I have to disagree with the other musician. I believe there are formulas that you can at least start with to get you off to a great start.
Now, gospel is divided into several categories: hymns sprituals gospels contemporary solos devotionals praise songs
worship songs
Each group has its own formula, so to speak, at least to get you going. If you are really serious about learning I recommend you get Jermaine Griggs courses he has broken down gospel and worship and prasie songs into some very useful formulas but while you are here i will giveyou some tips. I will give some formulas for gospel which is the style you here sometime in devotional service songs like cant nobody do me like jesus or jesus on the main line
The first thing is rhythm. Gospel, like blues, swings the notes. How does a horse sound when he is walking down the street?
clopclop clopclop clopclop clopclop clopclop clopclop clopclop clopclop
Notice I put to words together because the notes should be played without a break. If you need to get an example of how swing notes sound get a beginner jazz or blues book with a cd.
Next point on rhythm: Always count 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
Even if the song is in 4/4; but not if it's in 3/4
By counting 121212, you will accent the ones and your chord hits can land on the 1 and you will be swinging. There are different accents and combinations of rhythyms that you can use to play gospel. I suggest you get any music by Albertina Walker to learn how interpret gospels or some old Clark sisters stuff.
Here are some:
The shuffle; the oldest and most recognizable rhythym. Here you alternate between the first chord of the scale and the fourth chord of the scale using the clop clopclop effect rhythmically. Try putting your right hand on CEC; you have C in your pinky and the octave under it in your thumb and E in the middle now using that clopclop effect alternate the E with F
So ,your index or middle finger will alternate E and F and while you are doing this let your left hand hold C and G and alternate between G and A so when your right hand goes to the F your left thumb moves to the A. But, the C's in your left and right hand stay the same and continue to stay bouncing. You can also use the One and Two chord in the key of C you will be alternating between C maj and Dmin. There is a clip on this site in the video section called gospel bounce and this technique is demonstrated.
Walking bass this is a more complicated thing and I dont want to go into it here; but I have made posts on walking bass lines and how to walk if you are interested check them out.
The one-two is feel the easiest way to work a gospel with a one two feel; it is similar to stride. Your left hand alternates between the root and the fifth while your right hand plays the chords
So try this; in your left hand you are going to play C and then G and in your right hand you are just going to play BbDE
Count 1234 1234 1234
Let your left play C on one and your right hand play the chord on 3 4 dont play anything on 2 the next time play G in your left and the same chord on 3 4. This is the one two feel; very easy and very useful for an old school feel
HarmonyThe next most important component for now just use tritones they are the most user freindly in the key of C you will use BbE or BbDE
for the Iv chord use F/AEb or F/ACEb for the five chord use G/'FAC
Next up
melody Often, the first time around you want to play the melody (to establish the song and to set the timing ) but when you do play the melody make sure the notes land on the one when you are counting 1212121212
As you decorate the melody use a lot of grace notes that means play with the note next to it either next to it in the scale or a half step up or below; slide into your target note or trill the two notes when you have time
Now for
song structure. This where you can really apply song structure and this is where Jermaine Griggs really shines. He has a lot of formulas broken down and I will give you a couple here.
Either your song is going to go to the four first or to the five first. Songs like "Amazing Grace"; "Can't Nobody do me like Jesus"; "Glory Glory"; "I'm on the battlefield for my lord"; "I'll fly away"; "What a fellowship"; "God Be with you"; they all go to the four chord first
You can walk up the scale to the four chord or do a 2-5-1 in the four chord key to get to the four Gmin7 C7- Fmaj. Or you can walk chromatically down from the 6 (A Ab G Gb F).
After it goes to the four it goes back to the one but in gospel we like using the one over five. So, instead of going back to C/BbE go to G/BbE before you go to C/BbE. Now you can do a 1=6=2=5=1 or C7 A7 D7 G7 C7
For a better explanation of this song, go to
www.earnestandroline.com and look up the song "Can't nobody do me like Jesus". After you learn the arrangement see how the arranger went to the four chord first.
Now, are there more voicings and other chords to use oh yes; but to really get into this further will take forever. I gave you this to get you started you are right there is a formula for this music you have to dig to find it but if you study the rhythm the harmony the melody and the song structure as independent parts that make up a whole you will be well on your way to understanding it.
