Crazy line-up changes....

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Permalink Reply by Erica Neuman on September 5, 2009 at 5:25am

Hey baby,
I just want you to know that you are doing great. You are learning quickly how to play lead, and you are doing so awesome at it! I love you with all my heart. I know that you are good at learning new things, so this will not be a problem for you. You are doing great, babe!

-Your Girl

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Permalink Reply by Justin Kirkendall on September 11, 2009 at 4:52am

haha- this post is not funny...but my reaction to it was- quite hilarious- i saw "hey baby" and went "OMG! what in the world is going on!!!!! haha

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Permalink Reply by David Smith on September 5, 2009 at 4:43pm

Honestly, I would put the equipment list on a "back burner", and really concentrate on nailing down a good solid band. Once you have a solid band, make sure your sound guy knows how to mix the band. THEN, beef up your equipment.

Some guitarists like single effect chains, and some like multi-effect pedals, that part is really up to you, but I use a Line 6 floor pod plus. Most leaders I know don't really have the time to play with a lot of pedals and effects...they are too busy leading.

Hillsong is good stuff, so is crowder. You should also look at Paul Baloche, Lincoln Brewster, and cclitv.com. the cclitv.com website will let you create a free profile, and then watch a ton of very cool worship music videos. The site also has imbedded links so you can find tabs and charts for the music.

Smitty

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Permalink Reply by daniel cash on September 6, 2009 at 2:56am

Playing lead is more about technique than equipment. So beef up your scales, and focus on adding appropriate dynamics.

As for equipment here's what I suggest as a good order to build your rig (You get what you pay for. If the pedal is cheap, it will sound and perform cheap.).
1. You have a distortion pedal on the way which is good. Keep it light at first. More vintage than Van Halen. I like (Fulltone OCD, Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive, Fulltone Full-Drive 2, Paul Cochran Tim)
2. Delay: I suggest the Line 6 DL4. It has a dozen or more delay setting, 3 spots to save favorites and a tap tempo. It's really easy to use on the fly as well. TC Electric NOVA Delay.
3. Tremolo: A sweet way to add subtle glisten to a song. Can't go wrong with the BOSS TR-2.
4. Reverb: There are many out there, but I like the Verbzilla by Line 6.

After that it's just extras that improve the tone and dynamics. Fun toys like compressors, better patch cables, equalizers, etc.

Keep in mind the Telecaster is a bright instrument, so you're going to want to focus on controlling the bite of the tone. So your settings on your amp, guitar, and effects should try to balance that. I used to use a Tele, but I switched to a Epiphone Sheraton II (semi-hollow body with dual humbuckers). I prefer that tone, but that's me. I know a lot of worship leaders that prefer the tone of single coils.

Have fun!

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Permalink Reply by Colton Yarbro on September 7, 2009 at 4:06pm

Thanks guys for all your help. I am learning scales and really trying to get better.

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Permalink Reply by Junjie on September 8, 2009 at 3:30am

Do you really NEED a lead guitar in a contemporary worship band?

What you will need, in order of importance, are:

1) Chord and rhythm instrument - either piano or guitar (electric or acoustic). This instrument will have to give a clear key for the congregation and clear counts, so everyone is singing in the same key and at the same time.

2) Bass, percussion and backup vocals - to give a fuller sound and more drive.

3) Support instruments - here we have the synthesizers, lead instruments (like violin, saxophone and lead guitar).

The difference between an electric guitar in 1) and 3) is big. A guitar in 1) has to give a complete accompaniment. That usually means a thinner sound, fuller chords and more active rhythm. A guitar in 3) can have a thicker sound, brighter tone and play less notes, either for fill or counter-melody.

(I get frustrated when there is no instrument covering role 01 and the electric guitarist insists on playing in a role 03 way because that is the 'correct' electric guitar part from the CD...)

What I'd like to say is that if you don't have a stable group of musicians yet, get 1) and 2) covered first. Make them your priority. Then work on 3) if you still have the capacity to. :)

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Permalink Reply by Guitarearl on September 8, 2009 at 7:22pm

I tend to agree with this assessment. If you're playing in a smaller band, the electric should be more focused on additional rhythm aspects of the arrangements to complement the acoustic voicing, pattern, etc. I mean, certain fill parts that help lay the foundation for a song (such as the intro guitar lead in Your Grace Is Enough) would be fine, but one should really consider the depth of the sound if you were to take a solo without having enough instrumentation to carry it...could end up sounding very thin and cause the band/vox to become lost if you stray from the line they're used to hearing.

Regardless of this, practice and learn. If your band isn't there yet, it will be eventually and you'll be more proficient when that time comes.

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Permalink Reply by Colton Yarbro on September 8, 2009 at 9:22pm

Okay guys...not being rude here....but I am not ignorant to what makes up a worship band....I have been leading this band for quite a few years now and have learned a lot. Its not about "soloing" or stuff like that. We play a lot of Hillsong as I said before, and if there is no lead(meaning riffs and small licks from the album versions) the songs do not sound near as full....we already have the "1 and 2" covered as you said and have had them covered for quite some time. So please don't waste your time with comments such as the last two....I am looking for advice from people who can help me with what to use, where to find songs, tips for playing lead, and prayers. Thank you.

-colton

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Permalink Reply by Wayne Pau on September 9, 2009 at 4:47am

Colton,

I'm by-far not the best lead guitarist, so probably not the best person to give advice, but I got some good advice a few years back and I thought I'd pass it on.

#1 - Hum what you're trying to play. I was told that too many we try to lead from a sound in our head to the sound into a sound out of our fingers. I was taught early, take baby steps. Really try to hum out loud what you want to play, then try to play. I found that incredible advice. Too many times I didn't know what I really wanted to play, it was like my mind was playing tricks on me. Once I started to hum it, it wasn't long before my fingers started to find the right notes to play along (well eventually...).

#2 - Don't be afraid to "re-use" stuff. One great player told me he was sitting with some great and they were just free-styling a bunch of great leads back and forth after a gig. He told me it was the funniest thing, every time one of two greats would came up with something, the other would go, hey isn't that from Jimi or Clapton on this or that song? =) Very little has never been done before.

Before I stared to create original lead phrases, I actually just studied a lot of songs I liked and just literally lifted lead phrases and changed key and away I went. I don't think I understood all the theory at that time, but it was a quick way to take what something where someone else did all the hard work and just manipulate it to my own liking. I find a song that sounds similar, with a similar progression and adapt the lead part from a more famous. Which was great because the internet is full of very exact tab to famous songs. You don't always have to play what some else has played, just play something that works in your context. The more riffs and intros you know, the tools you have.

#3 - Arpeggios are a great technique when a true lead line is not really needed. It's a very easy pattern, and many of the congregation who aren't musically educated often can't tell one from the other. Sounds trivial, but I'm surprised how long it's taken me to recognize this. I just laugh at how many times I tried to come up with a great line, only to learn a simple chord-based pattern would suffice.

#4 - "When" is sometimes more important than "What". Too many times people are fighting over the same spaces in a song. Most worship songs have lots of "empty" space at the end of a vocal line and between verse & chorus. You'll be more effective in the space between, than trying to power over everyone else.

As for equipment, that might be where I have more knowledge, as I own way way too much stuff. The Blues Driver is nice. I have a friend that has this term "worship distortion". A little dirty and grinding, but it doesn't make your ears bleed. It's like when you're pouring out your last ounce of your soul, pleading. =) That's how I usually like it. Doesn't have to be Nickelback or POD every single song.

Don't be afraid to experiment. Your best tool is your ear. Too many people buy more gear thinking it's going to improve your sound. The best tip is to learn to use what you have better vs. pick sometimes else you're not going to use. Trust me on this one. ;) 1st hand experience.

I like Daniel's suggestion. I think the combination of Line6 DL4 and even a MM4 with a distortion/overdrive (like your blues driver) gives you a lot of options. Buying all the things it can model is cost endeavor. I did that for a while (even though I had access to some nicer vintage stuff), but now I like using my POD XT Live because it allows me to program many sounds beforehand. The trade-off is I spend hours finding the "perfect" sound week after week. The Line6 DL4 + MM4 is great, easy to use and never ever failed on me. The MM4 which is Modulation Modeler gave me options like Chorus to "fatten" up a sound and rotary speaker to give some "motion" to more rhythmic parts as well. I also find smaller amps work better. Big amps break your back, your bank and your A/V guy and your team will keep complaining they are going deaf.

Probably over-simplifying, but if you have any follow-up questions, hit me up. I'd be happy to try to answer your questions the best I can. GAS - Gear Acquisition Syndrome is lifelong disease... *haha*

Ok. so probably the limit of the advice I can offer being somewhat limited guitar lead player. I'll say a prayer for a fellow guitarist. =) Stay strong in the Lord. Your heart seems to be in the right place.

w.

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Permalink Reply by Colton Yarbro on September 9, 2009 at 2:18pm

Thank you man for all of that. It means a lot to me that you would take the time to write all that down for me. I am going to use it my friend. One more question if you don't mind. What kind of amp can I upgrade to that is not way to much of the green$$$$$. Like I said before I am using the epiphone valve junior(head and cab version) and I am pretty pleased with the 5 watts that it puts out. It is all tube and the price was right at the time (which was cheap)...but I am looking to upgrade without destroying my bank account. I was looking at the epiphone blues custom 30 which has way more features, 2 12" speaker combo amp with more watts and it is priced around $575. Any suggestions on amps?

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Permalink Reply by Danny L. Davis on September 9, 2009 at 3:23pm

How much you want to get in terms of power is most affected by how much you "need" to hear what you "think" the congregation is hearing. And for the most part, you won't. You don't need a lot of power output if you have a "live out" from the amp to the Board and the more you push through your own speakers, the less the sound tech has the opportunity to keep a balance that is pleasing to the worship atmosphere "out there" where it counts. I'd be more worried about the tone qualities, etc. than the power rating, but even at that it will be affected by the front mix. But these days I am playing mostly acoustic/electric rythm and you may be needing a different blend with your room acoustics/size, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Wayne Pau on September 10, 2009 at 2:45am

You're welcome. =)

Ok. Well, one of the reasons I have so much "junk" now is that I can not turn down a bargain. =) So if you want to get the most bang for your buck, two quick things:

#1 - Buy used. The value of equipment has a tendency to level out over time (well before it gets vintage). Getting used allows me to buy something, use it for a few years and often sell it for the same price I bought it for. It's a little like cars. I tell my wife I have money "invested" in amps, guitars, etc. If you need the new car smell, you're going to have to pay for it. If you can do with a few nicks and a few sweat stains you'll save a lot of $$$. (Probably going to get that advice from any finance book.)

I buy a lot of stuff off on-line classified lists. www.kijiji.com and www.craigslist.com. Little easier than e-bay because you can see it and try it out first, plus no shipping. However, unlike a real store there isn't a really return policy, but you can usually just sell it for what you paid for it.

#2 - Time = money. If you want to save a little cash, you might have to dig a further. Lately I've found that there are number of 60-70's no-name tube amps out there that sound amazing. If you're willing to garage sale, pawn-shop and classified ad hunt, you might find this no-name amp that sounds better than anything they can mass produce today. Some of these old old locally produced amps are small-batch, hand wired and can be had for a song. You won't get you gear envy from other players, well, until you start playing. =)

However, you really really got to train your ear to know what sounds good. A lot of bad amps out there. Yet on the flip side, there are so many hidden gems out there. Just remember amps like Fender Tweed used to be "inexpensive practice amp".

So, yeah, trust your ears. How big is your church? 2x12 is still pretty big. My buddies Twin is way way too loud for church to get the saturation/overdrive you need. Rather go with a smaller amp, like your original amp and just mic it. A new Shure SM-57 mic would be a cheaper option than buying a new amp. No use in buying an amp only to run at 2-3 out of 10. It's like a sports car that you never get above 20 mph.

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