing out spiritual truths, or looking at life through the lens of their faith.  Much of literature (novels, poetry, stories, etc.) could fall in here.  Thomas Kinkade paints a beautiful picture, but he doesn’t paint (I don’t think) to reach out.  He paints because that is how he expresses beauty.  And that beauty, in some way, reflects the beauty of God.  When we see that, we thank God for beauty, and that glorifies Him.

This is most certainly an incomplete list.  And many of the examples could fit into more than one category.  Think of the Psalms.  Most of them could fit into the first and third categories easily.

The point is this: each category has a place in the realm of art from the Church.  Just because your music isn’t sung on Sunday mornings doesn’t mean it isn’t Church music!  Isn’t it wonderful that we have so many ways to glorify God?

So go, create!

Read Part I

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Is a tool inherently good or evil?  How about a fork?  Is it good?  Bad?

Seems a kind of silly question.  Let me rephrase it a bit: Is a weapon inherently good or evil?

Now that will get some responses.  A weapon generally is used to harm.  Most people would say that is an “evil” purpose.  But how about when it defends something from evil?  Is it now “good?”  Most would say that defending the innocent is good.  Why the difference?

It’s all about how the tool is used!  The intent of the heart decides what is good or evil.

The original post, if you didn’t read it, were about contemporary worship music and how the inherent quality of certain kinds of music (extreme paraphrase).  As a musician and as a Christian, I am deeply passionate about this subject.  So here are my thoughts in response.

Musical style is a tool.  Musical instruments are tools.  Tools are not inherently good or evil.  Therefore, no musical style should be considered good or evil.  If a musical style reaches a portion of our culture in such a way as to bring them to Christ and repent, then why should we not use said style?  If a musical style brings us to worship our Creator God who wants nothing more than to fellowship with his people, then why should we not use it?

My biggest problem of the “Which musical style is the best for worship?” debate is who gets to be arbiter and judge?  Who decides that rock music is evil and that folk music is good?  Or that classical music is worthless and rap is relevant?  God is the only one who can judge the heart and soul of a man.  Period.  If you don’t understand why someone is moved by a certain genre, try to understand.  If you still don’t, try and find out why.  Agree to disagree, but don’t say one style is better for worship than another.

I think I need to put a disclaimer in right here.  I am not condoning a “Whatever works for you” brand of theology.  That gets into some dangerous waters.  God is the judge, so go to Him for your answers.  Listening to questionable lyrics that talk about sex explicitly, or have rampant profanity, or hold to very ungodly ideologies is probably not a good idea.  We are to be holy as God is holy, so what we take in needs to be controlled.

That said, how does instrumental music (i.e. devoid of lyrics) become sexual?  Or filled with profanity?  Or rebels against God?  How do drums depict wrong affections whereas piano depicts right affections?  If I remember my music history correctly, the piano (or the fortepiano as it was originally called) was not accepted into the church rapidly.  It was seen as an evil instrument, and that the organ should be played in church instead.  Sounds familiar…  And what do we see today?  Piano is considered an acceptable instrument.  Funny how that works.

All art, I believe, is viewed through the lens of one’s own values, views, and experiences.  That means, if you think that the electric guitar is not an instrument to be used for sacred music, you won’t like modern praise music that uses it.  There’s nothing wrong with not liking something, or saying that you feel the presence of God better if you listen to Style A than Style B.  I don’t like pickles, but my wife likes pickles.  I love fish, but my wife does not.  Both were created by God.  Which one is better?  Who is more right?  Neither.  It’s a preference.  But to say one is holy and one is not makes a statement I don’t want to make.

And I can’t understand how one style can be acceptable and one cannot.  Art is subjective.  It’s not concrete.  Offering sacrifices was a concrete deal.  There were certain animals you were to sacrifice for certain things, at certain times, in line with your means.  So how do we make the jump that music for worship has the same concrete ideas?  It’s the same thing as saying only one set of chords are acceptable.  Boy, wouldn’t that be boring!  It’d become a ritual!  Not an overflow.

So here’s an extreme example.  If we take instrument restrictions to the logical maximum, then we should only play with instruments that the Bible mentioned.  Which would be, I think, basically the lyre, cymbals, and our voices.  I’m probably leaving something out, but you get the point.  Our God is creative.  He is the Ultimate Artist.  Therefore, why should we stifle our creativity for worshipping Him?  I think God, being the lover of our souls that He is, enjoys hearing all of our ways to worship Him.

The blog post did make some good points.  It urged us to pay attention to how we worship.  Worship is not just music.  It is us responding rightly to all that God truly is.  If we go to musical worship and just follow after the cool emotions of being in a crowd, watching a show full of lights and pictures, waiting for the fuzzies to come over us, then we are there for the wrong reasons.  But if those outward expressions of love and fear are flowing from a truthful realization of who God is, then that is true worship.  It doesn’t matter if that style is classical, rock, rap, folk, blues, jazz, metal, pop, or whatever!  If God is truly at the center, then He will be praised.

And it doesn’t have to be music!  It could be a painting where you see the true suffering of Christ on the cross, bearing the weight of our shame to save us from our sin.  You see that and thank God for his grace, and praise Him for it.  Or it could be a work of fiction, where you see God’s eternal pursuit of His children no matter the cost, and you realize that you have been running from God and turn back to Him and praise Him.  Or it could be a film, where you finally see the gravity of your sin and the fullness of God’s holiness and glory, and you realize that one day you will not have the option to turn from it, so you turn to God and praise Him for it.

The tools are a means to an end.  I don’t believe that they carry with them an inherent value of good or evil.  And just because someone does something evil with a particular tool does not make that tool evil.  Neither does it make the tool good if good comes from that tool.  The tool is subject to the heart of its user.  And the heart is subject to God.  If God can use us as tools to advance His Kingdom, surely he could use rock music for good.

If you have any thoughts or scripture to share, please do.  I always want to be learning about my passions.  And if you disagree, please post some comments about why, but do so in love.  Thanks.

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