"I am Not Forgotten" ...etc

[webster808]

Ok so my church choir wants to attempt to perform this song "I am Not Forgotten" by Israel Houghton for our church anniversary. This is my problem...I know we are not going to sound like the soundtrack, but i want us (the musicians and choir ,esp musicians) to sound good when we try it. My brother is good on the drums, the pianist is not that gifted and is real cocky, i play the bass. Theres one who plays the trumpet. Those are all the musicians. Now my question is how do i play the bass to fill in the VOIDS, and keep the groove of the track? I practiced the song many times, and still sounds empty (acknowledging the fact that the track is on a pro level)...If someone would be kind enough to make a video or mp3 playing a different style while keeping the groove of the track please. This would be greatly appreciated!!1 Also suggestions are welcome on how to improve the track...ex adding strings,hits, pads, synths...this really means a lot to me. My other posts no1 replied to them, but if someone  could just leave me a brief comment... thank you very much

Webster808

[BassbyGrace]

hmmmm, let me go listen to the song again and see what I can do.

[ddwilkins]

First I would ask the keyboard player to drop the cockiness and help out by filling up his chords. I play keys and most keyboards will understand what filling up their chords is. Its when you play the same chord in both hands but with different inversions. I played one of Israel's songs today on keys. All we have is me and my brother playing drums at my church. My boy came in town and played sax but we did, "Here I am to worship". It sounding good because my chords weren't left open. I also, layer strings under my piano sound when I play, this helps tremendously. When my other boy comes in town, he jumps on keys and I bring my bass to church and we go from there, but all I do is add the true bottom to the songs. He does the work. In listening to music, the bass really doesn't take the lead and stand out, to me, unless it is in quartet music. That's the only time I really here a defined bass line. In contemporary music, it's the keys. Hope this helps.

[DWBass]

Well, your keyboardist will have to step up on this one. The song is rather simple although those 'hits' have to be precise. The bassline is rather easy. I can't see adding anything to it. The keyboardist will have to choose a patch that has both strings and EP/organ. I wouldn't worry about trying to sound exactly the same as long as it has the same intensity it should sound fine.

[webster808]

thanks for comments ppl....
to ddwilkins, i play the piano myself, and I always tell him to fill up his chords, but he doesnt. See this is my dads church, so to not complicate things, i just let it go. But its killing us. To me when i go to a church, its the praise and worship that draws me in.

thanks dwbass for your comment

appreciate it guys

[ddwilkins]

No problem.

[bassthumpa]

Well, your keyboardist will have to step up on this one. The song is rather simple although those 'hits' have to be precise. The bassline is rather easy. I can't see adding anything to it. The keyboardist will have to choose a patch that has both strings and EP/organ. I wouldn't worry about trying to sound exactly the same as long as it has the same intensity it should sound fine.

Yeah, this is one of those songs where you have to hold it down with those "hits"... you might be able to fill just a bit with some selective pops here and there, but don't overdo it.

[webster808]

thanks for the reply bassthumpa.

[yogooch]

When we played this song @ my church, we used a drum loop created in a program called Reason. A lot of times a drum loop can seriously fill a void in a song if its done right. Most of
Gospel recordings include some form of drum loop. What that does is (1) Fill up a track with things like percussion and hand claps etc. and (2) create consistency in the tempo. But they should ONLY be used if someone knows hows to program loops.

[DWBass]

But they should ONLY be used if someone knows hows to program loops.

And only if the drummer can play along in time (with cans on).

[webster808]

When we played this song @ my church, we used a drum loop created in a program called Reason. A lot of times a drum loop can seriously fill a void in a song if its done right. Most of
Gospel recordings include some form of drum loop. What that does is (1) Fill up a track with things like percussion and hand claps etc. and (2) create consistency in the tempo. But they should ONLY be used if someone knows hows to program loops.

can you please send me the loop yogooch? this is my email webster808@aol.com. Thank you in advance

[jeremyr]

When we played this song @ my church, we used a drum loop created in a program called Reason. A lot of times a drum loop can seriously fill a void in a song if its done right. Most of
Gospel recordings include some form of drum loop. What that does is (1) Fill up a track with things like percussion and hand claps etc. and (2) create consistency in the tempo. But they should ONLY be used if someone knows hows to program loops.

Do you typically use click tracks for songs at your church?

[webster808]

Do you typically use click tracks for songs at your church?

not really, but its never too late to start

[webster808]

I WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU to EVERYONE FOR THEIR POSTS. REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

[bass_asaph]

if i may ask,what's a click track cos ive never heard about dat b4.