The guitar is that true rare wonderful instrument that can stand by itself. Perfect for accompanying small groups or beautiful as part of a Worship team. You can’t go wrong with the guitar as your instrument.
I learned to play guitar to accompany our Sunday School. It was very easy as I was also a pianist. The scale runs the same. I play by chords which was the quick and easy way to play.
Here are some tips I try to use for myself to keep on track when playing for the Lord.
If you are playing worship guitar here are a few things to remember
- You are part of the worship,not just leading it. Don’t forget or neglect to worship the Lord yourself.
- Prepare yourself and your music in advance.
- Prepare yourself and your music in advance
- In addition use your introduction to set the tempo of the music. Let it be clear enough that the congregation knows when to come in and at what tempo.
- Don’t blab too much before the song. A nice couple of words about what the hymn means and should mean right before your intro e.g.- “Praise the Lord. He has shed His blood for us….(intro here, then)What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood…..
If you are leading worship with the guitar again you are part of the worship, not just leading it. Don’t forget or neglect to worship the Lord yourself.
Are you just starting out or are you are just learning or want to learn to play the guitar for worship?
There are some good books for learning how to play guitar and some web sites online where you can pick up charts, some of them free, showing you how to form guitar chords.
Essentially if you are learning to play guitar for accompanying worship then there are some very nice Christian sites offering books, videos and tools for the church guitarist.
Two of my favorites are…
- Worship Guitar Class offers a free chart for the price of an email address.I still use mine.
- FretBoard Fellowship has some excellent resources for training new church guitarists. I have both beginning guitar books.
