How to Play Lead Guitar in Worship

Playing lead guitar is a great way to bring gospel music to life.

Playing lead guitar in a church setting is no different than any other. The key to successful improvisation starts with practice. Learning the scales and modes will allow you to play over most anything if you know the key. Remember that worship music is meant to celebrate God. Don't let your lead lines become the focus. Pick your spots carefully, but don't overwhelm the message. This doesn't mean not to play a solo every now and then, just don't let your leads take center stage over what your listeners are gathered to do.

Instructions

Learn the Scales and Modes

1. Get a good instruction book or find tablature on the Internet for the scales and modes. There are many types of scales. The most common one in popular music is the Minor Pentatonic, so this is a good place to start.

2. Practice the scales and modes until they become second nature. These are the tools of a good improvisational lead guitar player. Once you know the modes in a position, you know them all. Simply move the starting location to a different fret to alter the key.

3. Practice along with recorded music to get a feel for using the scales and modes to create lead runs over the music. If you do not know the key, move one mode up and down the fret until you fall in with the music. This is good improvisational practice, and eventually, you will be able to instantly play along with anything.

Play With the Band

1. Get to know the people you will be playing with in worship. The more you play together, the better a feel you will have. Assemble a song list so you can practice individually. Knowing what the other members of the band are going to do will help you to play lead guitar more effectively.

2. Play lead along in the key of the rest of the instruments. Find your place in the music. You don't want to overwhelm the vocals, if you have them. Pick your spots and be more concerned with good, melodic lead licks than showing off how fast you can go.

3. Showcase your skills if there is a solo break. This is a lead guitarist's time to shine. Save your best lead licks for the spotlight part. Make sure the other band members get an opportunity to spotlight their skills as well.

4. Institute string bends and hammer-ons to take your playing to the next level. Depending on the style of worship music, you might add effects. A light bluesy distortion on your lead guitar might work. Chorus effects could be useful as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn new scales if you feel your lead playing is becoming stale.

• Don't turn your back on learning all the modes just because you become comfortable with one or two. The modes are what allow you to move seamlessly up and down the neck. A good musician is never satisfied.

References

• Everyday Praise: Lead Guitar in Worship