Only a bass guitAr and drummer

[gospeluuke]

Can this situation work? And please explain how. 
We are a small church. We sing songs like "glory glory hallejuah" "cant nobody do me like jesus" Im a soldier in the army of the lord"etc.

Thanks in advance.

[PianoClubhouse]

Absolutely can work! As far as choir / vocal songs, you'll want to be sure you have a confident worship leader and/or choir director that can effectively lead the congregation and choir, so they'll know when to come in and where to sing. For songs like you gave in your example, those should be a piece of cake...once folks start to sing, its pretty much auto-pilot from there with the bass and drums.

I think the only situations where it may be a little awkward is for slow songs or even just instrumental songs. In those instances, the bass may try to play the melody line, and when there are rests or breaks in between the melody line, he/she can jump down to playing the bass notes.

May also try some bass chords to fill in some of those gaps.

[jonesl78]

In your profile it says that your primary instrument is piano. Is there any particular reason why you would not play piano during these songs?

[gospeluuke]

Piano is my primary instrument by circumstance. It's what I currently play, its not my passion though.

I was just wondering how I could make playing my bass work.

At the end of the day, I will do whatever is best for my church and praise in worship. I dont want to be a distraction from the spirit moving. 

Thanks for the suggestions, i will practice these techniques and see.

God Bless!

[jonesl78]

Piano is my primary instrument by circumstance. It's what I currently play, its not my passion though.

I was just wondering how I could make playing my bass work.

At the end of the day, I will do whatever is best for my church and praise in worship. I dont want to be a distraction from the spirit moving. 

Thanks for the suggestions, i will practice these techniques and see.

God Bless!

The statement in bold is a statement every musician should seek to achieve everytime they touch their instrument. God bless you!!!

Playing with bass and drums actually sounds like fun. However, like PCH stated, it will require you to be strategic on the slower songs.

[floaded27]

It can work, as I've had to do it plenty of times. For me though, it worked entirely opposite of what PianoClubHouse suggested.

Perfectly fine during instrumentals and even slow songs. A killer when other people have to sing. Why? Because they cant seem to find the key nor the timing when its just the bass. Which is absolutely puzzling because most songs our organist fumbles over anyway.

Bass is my passion as well, but I like keyboard as well, and in those situations, I play the songs that I can on the keyboard, and default to bass for the more troublesome songs (old hymns and congregation songs). And the singers tend to work better with the keyboard alone than with the bass alone.

Maybe you can try to have someone help on keys for easier songs, that way you get some bass time in, and they dont have to be that skilled. Then for the more difficult songs you can take over on keys.

[Mysteryman]

Yes it can work. The guitar player would essentially take the place of the piano player. He or she would need to know how to move around the guitar good for slow songs. The guitar player would then player more rhythm on faster songs. I've seen a guitar and bass player do it.

[mjl422]

Yes it can work. The guitar player would essentially take the place of the piano player. He or she would need to know how to move around the guitar good for slow songs. The guitar player would then player more rhythm on faster songs. I've seen a guitar and bass player do it.

I think she means bass guitar and drums...   not bass, guitar and drums....   I think?

[Mysteryman]

I think she means bass guitar and drums...   not bass, guitar and drums....   I think?

Maybe with a very skilled bass player if that's the case. I've seen one guy who could probably do it. He was the on playing with the guitar player in the first example.

If you mean only bass and drums I'd suggest you learn guitar. I've been in a church with just a guitar player too.

[gospeluuke]

well I tried bouncing back in forth on Sunday, slower songs on the keys and bass for the faster ("old school clap") type songs.

I agree with floaded27. I found the signer had a hard time keeping time with just the bass. It's a work in progress....


and no I do not plan to pick up the guitar , nothing against it just a matter of practice time to really perfect your craft. I have enough on my hand to stay up on the keys and the bass.

Thanks for all the insight.

[floaded27]

well I tried bouncing back in forth on Sunday, slower songs on the keys and bass for the faster ("old school clap") type songs.

I agree with floaded27. I found the signer had a hard time keeping time with just the bass. It's a work in progress....


and no I do not plan to pick up the guitar , nothing against it just a matter of practice time to really perfect your craft. I have enough on my hand to stay up on the keys and the bass.

Thanks for all the insight.

yeah, for the fast songs, folks arent really worried about notes, and use the drums for the timing, so the bass just helps with the rhythm and feel. for songs that focus on the vocals, which are often the slower ones (probably because they give you more time to actually sing something), the notes are important so keys help them stay in tune.

Find the balance with practice on these two. since bass is my main instrument, i sometimes learn songs on that first even on the songs i play keys on (it actually makes it easier, since i can catch things faster on bass).

Forget trying to play guitar for now. Attempting to pick up a third instrument will probably make things worse rather than help.

[Kandrews]

It will work out fine for a while.  But it's going to frustrate you in the end, even to the point of wanting to quit or move on.  Been there, done that.

[hands5]

It will work out fine for a while.  But it's going to frustrate you in the end, even to the point of wanting to quit or move on.  Been there, done that.

Why quit ? I mean music can be frustrating whether you're in a Trio or quintet ! If anything a trio really forces you to play a lot tighter without you sounding like a Jam band. Not that there's anything wrong with that either if that's what the music is about. IMHO