Ultra Basic Arrangement Tips – Part One

Ryan Egan —  June 8, 2009 — Leave a comment

So often I’ve found that many worship and music ministry volunteers that lead rehearsals in their church aren’t familiar or comfortable with figuring out how to make the songs they’re rehearsing have a little variety.  It’s not that they’re not good at it – they just don’t know how to do it.  Here are some ultra basic tips that can go a long way in making the music played for your worship gatherings much more interesting, regardless of if you have a full band or just a piano and some singers on your team.

Add variety.

The most important thing not to do in music to do the same thing over and over again.  If you’re singing a song with several verses, change how each verse is done.  With a full band, start with one instrument, add another on the chorus, add more on the next verse, add the entire band on the next chorus, then drop out to one instrument again on the third verse, chorus, or bridge; then bring the full band back in for the last verse.

If you just have a piano or guitar, change the rhythm.  Start with muted strumming on the guitar or quarter notes on the piano for the first verse, then add more rhythm on the following verses.  Even something as simple as changing octaves on the piano can make a world of difference.

Layer your vocals.

Just as important as adding variety in the instrumentation of the song is adding depth to the vocals.  Start with a solo vocal on the first verse.  Add one harmony singer on the chorus.  Add all the vocalists on the next chorus.  Don’t always have everyone singing all the time.  Create and build energy with your vocals.

Tomorrow we’ll look at two more ultra basic arrangement tips.  In the meantime – do you have any tips you’ve found helpful?  Leave a comment!

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Ryan Egan

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Ryan is a follower of Christ, husband, father, worship leader, & creative. He is heavily involved in the Association of Free Lutheran Churches and desires to teach others to live a life of worship in everything they do.