My first Gospel tune!

[trag-o-caster]

I was challenged to write a gospel song, having never done so before. I was initially scared of the idea, because I'm not real confident as a lyricist. Once I got started, it kinda snowballed, and the lyrics just seem to come to me. It was written back during the spring, and was actually completed the day that my wife passed away. I've left it until now.

This past weekend, with the kids away at their grandparents, I finally got around to recording it, albeit very quickly - and it shows. I'm going to go back and re-do EVERYTHING, but I thought that I would post it for y'all to hear before I scrap it and start over.

Let me know if the lyrics are difficult to understand.

The lead guitar is my newly acquired "Blue Floral Horror" Telecaster. The rhythm guitar is Ferdie - my Fernandes TE1-N Telecaster clone.

The title is "Power of His Love"

http://www.soundclick.com/timothylamb

[ptrallan01]

We had an expression,
"Das da Joint!" It meant that something was good, really good. When it was spectacular we said, "Das da serious Joint!"

DAS DA SERIOUS JOINT!

Yes, it snowballed because God wanted it written. The music is great the playing is superb and the vocal is wonderful. I needed to turn up the highs on the eq on the computer and turn down the highs on the speakers to make the vocals clearer but the lyrics are cool.

Keep it up!

[reverbbb]

. . . COOL!

Your blues influence is undeniable. I like your lick executions. Your voice is nice and unique. It is real soothing to the ear. A bit like the singer from Asleep At The Wheel. A lot of swing feel too.

Keep up the good work. I noticed on the other forum, you said this was a rough and that you would scrap it after redoing it. I think it is technically fine the way it is.

Thank goodness for us, that you decided to work on this project instead of getting drunk or chasing women :lol: .

[kewlpack]

Well played - fun stuff!

I really liked the articulation of the fills and incidentals through the stanzas - makes the song interesting and engaging.

Liked the words too. :D

What in the world would you tweak in the recording?? It sounds really good the way it is. Might add a little treble to the vocals (seem heavy on the bottom end on my headset - could just be me though).

Overall - very very enjoyable. I wanna play like that when I grow up! 8)

Grace and Peace.
~A~

[trag-o-caster]

Wow, thanks guys! Regarding my weekend, well I don't really drink, or VERY rarely, so I was just joking in that regard. I managed to do everything else on that list though! I recorded this on Saturday afternoon, which I had set aside to go over to the old house that we just moved from, and clean up. Suffice to say, I didn't get much cleaning done! I did record this in a big hurry, and maybe it's just me, but I can hear EVERY little glitch. The solo break is too loud, and the vocal is kinda muddy. I thought the guitars underneath the verses were too busy, possibly getting in the way of the vocals. I did like what I played on the solo though, which is rare for me. The drum machine is less offensive here than it is with some of my other recordings.

I'll try it again when time permits, but I'll keep this one as well.

Thanks again, and God bless!

[kewlpack]

I did record this in a big hurry, and maybe it's just me, but I can hear EVERY little glitch.
Like every artist - of course you do!! I see it in my artwork/graphics, photography, guitar work, sermons, study guides, etc. Because you are so familiar with the material, you see the problems and the "not supposed to be like that" things. The kicker is that no one else knows about the "oops factor", and therefore think all of that is supposed to be in there... and they love it.

Example: I have had several different amps over the summer and have used them in P/W each time; along with this we have been doing new songs just about every week - where I inevitably goof here and there and the tones are usually not exactly spot on (for me). Afterward, I sometimes asked a few folks (adults) if they could tell any difference in what they heard or how they liked our set... you know what they say - "Um, it sounded just fine. Great job guys! I didn't notice anything different. Keep it up..." Whereas when I listened to it - I cringe! Then there are the kids - who love you even if you play completely out of whack! Love the kids.

Granted, recordings are a bit of a different beast - but in the end if the listener really likes what you give them, then it's all good. Remember that all God wants from us is a "joyful noise" - so that can go LOTS of ways! :D

I know you knew all the above already... but it's worth stating for my own good. Heh. By all means, give us some more bluesy goodness.

All ears...
~A~

[trag-o-caster]

Oh I'll be writing more soon. Right now I've been overdosing on Z.Z. Top's new album "Mescalero", and I'm afraid anything I try to write is gonna sound like that. Then again - maybe not a bad idea! Are there any Z.Z. Top style Christian bands out there?

O.K. I know nothing about modern Gospel/Christian music. What's out there exactly? Are there any real rootsy, boogie woogie, or honky tonkin' Christian bands out there, with mean and nasty guitar breaks? I know of Phil Keaggy (how do you pronounce that?), and Rev. Gary Davis, and that's about all that I know. Someone point me in the right direction please!

[kewlpack]

Hmmm...

Keaggy = KAY-Gee

I don't know if there are any Christian format bands that would fit into the ZZ Top, Clapton, Iron Maiden, or SRV genres (note: just randomly picked bands with strong guitar elements).

However, there are several bands that have clever guitar work and cross several genres:
• FFH (great folksy rock pop)
• Steven Curtis Chapman (excellent multi-genre)
• Jaqi Velasquez (latin-ish pop)
• Third Day (p/w and rock)
• Rich Mullins/Ragamuffin Band (alternative, folk, light rock - multi-genre)
• Kutless (really heavy rock style)
• Petra (more of a classic rock flavor)
• DC Talk (Rap, Rock, Heavy sometimes)

There are many many more - these are just a sampling.

JaM!
~A~[/list]

[stephen]

However, there are several bands that have clever guitar work and cross several genres:
• FFH (great folksy rock pop)
• Steven Curtis Chapman (excellent multi-genre)
• Jaqi Velasquez (latin-ish pop)
• Third Day (p/w and rock)
• Rich Mullins/Ragamuffin Band (alternative, folk, light rock - multi-genre)
• Kutless (really heavy rock style)
• Petra (more of a classic rock flavor)
• DC Talk (Rap, Rock, Heavy sometimes)

There are many many more - these are just a sampling.

JaM!


I would add, Jeremy Camp: good blues/rock, blues/country guitars.

[trag-o-caster]

Jeremy Camp - cool! The next time I go CD shopping, I'll look him up. Can you find his stuff in your average CD shops? Also, any recommendations for a specific album for my first sampling?

Why are there no guitar heroes in Christian music, other than Phil?

Someone at the jam session last night told me about a site where you can submit original gospel tunes. Anyone know anything about that?

Thanks again to all for the nice remarks!

God bless!

[kewlpack]

Why are there no guitar heroes in Christian music, other than Phil?
Dunno... I've wondered the same thing. My guess would be that the "big" musicians who actually get close to Christ eventually find that the popular music scene (Christian or otherwise) isn't always conducive to the lifestyle, devotion and the simple ways of the faith... many pitfalls, temptations, etc. :roll: /shrug

I wouldn't be dogmatic about it, but guitar virtuosos (perhaps even bands in general) are typically focused on one thing in particular and that gets in the way of being submissive to Christ (e.g. focusing on him first, the call to real simplicity, genuine sacrificial humility, and generally being folks who live under the radar [so to speak]).

Not wanting to take this into a doctrinal or theological direction - just thinking out loud.

Grace and Peace-
~A~

[reverbbb]

. . . That in the world of Christian music, there has been a philosophy that we are not here to show off when Worshiping Him. That way of thinking is changing very fast though. But it creates a struggle of: Are we in it for ourselves, or because we want to Praise our God?

Therefore, there is not a lot of depth to Christian Guitarists Icons. Jimmy Page, SRV, Joe Perry and so on, were very much showmans of their art. They gained the attension of their audience due to this big factor in their performances.

There is a new genre of young Christian Alternative Music emerging. It has been around for many years, but it is gain a lot of steam in the past 18 months. These kids are head strong into the high gain power cords with an edginess that rivals Goth and Heavy Metal rock bands. Eventually, there will emerge some household names in that Christian Rock genere.

But for now, we mostly hear about the songwriters and singers in the mainstream instead of the guitarists. That is where the main message is any way.

Trag - with your guitar playing skills, you might be able to take your message to the masses and be one of those guitar revolutionaries that the Christian Music world is craving. :wink:

[ptrallan01]

There is a perception among Christians or rather there are perceptions among Christians about electric guitars and worship. The electric guitar is associated with the worst elements of rock and roll form the inception of rock and roll, rock and roll is associated with "devil" music. Trag did a beautiful blues tune that many churches would not allow to be played in their sanctuary. Our previous music director hated the fact that I played a guitar. It was okay for someone else but the pastor shouldn't play it and certainly not blues licks.

This combination of generally unspoken disapproval may cause the best guitarist to find a more comfortable place to play or cause excellent guitarist to temper their playing to fit in. This may push them out of the fold over a simple issue of liberty.

I'll finish the rest of this in the doctrine section if anyone would like to read it.

Peter

[trag-o-caster]

This makes for a very interesting discussion, and I certainly have lived it. When I was in my teens, I was severely reprimanded for playing music with school friends - music that was not Christian music (it was blues/rock). I was actually called to the front of the church by the pastor, in front of the whole congregation! Basically I was told that if I listened to, or played any music that was not Christian music - I was going to hell, plain and simple. I pointed out to the pastor AND the congregation that they ALL listen to the country radio stations in their car. Their answer? "But THAT'S different". They told my mother to insist that I put all of my records out to the trash. I told my mom if she does that, I'm leaving home and never coming back. Oh, it was bad! I stopped going to my moms church, and I had been playing guitar there since I was 9.

I spent years not even acknowledging the Lord. I totally backslid. I got into hard drugs, and drinking. After many years of messing up my life, I realised that I truly believed in Jesus Christ. What I had a problem with is OTHER people's perception of how I'M supposed to behave in my "personal relationship with Jesus Christ". So, over the years I've been gradually rekindling my walk with the Lord. I don't attend any church on a regular basis. I'm still looking. I'm confident that the Lord will lead me to where I'm supposed to be at a time when I'm supposed to be there.

Why does God give us these abilities, and then we're not allowed to use them in His service - and couple that with the fact that many think it's a sin for me to put these abilities into practice in the privacy of my own home, much less in a nightclub, or something? It's almost like:

If you're a hot guitarist, you'll have to tone it down and play behind a singer, singing songs for the Lord, and don't play anything that may distract from the songs message - and while you're at it, don't play like that anywhere else! Forget everything you know, or you'll have to account for it on judgement day.

I hope and pray that I've not offended anyone with this post. I'm just giving you a little background on where I came from, and how I got here. Any further discussions on this topic I will gladly take to the "Doctrine" page.

God bless you good people!

[stephen]

There is a perception among Christians or rather there are perceptions among Christians about electric guitars and worship. The electric guitar is associated with the worst elements of rock and roll form the inception of rock and roll, rock and roll is associated with "devil" music. Trag did a beautiful blues tune that many churches would not allow to be played in their sanctuary. Our previous music director hated the fact that I played a guitar. It was okay for someone else but the pastor shouldn't play it and certainly not blues licks.

This combination of generally unspoken disapproval may cause the best guitarist to find a more comfortable place to play or cause excellent guitarist to temper their playing to fit in. This may push them out of the fold over a simple issue of liberty.

I'll finish the rest of this in the doctrine section if anyone would like to read it.
Peter

For those that want to see where this has gone in discussion, look here:

http://strhosting.co.uk/TelecasterPW/viewtopic.php?p=135#135

Its become a very good topic!

[trag-o-caster]

An EXCELLENT topic of discussion, and one that has tugged at my conscience since I was a pre-teen. Even to this very day there's a little thing in the back of my mind saying "Am I going to go to Hell for playing that lick?".

Sometimes the way that some people present their version of the message of Jesus Christ can drive some of us the complete opposite direction. I mean I literally woke up one morning and said to myself "Today I'm going out and trying drugs for the first time" - and I did exactly that. Within a few weeks I was accepted, with open arms, into the "burnout" crowd. I stayed there for decades.

[stephen]

I mean I literally woke up one morning and said to myself "Today I'm going out and trying drugs for the first time" - and I did exactly that. Within a few weeks I was accepted, with open arms, into the "burnout" crowd. I stayed there for decades.

I know exactly what your saying. But just to let you know: we gotchya now, and we aint lettin go! So in other words, permission denied to leave! :wink: And just so I'm clear, your stuck with us, for eternity buddy! :D

Oh, and I cant wait to get my computer at home fixed (no speakers here at work :cry: ), so I can hear what everyone is raving about!

[trag-o-caster]

I ain't a-goin' NO where!

You can tell that my upbringing has created an internal struggle for me that I've had to deal with all of my life. In my moms church it was forbidden to play cards, go to movies, even go bowling. We weren't allowed to dance, girls couldn't wear slacks, makeup or ANY jewelry. Even wedding rings were forbidden. And they'd tell you, in no uncertain terms, that any of these "transgressions" would send you straight to the lake of fire.

It was a church that resorted to scare tactics, as opposed to spreading the message of God's love. For the last 10+ years I've been learning about God's love on my own. I've learned MUCH more about God FROM God than any human could teach.

Thank God for this board! Thank God for you good people!

[tom grossheider]

Good work Trag! Really dug that one alot, nice work. Glad to have you around bro.

[stephen]

However, there are several bands that have clever guitar work and cross several genres:
• FFH (great folksy rock pop)
• Steven Curtis Chapman (excellent multi-genre)
• Jaqi Velasquez (latin-ish pop)
• Third Day (p/w and rock)
• Rich Mullins/Ragamuffin Band (alternative, folk, light rock - multi-genre)
• Kutless (really heavy rock style)
• Petra (more of a classic rock flavor)
• DC Talk (Rap, Rock, Heavy sometimes)

There are many many more - these are just a sampling.

JaM!


I would add, Jeremy Camp: good blues/rock, blues/country guitars.

Another one to add to the list:

Lincoln Brewster. This guy is most definitely hot, heavy blues rock influence, and he has done a lot of studio work for guys like Steve Perry, Kerry Livgren, etc..

I rate him as one of my top 10 favorite guitarists. Not just Christain, I'm sayin of all time! He's that good!

I think he has a web-site too, I'll check that out.

[trag-o-caster]

Thanks Stephen! I'll DEFINATELY check him out!!!

Had a little prob with the new computer that had me MIA for a couple days. But I'm BACK!

[stephen]

here it is:

http://www.lincolnbrewster.com/

Pretty cool! He's got a gear section and talks about a lot of gear! And some sound clips!

I know this for sure, his debut, self-titled album, was awesome! Lots of intricate guitar work, and some near shred fest's going on, while not loosing that bules.rock vibe! And that is pretty hard to pull off, imho.

[trag-o-caster]

Very cool! Thanks for the link! He's a little "shreddy" for my tastes, but he is a great player. His tunes are cool. They sound a bit Beatlesque. Most important is his hearts in the right place. I may have to look one of his album up.

[Ravindave_3600]

Keaggy = KAY-Gee

I don't know if there are any Christian format bands that would fit into the ZZ Top, Clapton, Iron Maiden, or SRV genres (note: just randomly picked bands with strong guitar elements).

However, there are several bands that have clever guitar work and cross several genres:
• FFH (great folksy rock pop)
• Steven Curtis Chapman (excellent multi-genre)
• Jaqi Velasquez (latin-ish pop)
• Third Day (p/w and rock)
• Rich Mullins/Ragamuffin Band (alternative, folk, light rock - multi-genre)
• Kutless (really heavy rock style)
• Petra (more of a classic rock flavor)
• DC Talk (Rap, Rock, Heavy sometimes)

[/list]

* 15-20 years ago I loved to listen to Dana Key (DeGarmo and Key) play. He usually used a St. Blues strat and could make it sing or roar as needed. His blues influence was pretty obvious, but eventually the band got more into simplistic "krunch" and lost my attention.

* Darrell Mansfield used to rip it up, too.

* The guy from Los Lonely Boys, a dedicated Roman Catholic, is an AWESOME guitarist. His faith seeps into his playing, I think, but I wouldn't call him a "Christian" guitarist until I know more about him.

As far as Believers playing blues and rock, isn't it reasonable to expect our faith to be expressed in the sounds we love? I told the Lord not long ago I'd love to spread His grace right, left and sideways, with my band honoring Him as it plays blues, roots and country, along with rockabilly hymns (!), my influences (Buddy Holly, Springsteen, Keef, EC, and 110 blues guys) flapping in the breeze generated by some HUGE speakers....

So maybe the world won't be set on fire, but maybe my little corner will get lit up a little. And if you ever come to Boise, don't forget to bring your guitar :lol: