10 Tips for Worship Bassists

From the psalms of David to Gregorian chant. From the religious musical compositions of Bach to Elevation Worship. Praise & worship music has evolved tremendously over the years, and so has the role of the bass.

Think about it… the technology we use, the style of music we perform, even the instruments we play in church look different now than they did even 50 years ago.

Whether you’ve recently passed your audition and are new to the team or have been serving for a number of years, here are some tips to help you improve your playing, tone, and communication and reach your fullest musical potential as a bassist in today’s modern worship band.

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10 Tips for Worship Bassists

1. Watch your drummer.
2. Talk to your drummer.
3. Talk to your sound guy.
4. Watch the lyrics.
5. Less is more.
6. Use pedals sparingly.
7. Learn the Nashville Number System.
8. Be able to learn music in various formats.
9. Memorize your music.
10. Spend time with God.

1. Watch Your Drummer.

We all get brain farts from time to time. Sometimes it’s easy to forget when to enter and when to drop out during a song. A good hack is knowing when both the drums and bass enter at the same time. If you can see the drummer from your spot on stage, watch to see when they’re about to come in. Of course, this only works if the drummer knows where to come in, too! If you’re both second guessing your entrances, communicate with your eyes to make a solid entrance together.

If you can’t see your drummer, use your ears instead. For example, listen for that fill the drummer plays two beats before you enter back into the tune’s ostinato.

2. Talk To Your Drummer.

When preparing for a Sunday set I’ll create a playlist of the songs so I can listen to them at work, in the car, etc. By doing this I’m pretty familiar with the set by the time I actually sit down and practice.

But one thing I keep in the back of my mind is that fact that there will be some variance between the drums on the original track and the way our drummer performs them.

When it’s time to rehearse, pay attention to kick patterns, dynamics, entrances, and dropouts. If you’re still having trouble nailing down a part, catch your drummer after rehearsal or during a break to establish those elements mentioned above. Doing so will provide that tight groove and solid foundation the rest of the band needs to do their job.

For more on the role of the bass guitar in worship music and its relationship with the drums, check out this video from Worship Online.

3. Talk To Your Sound Guy.

Every church auditorium has its own unique acoustical characteristics. What sounds good in the youth building might sound terrible in the main sanctuary.

Don’t be afraid to take some time to talk to your sound engineer about EQ, compression, effects, amps, etc. to make sure your sound is sitting well in the mix. You never know when one small tweak can make a world of difference in your tone.

4. Watch The Lyrics.

It can be easy to get tunnel vision as an instrumentalist when focusing on your basslines and chord progressions. When we hone in on the lyrics, not only are we able to focus our attention on worshipping God through the bass – we can also use the lyrics as cues, allowing for smooth transitions and ensuring that the congregation has a seamless worship experience.

If the vocalists use screens for the lyrics, why not use them yourself? Let’s say you’re approaching the end of the bridge in a song and you can’t remember if the bridge repeats or if you go back to the chorus. Using the lyrics screens can help you anticipate the next phrase.

5. Less Is More.

Bass fills are fun, but use them conservatively. Keep in mind that any sort of run should be used to enhance the worship experience for those involved – not to toot your horn. Too much movement in the bass can be a distraction.

With that being said, there are times when the bass has the spotlight – check out Josh Ham and Norm Stockton, as they’re prime examples of this. Being able to use good judgement in this area is key for worship bass.

6. Use Pedals Sparingly.

It’s always interesting to see different worship bassist’s setups – some go straight DI with no effects while others have fully-loaded pedalboards.

Both of my basses have active electronics, so the EQ controls in the onboard preamps alone give me plenty of tone-shaping capabilities. This minimizes my need for effects pedals… although I love using my Darkglass B3K overdrive when necessary!

If you are going to use effects, just remember that a little bit can go a long way. Just a hint of drive can add that much-needed bite to your attack, but too much saturation can muddy up the entire mix.

7. Learn The Nashville Number System.

If you haven’t heard of it, it’ll blow your mind. The Nashville Number System is a method that focuses on scale degrees rather than actual note/chord names.

For example, in the key of E we have:

E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E (octave up)

When we apply the Nashville Number System, we look at it from another perspective:

1, 2m, 3m, 4, 5, 6m, 7dim, 1 (octave up)

Now each note is assigned a number.

• E=1
• F#=2m
• G#=3m
• A=4
• B=5
• C#=6m
• D#=7dim
• E (octave up)=1

Note: notice how some numbers have an “m” next to them – those represent minor chords, and the “dim” next to the 7 chord means it’s a diminished chord. It’s also worth noting that major and minor keys (and modes) have a different sequence. The example above of the 1, 2m, 3m, 4, 5, 6m, 7dim, 1 sequence is a major key progression, while a minor key progression would look like this: 1m, 2dim, 3, 4m, 5m, 6, 7, 1m.

The best thing about this method? You can apply it to any key signature – just locate the root note of the agreed upon key and you’re all set! So when your worship leader tells you to play a 1 5 6m 4 chord progression during the alter call, you’ll be prepared to play in the key signature they choose.

Another note: since the Nashville Number System is based off of scale degrees, make sure you know your major scales first!

The Nashville Number System will save you time, prevent the stress of last minute key changes, and make learning songs easier. And hey, you might save a tree or two in the process – nobody likes to transpose and reprint chord charts!

8. Be Able To Learn Music In Various Formats.

In my years playing in both southern gospel and modern worship bands I’ve learned music in various formats – mp3s, chord charts, lead sheets, and even notation – depending on what’s given to me. Be ready to put both your eyes and ears to good use when learning a new song.

9. Memorize Your Music.

Some worship leaders prefer their band to memorize their music while others provide every musician with a music stand.

If you’re allowed to use a music stand on stage, a best practice is to memorize your music anyway. Be independent from your charts but keep them on your stand in case you get lost.

10. Spend Time With God.

I feel silly, as I’m adding this one at the last minute. This may not pertain directly to your musical skills, but it’s a crucial point that can’t go unsaid.

I once heard a pastor say this: how can we expect to lead others in worship publicly if we don’t practice it privately?

Talk to God. Read His Word. Don’t forget that playing in a worship band has a far higher purpose than just performing for the sake of entertainment.

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Playing bass on a worship team is a rewarding experience – doing what you love while serving the Lord is an incredible privilege! I pray these tips help you groove better and worship with a joyful heart during your next worship set.

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