Seems I’m not the only one who gets a chord chart with lyrics and is expected to work it out! Good ole church music. We normally get about 3 days notice on which songs and have a practise the hour before the service.
After years sitting behind the sound desk at church, I picked up a bass as I wanted to play something and 4 strings seemed easier than 6… That was over 20 years ago, I still have the same (cheap) bass, playing the same 4 root notes! I hope to start B2B soon and maybe i might progres beyond root notes, learn something to help fill in those ‘here are 4 bars of the same chord’ moments.
Currently at a church that tends to play more upbeat and some songs I even get to chug 16ths! Previously I was at a church without many musicians and often it was just me and the piano, definitely more mellow.
It’s nice to hear that others are playing roots and keeping it simple for worship music, maybe I’m not so bad after all and have learnt something after all these years. It’s just tricky when the other bassist we have is a young guy doing performance music in his last year of high school and he is very adapt across the fret board.
Thanks all for sharing your experiences. More bass in church!
The Yamaha TRBX 304 is a terrific starter bass. I picked one up half way through the B2B course back in 2019 when I began bass and it was such an easy bass to play with great tones. Even recorded a few covers using it.
Having been a drummer will no doubt help with playing bass. Yes, so many sub-categories of Worship music that we sorta have to be prepared to play - I think this is one of the challenges we have as bassists- being able to switch sub category styles of bass play… If you’re planning to take the B2B course, you’ll certainly get a leg up on things! It’s a great course!
Knowing the fretboard is definitely the key to playing bass, and very important when playing any style Worship music when most bass notes are basic roots. Being able to play that root note on different strings and different frets can many times add to the flavor of the song. Took me awhile to figure this one out and when I did, I moved into a 5 string which helps provide even more versatility to my bass lines when playing roots, root/octaves…. Slides and gentle walk up/down’s also help transition between those roots and also help to add a little bit of a “fun factor” to playing the song.
Here’s a bass cover I recently finished of John Waller’s “The Blessing” that is nothing more than simple root notes played incorporating roots, root/octaves, root/slides, and root walk up/downs…. Knowing your way around that fretboard really does open a lot of options for play…
I’ve been using an app called “Guitar Fretboard” on Android to learn the board. It was recommended by someone in a forum here. My best time on the trainer that spits out notes that require hitting the fretboard with the correct position is 2.7 seconds for 20 tries. It’s a really good app and if I’m away from my bass I can still practice.
I had taken a few bass lessons in college but life happened and I had to stop. I started attending church again a few months back and as soon as I did I started feeling the urge to learn the bass again. I bought a Squier P Bass this last weekend. The last time I’d even held a bass was 20 years ago so I didn’t remember much but I’m through Module 1 and I’m feeling really excited to be learning again. I’m wondering if this pull means the Lord has plans for me to use this to praise him at some point. It feels very weird for the severe introvert in me to say this, but I think it’s something I would be open to down the road. I’d like to start learning some worship songs once I do start learning songs. Any suggestions for some good ones to try as a beginner?
So happy to hear all of this @amandawiseley Amanda…. The Squire P bass is a great starter bass for learning, and you certainly can ot go wrong with Josh’s B2B course!!. I can think of no better way (at least for me) to offer praise and worship to our Lord than through music - especially when played on bass…
As for songs, there are so many styles of worship and praise music, and given that diversity in style, we as bass players have a unique challenge in our contribution to various styles of play in each individual song AND be able to play to any “Surprise” song that a worship leader, music director, or pastor may come up with at any given moment SO….
Just my opinion, when taking the B2B course, pay particular attention to learning tricks to learn where notes are on your fretboard…. Not only know the notes by name and where they are at on the fretboard, but also learn the tones associated with each note (ear training). Maybe others here on this thread can help provide a little input on different songs to start with…. If you run into any snags with the course, please feel free to ask - many of us here have been through (or are going through) the course and are more than happy to provide any support we can.
No song suggestion here (and they would in French )
B2B is a great way to progress significantly and bring you were you need to start participating to church music (where quarter notes and roots are more than enough)
Your squier is also a perfect choice !
So many perfect choices … someone must be behind all this
I was in the same place. I hadn’t played in 20 years, but when we ran out of bass players at church, I picked it up again and got back into shape with B2B. You’ll be ready to go after that. As far as songs- it really depends on your church worship style. Base (or bass:) your own list on what you hear most regularly at your church and learn those. We do everything from old hymns to tunes like The Blood from Elevation and I Believe by Phil Wickham. Welcome back to bass (and church:)!
Guitar Pro has a pretty good selection of bass tabs for worship songs. I’m currently seeing ads for 90% off an annual membership.
I subscribed when i saw an offer for $30 for annual.
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Here is a list of songs from my Church’s play list. I have not checked all of them but is seems many have base tabs on Ultimate Guitar. Some for Novice/beginner. Some more difficult.
Holy Forever, You Hold It All, God So Loved, Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me, Made for More, Christ is Lower Still, Come All Who Are Weary Come, Bind Us Together, St Patricks prayer, Who Else, O Praise the Name, King of My Heart, Open The Eyes of My Heart, Give Me Jesus, Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King, He Will Hold Me Fast, King of Glory, Love of God, Faithful Now, Wood and Nails, A Thousand Hallelujahs, Gratitude, King of Love.
We do a lot of songs by Marty Haugen, Dan Schutte and Tony Alonso. Most adapt well to our group’s lineup of piano, guitar, bass, hammer dulcimer, vocals and occasional banjo or mandolin.
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