Topic: Do you have problems listening to secular music? (Read 4959 times)

Fenix · « **on:** January 07, 2012, 08:33:24 AM »

Do you/

I am asking this from a guitarist's perspective. Given that there is such (to me) lack of gospel guitar players that I can listen to for inspiration, I tend to turn to secular stuff.

Do you do the same?

funkStrat_97 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2012, 09:49:53 AM »

Let me as you a question; why do you listen to music? What do you get out of it?

betnich · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2012, 04:23:52 PM »

Music is music - no problems listening to different genres, though some songs/styles get on my nerves

As a musician I listen for structure, melody, harmony, rhythm, arrangement, etc. I tend to "pull things apart".

I like Gospel better than most CCM or the more amorphous "Inspirational" genres...

bill m · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2012, 04:49:40 PM »

yeah could not have said it better myself! Feel exactly the same way.

gtrdave · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2012, 05:47:32 PM »

I still listen to secular music, but I'm mindful of the lyrics as THAT is what really determines the content of the song, whether or not it's secular or "Christian" or whatever.

Gibby · « **Reply #5 on:** January 09, 2012, 10:39:20 AM »

Quote from: betnich on January 07, 2012, 04:23:52 PM

Music is music - no problems listening to different genres, though some songs/styles get on my nerves

As a musician I listen for structure, melody, harmony, rhythm, arrangement, etc. I tend to "pull things apart".

I like Gospel better than most CCM or the more amorphous "Inspirational" genres...

Yep...music is music. The lyrics are what sets the songs apart IMO

Fenix · « **Reply #6 on:** January 09, 2012, 11:52:03 AM »

Quote from: funkStrat_97 on January 07, 2012, 09:49:53 AM

Let me as you a question; why do you listen to music? What do you get out of it?

Sorry it took so long to answer your question.

In any case I listen to music so I can get ideas and because I enjoy the instrumentation.

Heck I even listen to death metal (I don't actively seek out death metal bands and the like). When i hear them on the radio, I listen to it cuz some of those guys are VERY technically proficient.

I was just asking cuz there seems to be a real shortage of "gospel" or Christian guitarists that really blow my mind.

Apart from gtrdave of course.

And our dear mod...

funkStrat_97 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2012, 08:12:14 PM »

Quote from: Fenix on January 07, 2012, 08:33:24 AM

Do you/

I am asking this from a guitarist's perspective. Given that there is such (to me) lack of gospel guitar players that I can listen to for inspiration, I tend to turn to secular stuff.

Do you do the same?

The issue at hand is that the guitar is not a critical part of the Contemporary Urban Gospel sound. And that tends to be true of most currently popular urban formats. There are some exceptions of course, but if you look at rock music for example, the guitar is the crucial element to that sound. Take away the guitar and you've got nothing. With most "black" music - especially most recent offerings - guitar is a nice to have flavor, but more often than not it isn't a critical element.

HEART-BEAT · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2012, 09:36:43 AM »

I don't like to use the word secular.

Since music has POWER, meaning it will invade you without your permission; why chose to listen to anything unGodly or AntiChrist?

That doesn't mean the lyrics MUST praise God. It just should not be against Him.

Fornication
Hate
Adultery
Foul language
Strife
Lying

You know, all that stuff.

I have no issues with the Sesame Street theme song. Infact: I love that melody!

Detman101 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2012, 08:57:23 PM »

Meh...I just about only listen to secular music because there are no guitar lessons on any gospel music. It's like some kind of "secret club" that they don't want to let guitarists in. I say screw it, if I can't learn how to play gospel I'll keep playing rock riffs in church.

Detman101 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 04, 2012, 08:59:19 PM »

Quote from: funkStrat_97 on January 16, 2012, 08:12:14 PM

The issue at hand is that the guitar is not a critical part of the Contemporary Urban Gospel sound. And that tends to be true of most currently popular urban formats. There are some exceptions of course, but if you look at rock music for example, the guitar is the crucial element to that sound. Take away the guitar and you've got nothing. With most "black" music - especially most recent offerings - guitar is a nice to have flavor, but more often than not it isn't a critical element.

And that is the essence of my issue with gospel music and gospel churches in general. It's like there is some unwritten rule that the only instruments that count are the drums and the keyboard. Sometimes I wonder why I bother...then I remember that I'm playing for God and not the church.

Fenix · « **Reply #11 on:** March 05, 2012, 08:25:52 AM »

Well, considering that the keyboard and organ can play 3 times as many notes as a guitarist can, and also multi-task as a rhythm and lead instrument at the same time, it is not too hard to imagine why they take preeminence in churches.

I'm not mad though. i love the guitar.

funkStrat_97 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 05, 2012, 08:19:04 PM »

Quote from: Detman101 on March 04, 2012, 08:59:19 PM

And that is the essence of my issue with gospel music and gospel churches in general. It's like there is some unwritten rule that the only instruments that count are the drums and the keyboard. Sometimes I wonder why I bother...then I remember that I'm playing for God and not the church.

Well....the thing is that it's just the nature of the music......mostly. The electric guitar IS the sound of rock. It has been adapted into other styles to varying degrees, but the fact is that if you really want to hear some big time guitar, you'll find it to full effect in rock music. As urban/gospel guitarists, we attempt to codify these influences within the context of what we do and it is here where we run the risk of alienating our (for lack of a better term) "target" audience. On occasion, we get a piece of the spotlight, but only but for so long. Now having said that, there are some unique R&B/funk idioms that even rock players delve into from time to time, but these tend to be understated (and beautifully so in many cases) and overlooked by all but true music lovers.

gtrdave · « **Reply #13 on:** March 06, 2012, 05:00:00 PM »

Quote from: Detman101 on March 04, 2012, 08:57:23 PM

Meh...I just about only listen to secular music because there are no guitar lessons on any gospel music. It's like some kind of "secret club" that they don't want to let guitarists in. I say screw it, if I can't learn how to play gospel I'll keep playing rock riffs in church.

Most of what Gospel guitar players are playing is a combo of blues and jazz, so you can listen to random blues/jazz guitarists and then apply the same licks to Gospel songs.

Gospel is just not normally known as guitar-heavy music style and that's why it's more difficult to find a lot of Gospel-specific guitarists.
Take Jonathan DuBose for example. I never knew that he was a Gospel guitarist as I had only heard him on a couple different pop-funk and pseudo-jazz albums.
It wasn't until I joined this forum that I discovered how much of a well-respected Gospel player he was.

jonesl78 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2012, 05:24:09 PM »

Quote from: gtrdave on January 08, 2012, 05:47:32 PM

I still listen to secular music, but I'm mindful of the lyrics as THAT is what really determines the content of the song, whether or not it's secular or "Christian" or whatever.

Although I agree with you, ironically we as musicians sometimes downplay the power of our instruments. We have the power to transform or enhance the atmosphere of a service without the assistance of a vocalist/choir. Im not even referring to playing instrumental music associated with lyrical content. David played his harp and drove out the evil spirit in King Saul. I believe the opposite is true also with secular music because gifts can become perverted.

Im not against listening to secular music, but I think it takes a MATURE listener to avoid the pitfalls.

munsterduane · « **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2012, 05:06:38 PM »

My love in music is southern gospel which is an upbeat country so ive been able to find a few gospel guitarist who teach intros, outros and leads that ive adapted to the southern gospel we do. But we also do contemporary like Third Day, Chris Tomin and City Harmonic and the like to which ive just had to sit down and listen and learn or pick up few things on some other tab sites. Southern gospel has no sites as far as I know and from the response i got on here i'm guessing there are very few here playing and or listening to it. So its a steep learnign curve. I do listen and play some secular music such as Bryan Adams, Rush etc all of which Ive taken things from and incorporated into my style. Theres good and bad music no matter where you go. I love a good guitar solo whether its a christian player or Randy Bachman theres lots to learn Great forum here

betnich · « **Reply #16 on:** March 07, 2012, 11:34:23 PM »

I think the Black equivalent to Southern gospel is Quartet...both old school, lots of the same types of chords, changes, etc.


The Soul Stirrers - "I'm a Soldier"

Sometimes white and black 'Quartet' gospel groups even cover the same songs, with slightly different feel...


Blind Boys of MS singing 'Leaning On The Everlasting Arms"


Gaither - Leaning on the everlasting arms

And here's a Southern Gospel forum I found:
http://southerngospelnews.com/index/forum/

gtrdave · « **Reply #17 on:** March 08, 2012, 10:06:18 AM »

In those above videos, it's clear that the influences, at least for the guitar players, are rooted in blues, early rock and roll and country.
Like I was saying before, you don't have to listen to the specific style of music that you wish to play, but can listen to all of the influences of the style and then be able to adapt them to your particular flavor of Christian/Gospel music.

mplsbender · « **Reply #18 on:** March 12, 2012, 03:01:38 PM »

man who hasnt ripped of bb and albert king .I dont own there cds but ive allready ripped off there licks like the rest of the world 1st, 2nd or 3rd time around via clapton srv ect, ect check out steviesnacks on internet and learn alot big time and you dont have to buy the cds

aideh20 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 09, 2012, 06:37:32 PM »

This is why I honsetly rearly site get on this. I know most of tdo he people here are your typical church playing musicians that don't really care as much about God as they do music. Thats how we end up with a whole rack of wonderful musicians playing secular music that started out in the church, because they never really cared about God. My life is God first music later. Yes, i have a ministry in music but if someone took away this guitar from me would I still be bold powerful minister of the gospel? Yes I would. That is why regardless of how much gospel music lacks great "blow your mind" guitar artist, I would never go try to find inspiration somewhere else because I dont know where they got their inspiration from. Just imaginde Jesus was a guitarist. Would he listen to any other type of music apart from the one that glorifies his father?
God Bless, Love yall

Author Topic: Do you have problems listening to secular music? (Read 4959 times)

bill m