Anyone play Chris Tomlin's "On Our Side" during wo

[TheBigKevDogg]

I'm just wondering if anyone has tried this song out during worship, it has a strong gosple vibe and a ripping guitar solo in the middle. Question...do you think that doing that solo during a worship set would be distracting or would enhance? I play in very guitar friendly situations, and solo a lot, but this one can get a little crazy. Thanks! (this is my first of many posts here :lol:)

[reverbbb]

I don't know the song that you mention. I will look for it in my Tomlin CDs.

We do Tomlin's song "Unchanging". Very singable song for the congregation. At the end, the music drives and drones on some high register licks. Every time we get to that part, it feels like we lost the congregation with the Worship mood. They seem to turn towards me and either watch my monotonous licks, or they start looking around at the rest of the PW team for the next queue as to what to do next or when the song ends.

I love Unchanging. But I have to figure out a way to gracefully leave out the lead at the end. It is distracting and does not seem to add any Worship value. But then again, we have not perfected the art of seamless Worship. Perhaps if we were better at our presentaion, then the congregation would flow right along with the lead parts.

[TheBigKevDogg]

it's on arriving, track 9..."if god is on our side, he can't be against us..."

Thanks for the input. Fills and such have worked pretty well in the past for me, maybe because I'm playing for a college crowd (intervarsity). This one is a little extended though...

[Kitty]

Question...do you think that doing that solo during a worship set would be distracting or would enhance? I play in very guitar friendly situations, and solo a lot, but this one can get a little crazy.

Hi Big Kev Dogg :-)

I'm not a lead guitarist, but I am a worship leader. I'm just happy a guitar player would even ask the question. :lol:

(I also don't know the song in particular you're talking about so my comments will have to be taken in more of a general sense.)

I would say that a little instruction to the congregation goes a long way. What are they supposed to be doing while you're soloing? Have they ever been instructed in that?

As Roger said:
Every time we get to that part, it feels like we lost the congregation with the Worship mood. They seem to turn towards me and either watch my monotonous licks, or they start looking around at the rest of the PW team for the next queue as to what to do next or when the song ends.

As worshippers, they aren't really sure what they're supposed to be focusing on or doing right then. You (the worship team or worship leader or pastor) need to teach them what the solo times are for.

And if they don't have anything to do during the solos, then why is the worship team going there?

I have my own beliefs and ideas about how instrumental sections can be used in worship, and I give a little instruction to that end now and then. But what's it for in YOUR congregation? I'd suggest you either give them some clues to work with, or don't solo. But you can't assume that they'll just understand it in the same way you do without some instruction. From my perspective, that's just not one of the choices.

On the other hand, maybe what you mean by guitar friendly situation means that there is already an understanding of what the worshipper in the congregation can be doing during instrumental solos, and you may just be asking if this solo in particular is too wild and distracting. I'd say if you have to ask the question — then yeah. Can you modify it so that it falls more in line with what you are sure flows with the worship?

Kitty

[TheBigKevDogg]

Hey thanks for the advice! I guess we'll just have to try it out in practice when school (and Intervarsity) starts back up in August. What kind of guitar you got there in the picture?

[Kitty]

That's my spare guitar, a Dean. Plugged in, it sounds great. I'm not real happy with the acoustic sound of it though. But it hangs on the wall in my office for when I need to work on something real quick. Or just goof off.

I usually play a Martin DC-1E when I'm out. But I keep it in its case WITH THE HUMIDIFIER. :angel

You got a picture of your favorite guitar?

Kitty

[TheBigKevDogg]

Well once my new pickguard for my new tele comes I'm going to make a little picture website for my instruments...but until here this is my list (in order of date aquired):

Cheap Alvarez starter acoustic (AWESOME for the money)
Fender '72 Telecaster Thinline Reissue
Taylor 710-ce
Fender American Telecaster ('91)

(plus a cheap mandolin, acoustic/electric ukulele, home-made electric ukulele :lol:, and my dad has a Squire P-Bass that I play more than him...oh and I just picked up a nice harmonica and neck harmonica holder so I can play along with guitar)