Hello all, I am new to this forum and new to playing gospel music. I was raised Catholic, stopped going to church for a while during college years, and have recently return to a COGIC church with my wife. I have gotten in involved with music at church. So far it has been great and a lot of fun!
I have never really played gospel, but I have played a lot of old R&B (Motown, Stax, etc.) and Jazz. So gospel walking lines and the gospel feel have not been a problem to learn. However I am used to a very rehearsed setting usually with written music. We usually do one or two rehearsed songs each Sunday which have been going fine, but during praise and worship I never no what to expect. Like I said I prefer written music and playing by ear is one of my weaknesses. I am using this as a way to work on playing by ear, luckily praise and worship songs are usually simple.
Is this unpredictability common at other churches?
So far my strategy has been find the root by guesses the common keys they seem to like (E flat, D flat, A flat, etc.). Then hang up at the root and try to pick up the progression (probably involving I, IV, and V). Any one have any other tips?
