Don't forget the converts like me. We have one "church raised" CCM guitar player among us. Since our bass player went to college I have filled in. The guitar is more of a solo instrument. For those who play at home and just want to sing along. The bass assumes there is a band also.
Our other guitar players are another convert to the faith who was a country rock guy, our drummer and another strummer who was raised in one of those denominations which don't allow musical instruments. It is the role of guitar in the general society and the start up cost being many times cheaper, until the recent keyboards, then any other instrument which lead to a glute of strummers if not lead guitarist.
"Gospel music" as a black peoples art form has a slightly different developement path. In the 70s the bass role and players became emphasised while for the most part guitar players were 1. Older blues guys, 2. Jazz guys seen as elitist snobs by the pop community or 3. Guys, "Jimi Hendrix for example" who crossed over to the rock world and are seen as sellouts to the black community.
The pop and slap bass became just the latest innovation that general pop music pick up from "black music" as the bass players took on more of a star role in black bands. In the music sampled today and used for black pop music it is the bassline that the producer is looking to add much more often then a Niles Rodgers driving the beat on rythmn guitar or a guitar solo. Thus specific to the black community in general and Gospel playing churches specificcally are greater talent pool of bass players versus guitar players is available. And black churches are much more likely to have a lifelong bass player, either church raised or a convert who brought his wordly skill, rather then asking the third or forth guitar to fill that role.
Agreed on all points.
In my experience, I've found COGIC bass players to be horribly competitive and snobbish people. COGIC guitarists have always been humble and welcoming though. What is it about the keyboardists and
bassists that makes them so mean? In all my travels I've only met one nice COGIC keyboardist and one COGIC bassist and that's because he was a beginner. It's sad...
When I play I never play at other COGIC churches cause everyone's so stuck-up and there's so many horrible cliques. It's harder to find people to play with than out in the world...
Dm