Steeling at Church

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 1 Mar 2002 6:14 pm

I have seen posts here where some of you steelers are playing in church. I would like to do that, but I wonder in what capacity are you playing. I have been listening quietly at our choir, pianist, and organist at church. I have been listening for a "hole" or spot that I could play steel. It is a small country church. The pianist is very good, but plays every harmony note right out of the book. The organist plays bass by just holding down the bass pedal until a chord change and plays the exact same melody notes out of the book that the pianist is playing. This is certainly different than being used to playing with a country band where only one lead instrument is playing at a time and I can hear when to play and when not to play. My ears tell me that I would just add to the confusion and am going to be clashing regardless of what I do (except chords). I wonder if the best thing to do is to just stay out of it and maybe play just a solo or something. I would be very interested if others have faced this situation and what they did about it.

B.Jenkins · Post by **B.Jenkins** » 1 Mar 2002 6:47 pm

Mr.Kimery, at our church when the music starts,yoyu grab a hold of something and hang on,, the Pentecostal church let's it all hang out, We have pedal steel,Organ,drums, bass, piano, Saxs,Rythm guitar, harmonica,lead guitar..
We dont play the song note for note, we play what we feel,worship service is just what it is, and if you have to stick to what was written, instead of what you feel, somethings not right, and in all of this mess we do it without walking on one anothers part..Just setup and play your steel, Your playing for the Lord, and your talent will make room for you..
Take care..
God Bless.
Billy Jenkins

Randy Pettit · Post by **Randy Pettit** » 1 Mar 2002 7:23 pm

George, it sounds as if you've already correctly sized up the situation. Playing along with a choir and piano/organ accompanists is MUCH different than playing in a "worship band". Unless the piano and organist have experience playing in bands or other multi-instrument ensembles, I doubt they'll know when to back off, play fills, pads, play something other than the melody, or how YOU fit into the mix. Also, much of the music they play are choral arrangements anyway. I would suggest maybe finding some other musicians in your church (or even some non-believing friends) who play drums, bass, guitar, plus a few vocalists, and form your own ensemble for special music or other special worship services like Wed. or Sun. nights. You never know where it might lead...

Sidney Malone · Post by **Sidney Malone** » 1 Mar 2002 7:43 pm

This may be a little different approach but my wife and I normally just play a couple of songs for a special. She sings and I play steel along with rhythm tracks we make on BIAB. Sometimes on 5th Sunday singing or a special Saturday night singing service we'll play 30 min-1hr depending on how many other singers there are.

We tried the live band approach a couple of years ago but it's really hard in a small church with a loud drummer plus dealing with the band members isn't always easy. I'd much rather play with a live band but for what we're doing right now it just does'nt work out to well.

We just use the Bass/Drums /Piano on BIAB and I play the fills and lead. It works pretty well and the people seem to enjoy it.
I also enjoy it far more than any smoke filled barroom I've played!!

Good Luck & God Bless
Sidney

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 1 Mar 2002 8:08 pm

I play steel and guitar in a Pentecostal Church that has around 650 in attendance on Sunday morning. We have a Praise and Worship team consisting of 8-10 singers, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, lead guitar, steel guitar, drums, piano, organ, and on some songs, harmonica. We sing mostly more contemporary praise type songs, some fast, some slow. I alternate with the lead player, and piano playing fills, and also play lots of pads, and sometimes lay out altogether if I don't think I can add anything. We usually have a couple of special songs each service, some of our soloists sing country style, and our guitar player is a professional musician that leans more toward blues and rock and roll style songs. He writes all his own material, and is really good. I usually play a lot on these songs. We also have a great choir, but I almost never play steel with them. When the lead guitar player is not there, I alternate between lead guitar and steel. We have a great sound engineer and everything is played through the PA system, and listening to board tapes, we sound pretty good. Our Pastor is also a great singer that once toured with a Gospel quartet, so he really likes music, which is a great help. Here's a link to our Church website. click here

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
[This message was edited by Darvin Willhoite on 04 March 2002 at 11:13 AM.]

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 1 Mar 2002 8:10 pm

George,

I played steel for the first time in a service just this past Sunday. It was an experience. The band wasn't used to steel so they didn't know how to cut openings for it. The guitars had drifted out of tune so I couldn't find my correct bar position. It was a bumpy road, but I knew I needed to get started somehow.

Our church has a regular, contemporary combo of bass, drums, piano, 2 guitars, and singers. Steel fits better into that arrangement than into some others. In your situation, see if you can find slots between vocal phrases where you can lay down some basic licks. If voices fit over the music, steel should fit in where the voices pause. (I think.)

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Bill L | My steel page | Email | My music | Steeler birthdays | Over 50?

Gary Harris · Post by **Gary Harris** » 1 Mar 2002 10:00 pm

I love the gospel recordings as played locally. Those that use the steel usually do a fine job. It seems that on gospel recordings the steel comes out clean and clear unlike the country music which oft times is a mess of bells, whistles, grunts and groans.

Ed Naylor · Post by **Ed Naylor** » 2 Mar 2002 10:51 am

Over the years I have had the pleasure of working with many Gospel groups and singers from playing to producing, and I have fou nd that if you "PLAY THE MELODY" you will receive a better response.Most people and audiences don't want "Speedpicking" on AMAZING GRACE.Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works