Modern Christian Music and Steel Guitar's Role

[Wally Moyers]

quote: "I was playing a Pro lll at the time, with that fancy dust catching fret board with, Clubs, Hearts, Diamonds and Spades all over the place"

Dale, this cracks me up because that is what I was playing too… I think thats what set him off and why I was hidden behind the piano in the other church..

This is how we could get away with playing in those situations… I think this is the perfect instrument!

[Dale Rottacker]

Think that might be the ticket Wally...lol

[Corey Chapman]

Enjoying this thread. It's good to see steel players out there adding to church music of all kinds (including some in my own backyard, Bill Cunningham).

Church music has changed quite a bit for me since my days as a teenager playing Hinsons songs with my dad. I do get the chance to play occasionally in churches around this area - usually when a steel, dobro or banjo is needed for some specific song. But I have had the chance to play with churches with orchestras and on some of the modern praise and worship music. Like others have said, I enjoy just trying to add something musical within my capability. Here are a couple that I played on just over a week ago at Browns Bridge Community Church. One is a song by TBP - obviously chosen for Mother's Day. I played dobro on that one. The other is a worship song that I was asked to play steel on. I played very sparingly as there were lots of synth and string pads already, but I tried to add a little icing where there was opportunity.

Anyway, happy steeling . . . in church and otherwise

https://soundcloud.com/cdcsteel/9am-mot ... ne/s-sDhn5

https://soundcloud.com/cdcsteel/4-be-st ... am/s-gqMZ5

[Glenn Suchan]

Zane, thank-you for this post. It's gotten forumites thinking about Christian music and songs of praise for Him.

To all the posters that have made comments about the virtues of one type of christian music or another, we must remember; It's not about what style of music it is, or how proficiently it's played. What is most important is that the music creates a spiritual energy that helps the congregation and the praise band connect with God and His mighty works of grace.

I've been playing PSG in my church's praise band for about 2-1/2 years. Most of the church members had never seen a pedal steel guitar before and had no preconceived ideas about how it should be played for the church. Musically, the praise band plays songs from the CCLI listings http://us.ccli.com or songs written by the band members.

About the praise band: prior to joining the band, most of the members had never sung or played for other folks. Whatever their lack of experience is doesn't matter because of their willingness to learn and put their faith in God's hands. They let Him help them to be inspirational. And you know what: The spiritual energy they generate every Sunday really does connect with the church family, and there is a palpable joy during those services.

Contemporary praise music isn't my first choice in Christian music ( I prefer the traditional hymns of Charles Wesley, Isaac Watt, etc. and gospel). But every Sunday, when I play in this praise band, I feel the spirit of the Lord moving in me. It's a personal fulfillment that I've never felt in any other musical performance, including playing for thousands of folks while in a touring band.

I don't have any musical links to the praise band, but here is a YouTube of my church's choir director (on piano) and a choir member singing a song in honor of a church member whom was dealing with critical health issues (I'm plunking away on my steel):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52Nwq7I8Vns

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

[Gary Cooper]

The only reason I play PSG is to play country gospel and hymns. I am not into repetitive praise songs. The gospel music you guys made available on this thread is beautiful. To God be the glory.

[Stan Paxton]

Country (hillbilly) roots many years ago, 6 string. Eventually took up the E9 PSG and worked with Southern Gospel quartet style for several years. Since I got wore out with the travel and set-up/tear-down routine have been just playing in Church for a few years. ... P&W in smaller church with worship leader a self taught keyboardist, requires some adapting to. My contributions are just trying to find stuff to fit in. I think my work has been more of an influence on their concept of P&W than they have on me. At least that is the mostly positive feedback from people in the church. Probably the result of not being too good to begin with. Praise The Lord

[Lyle Bradford]

When I play in church I don't think style I think praise and worship!! It does not matter if I am playing an Albert Brumley song or a Chris Tomlin. I am hearing and playing from my heart to be a blessing to someone else not to be a country steel player or a gospel steel player but just to play steel. Upon an instrument of 10 strings shall I praise Him. In my life praise and worship is not a music style it is a life style. There is no difference in Amazing Grace than How Great is our God. I am just glad it said make a loud noise. That I am good at.

[Rick Campbell]

This seems worth posting here for some lighter side entertainment courtesy of another forum member.


http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=266018


RC

[John Peay]

Only 9 frets in that lower octave? Now that's how to make the steel really "fit the music" !

Ok, didn't mean to sidetrack us here, I'm really enjoying this thread!

[Keith Russell]

Zane, I,ve played in church for around 28 years now and it seems everyone are moving to more contemporary praise and worship . I seem to have found my niche by ,as John says, picking my places and using less triads and more one and two note runs with tasteful expression. But the real secret is to allow the Holy Spirit to use this old fat country boy , then I find myself playing stuff I have never learned ,doing things far beyond my puny abilities.

[J. David Carrera]

Hey ya'll

Been playing steel at church lately.

http://vimeo.com/channels/shadowmtnsatu ... t/93186312

[Bill Sinclair]

Hey ya'll

Been playing steel at church lately.

http://vimeo.com/channels/shadowmtnsatu ... t/93186312

That was very nice! I was thinking "Good grief, the production on this video is better than a lot of TV shows." Then I noticed where you were from. I didn't stick around for the sermon though.

[Darvin Willhoite]

Besides playing steel in a contemporary Praise and Worship band, I also occasionally played mandolin.

https://app.box.com/shared/0pq20asxgc

And a sitar patch on a Line6 Variax.

https://app.box.com/shared/8gdks8vogb

We tried to keep the music from becoming the same old boring patterns.

[Terry Sneed]

Although Praise and Worship music is something I've never tried playing steel to, and really wouldn't care to do so, I don't have anything against steel players that want to play P & W . But, as far as Church music evolving, I think it's gone WAY to far when Churches start getting in to so-called 'Christian rap' or even 'Christian Rock' for that matter. Is there really any Glory given to God, when you have rappers, and rockers, and dirty dancing in God's own house, and spitting out words that most in the congregation can't even understand ?? I think not! I think it's an outright shame for the kind of stuff that's going on in our Churches today. May God have mercy on us for allowing it!
Terry

[Erv Niehaus]

Amen, Brother!

[Lyle Bradford]

, I think it's gone WAY to far when Churches start getting in to so-called 'Christian rap' or even 'Christian Rock' for that matter. Is there really any Glory given to God, when you have rappers, and rockers, and dirty dancing in God's own house, and spitting out words that most in the congregation can't even understand ?


It would be up to each individual. I am sure the blue grass folks thought the same about bringing country and drums with steel guitar into the church.

[Darvin Willhoite]

The purpose of the Church is to win the lost am I right? Whether we want to admit it or not, times have changed in the last 40 or 50 years, so the Church's methods have to change to continue to reach people. If it takes christian rap, so be it. I don't find in my bible where it says "Thou shalt not have christian rap or christian rock music in church". But I do read where it says "Blessed is the man who sitteth NOT in the seat of the scornful, or standeth in the way of sinners". (paraphrased)

Just because WE don't like a certain style of music doesn't make it bad. Sadly, it seems to me like steel players are some of the most intolerant people out there. And another thing, look at the churches that have not modernized to some extent, most are small, and dwindling away as the older folks pass on. Not too many young people (the future Church) are drawn to those type of churches. The one's who have more modern services are usually growing by leaps and bounds. Lot's of old timers say it's not about the numbers, but it really is. If people don't come to church, they don't hear The Word, and without The Word, they won't be saved.

Just my opinion, and I'm stickin' to it.

[Terry Sneed]

Whether we want to admit it or not, times have changed in the last 40 or 50 years, so the Church's methods have to change to continue to reach people. If it takes christian rap, so be it.

Darvin, has God Almighty changed?? God is the same "yesterday today and forever" Yes, people have changed, and there lies the problem.
If the people in the congregation can't even understand a word the 'rappers' are saying, what good is it doing them? Songs need to have a meaning, and the singers should have the anointing of God on them no? I don't mean to offend anybody, but the kind of stuff that goes on in our "modern" Churches now days, is for nothing but show. Your right, most of our youth prefer the bigger Churches that have that type music, but not all. The Godly parents that taught their children right from wrong, and brought them up in a Blood-washed Church, with a preacher that wasn't
afraid to preach hell-fire and brimstone, and not preach the "if it feels good do it" sermon, those young people are still in the old fashion Churches today. Yes, I'm old fashion and always will be.

Terry

[Rick Campbell]

What about this?

http://youtu.be/hzx0u2E6-bs



RC

[Wally Taylor]

Gee, thanks, Rick!

[Terry Sneed]

Now that's funny Rick!

terry

[Stuart Legg]

Why wouldn't the steel guitar fit in Church music on Sunday just as well as it does at the VFW on Saturday?
It's Dance music!
click here

[Zane King]

I think maybe this thread might have been hijacked just a bit.

At any rate, I played again last Sunday in our "praise and worship" band if that's what you want to call it. It's a blast to say the least. AGAIN - my point here is that the steel guitar has a unique and maybe even a significant part to play in "Modern Christian Music". I didn't start this thread to give an opinion on what kind of music should or should not be played in church. We can do that and I have definitive thoughts on that but this is truly not the place for that discussion. And that's my opinion.

[Erv Niehaus]

Some people seem to think that the steel guitar has no place in church.
However, there are three references to "giving praises to the Lord on an instrument of 10 strings" in Psalms.(King James Version)
Psalms 33:2
Psalms 92:3
and Psalms 144:9

[George Macdonald]

Erv,
Even an instrument of 12 strings is welcome in our Church. ha