What to play when the song doesn't have guitar parts

In this video Bradford talks through three strategies you can use when the song doesn't have pre-recorded guitar parts. This is also really helpful if you're trying to come up with alternate parts or writing a new song.
See the 'Behold' video where Bradford puts this all into practice: • Behold - Phil Wickham ...
Table of contents:
00:00 - Guitarring with Bradford
01:03 - Let's start with a bonus tip: swells
01:10 - Tip 1 - Find the melody and replicate it
01:44 - Tip 2 - Find the 1 (meaning the root note of the song/chord)
04:33 - Tip 3 - Play chords (but not like an acoustic player)
09:07 - Conclusion
09:14 - Brian's Bonus Tip
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[@mikesb113]

My favorite go to is power chording when there isnt usually a guitar. Youd be surprised how much it can add to the mix😅

[@modestrhythm8422]

Man, over the past 4ish years of being the only electric guitar player I've had to accidentally learn all of this myself just from not knowing what to do a lot of the times. This is a great video and I wish I had it years ago lol

[@emehrkens9189]

Same brother.

[@TheCodeMonk]

Same!!!!!

[@michaelparsons5352]

Here's to learning on the fly😅

[@MyguitarteacherCa]

I'm a HUGE proponent of CAGED for this reason. I'll learn to voice the progression 3 different ways to find where it will sit in a band context. Also using 4 chords (1st-4th-5th with a high 3rd) sounds amazing. Power chords can be embellished with a high 2 (1-5-2) which is a bit of a stretch but well worth it. Also, find those high 11th's on those minor chords and learn to sus2 every major chord shape (without capos) - it's worth the time to learn. Trust me, 20 years of worship on electric and I'm still re-voicing and extending my chords to fit.

[@shoobaloobabobdingalingadong]

Nice! I typically take the same approach. Gives nice opportunities for voice leading and counterpoint. I also like to use funk-adjacent genres as an influence to pull back and be more percussive if necessary to avoid stepping on the keys.

[@arjunmenon2815]

@MyguitarteacherCa I cannot recommend your approach enough. It's so important especially when you play in a big band with keys, horns, bass, vocals etc so you can stay out of everyone's way and still have your own sonic space

[@KOZMOGRAFX]

4:45 Wow... love that sound... starts with snarl, ends with long deep clear smooth sustain!

[@Hickeroar]

This might be one of the most useful guitar playing videos I've ever seen on YT...

[@crisepuyao7722]

This is literally the only and definitely “worship” tutorial everybody needs to play worship music ever😅

[@smc8144]

You just made me feel a lot better. So many times while playing In worship I find myself doing several of these things. Sure helps to know that players of higher caliber than myself are doing these things also.

[@countstoneula]

You are in good company 😂

[@jasonruiz2281]

Great to have this for all the old Christmas hymns churches will be playing this week

[@calebmills2345]

Such a valuable resource for worhsip teams everywhere, man. This really empowers volunteers to be able to feel confident regardless of if they have the resources to find the parts or not.

[@burdmann24.7]

Best advice I've ever gotten, music is made in the notes you don't play..... Deep stuff right there

[@paulhynes5946]

Using arpeggios is one of my go-to ways of filling in parts, glad to see I'm not the only one!

[@budgetracing3425]

I struggle with this as well, specifically around Christmas. Thanks for the tips!

[@nhm1069]

Thanks. This is very helpful. I've been an acoustic player for 35 years but have been playing electric for the past few years in church and it's a different frame of mind. This video has some great tips.

[@aleksandergrzybowski8899]

My tip is just to learn a lot of songs in styles you commonly need at church. You'll get enough vocabulary to steal a part from one song and put it in another very quickly. I've played the lead line from "What a beautiful name" in probably like 5 other songs and no one complained :)

[@SethDStanley]

Heck, I played the lead line from Duran Duran's "Ordinary World" for "Revelation Song". Sounds awesome :D

[@KingofNY12345]

This was what I’ve been looking for. My church we do a lot of songs you’ll find only in a certain niche group of churches. Thanks Brad!

[@therayn0]

Oh what a beauty in your hands

[@TVsBen]

This is your best video. Period. Bar none. Super helpful to deal with being phased out by the praise and worship industrial machine.

[@djfuzzystump]

I really like this type of content! Thanks Brad

[@TedSchoenling]

When in doubt double a Key part or the melody for the intro/turn/tag, you can also play higher voiced chords of different inversions as well

[@holderview4373]

Excellent tips!

[@Connor-iu5xu]

Fantastic video, thanks guys!

[@user-ie8lx6qq2m]

Really appreciate these videos

[@robandangie7775]

Very handy information. Thanks for sharing!

[@bobbysmith9380]

Thanks for this lesson!!

[@nicksparrow8376]

Love these videos, wish I would've had these a few back, figured this stuff out slowly over the years. You guys are doing awesome and helping out the up and comers in the worship team world! Thanks for the tutorials and all the awesome stuff on your site for line 6 products!

[@bmitchellmusic]

Thanks Nick 🙏🏼

[@blainetrahan8883]

Great tips. I’ve been doing that lately. I’m on the right track!! Thanks guys

[@pattysmusic524]

This is some really solid advice. I'm glad to find out I already do most of these tips but the tutorial on the general higher fretboard chords is suuuppeerrr helpful. I also love to outline melodies with octave chords. Mostly cuz I'm a rock kid at heart.

[@TheGuitarbenji]

This is soooo awesome!!!

[@vargamatyas2921]

The "SUSTAIN NOTES" always work. You're in the key of D major, play D and A notes, this works anytime with any chord!

[@johnharrison8962]

Thanks for this, would love more electic guitar playing training/tips videos

[@princejmn]

Thanks, this was super helpful! I particularly appreciate the 6 chords which are close and easily accessible, genius! God bless!

[@isaacthomas9279]

This is also a good tutorial for beginners going from acoustic to electric to give you some things to get started.

[@pcanarsky]

Really good video. Helpful! Thank you

[@sargekowalkowski8572]

Love this!! God bless!!

[@nicolasaraujo6890]

Really hopeful video!👏

[@scottvarro823]

Love the guitar!

[@Cwhite.tx23]

This is so great for teams with only 1 EG - thanks for this!

[@HerroYuy246]

Super helpful!!

[@matthewgibson9235]

this is greatly helpful, more videos like this would be siick

[@iamkennymartin]

A lot of great advice here. I do a lot of these things somewhat naturally and actually instead of playing the “lead” parts from the record, because often they fit better in the case of just one electric on stage. We rarely have the luxury of two electrics on a given Sunday.

[@philnallyroseblade9454]

Thank for these ideas. Having been an acoustic player and worship leader since the mid 70s, now that I’ve reached 70, I’m making way for younger WLs and am learning more background lead/bass guitar roles. Any Videos on this theme and setting suitable tones would be really helpful. God bless!

[@dougmann66]

Awesome thanks ⭐

[@venemataylor]

those B-string rooted power chords are where I live when leading as the only electric player

[@user-bx9pm7gt2v]

This is really interesting. I natively have done this for years and didn’t even realize it was a thing for others too.

[@tonyvanover2253]

I think you just described the majority of my playing... Some of my favorite voicings.. Where were you when I was a newbie ? These are really like some golden nuggets here.

[@Christ-is-King-]

Good stuff. Thanks

[@JonathanJulbe]

Gold + platinium video 🙏 thanks

[@jasonfowble2875]

Great video thanks

[@stannavi3557]

What a great guitar!

[@nekkon1989]

For worship songs, clean arpeggiated patterns almost always work just fine

[@Pastor_RogerSherwood]

Agreed

[@StevenAlwine]

Chorus pedal + slide + relative minor pentatonic double-stops rolled back off your top volume gives that extra something people hear and like without knowing what they're hearing and liking. Great for when there's an "instrumental" that is really just the keys playing the chords.

[@steveaustin2003]

I like this video very helpful

[@scottbolwyn9916]

Haha this goes with the last tip and I heard it from a song when I don't know what to do I'll lift my hands!!

[@BSullivan3793]

Bro that guitar is awesome.

[@gt-blogger6406]

Nice video, please, do more such videos, they are really helpful!

[@anthony_shay]

Great advice. Also your guitar is gorgeous

[@joshscott3271]

That looks like a well made guitar.👍🔥🎸🎼🙏

[@gibfen1235]

I need to watch this many more times to understand.

[@br1rocks]

This is all solid advice. When I played worship guitar, I usually modeled my parts off of stuff like U2/Edge, police/Andy Summers, Earth Wind & Fire, a little Hendrix. A lot of suspensions and airy chords, especially when there are bunch of instruments in the band (eg keys) and several singers. Less is generally more in that type of environment. Just try to cut through over the top a little when you can, use higher chord voicing, inside chords etc, lay off the low 6th string for the most part. You can usually forget the root because like 3 other instruments are covering it lol.

[@jeremynollen3569]

I am sorta impressed with myself that I am already using that shape similarly. But I’ve been sliding up for the 2 and 3. I’m gonna try this thumb wrap thing soon.

[@guitarplayer3004]

Well this was timely. Just texted our worship leader an hour ago about having this problem with all the Christmas songs we are doing this week. I think I'm getting on the right track now. Video was definitely helpful!

[@isaacthomas9279]

Good luck to you dude. How many songs are you doing?

[@guitarplayer3004]

@@isaacthomas9279 doing 6 on Christmas Eve

[@morgansimpson4912]

A couple things that sometimes are not thought of: Big slow diamonds on the changes especially in open choruses can add a ton to the mix and play in the spaces. Avoid playing licks or lines during the vocals (unless doubling or playing a harmony) and add some of the spice during the spaces.

[@diegoebustamante]

What I do sometimes is I’ll loop something on my microcosm, reverse it and use the mosaic settings for an ambient pad underneath everything and just mess with that accordingly. Works well since those “guitarless” songs lead into a prayer afterwards and I can leave my ambient loop going

[@Jd.421]

Ran across these many times. I just voice it and play it like I own it.

[@dpoultski2499]

I was at an Al Di Meola clinic and he said "when in doubt, play fast!"

[@rogerbakke7535]

We are playing “What Child Is This” by Wickam, I feel this, cuz that song is just acoustic. I plan on doing low octaves Similar to Hillsongs “No Other Name” I guess it all depends on what the drummer decides to do help me understand what I am going to play. Also “worship triads” 😂 I love that name for them, definitely my go to! Great vid

[@akwariprince2661]

Nice

[@blaineockerman]

I deal with this every now and then. I have some "safe" structures I typically default to... but I do something catch myself thinking "I have no clue what I'm doing right now but whatev"

[@rwelderby]

Bradford, love your videos. I have watched WT videos for years for how to play songs but just recently picked up on these lesson videos. Awesome stuff. Thank you! I do have a question about Helix patches. When I am using your patches when I change from one setting to another I get a weird wah wah or flanger song between them. Thinging maybe global settings or something? Any help would be great. Thanks

[@denverdave12]

Kinda funny. We did a different Phil Wickham song on Christmas, and that one had no electric in it at all. I ended up doing some of what you suggest....arpeggiated chords (ala Oasis in my case...), single notes (or 5ths). it worked quite well. Good video! Thanks.

[@mcleroy1967]

That’s why Stryper is my fave P&W band.

[@porkyfedwell]

I may use fingerpicks and arpeggio open chords, or play octaves, or figure out a nice lead line to play as a fill. Pray a lot about what to play, that helps.

[@jamieboydmusic6956]

Solid tips hey. And yes not playing is Ok too. Particularly in the quiet sections. But after all it is a guitar shaped world!😂

[@SamuelStephen]

you gotta add the b7 now too haha in your list of chords. Its showing up more and more on worship tunes haha

[@strumlead8741]

Great points! I rarely, nearly never, play rhythm chords with the acoustic guitars. Our PT leader plays acoustic rhythm 99% (piano is 1%) and does not fully understand electric guitar.

[@yangxithang4048]

I like your guitar 🎸

[@pogoezra5515]

Officially with the 1k'th like + a sub ..... awesome video .....this would help me at school alot during fellowships...also not make me look like just a guy standing there just holdin the guitar

[@chadgarber]

Yup. Exactly what I do when no quitars. Some time the keyboard player will not want me to play the melody when they are playing it but other than that...

[@Watchesnwardrobe]

That RGT sashiko jacket tho 💯

[@isaacwilliams153]

Extremely helpful. I have forgotten a lot of my theory. Do you have any good recommendations for how to relearn the music theory that could aid in my practicing?

[@deadtothewxrld]

rick beato has some decent music theory blitz courses on his channel. It's just the basic stuff, but that's all you need unless you're going full gospel fusion

[@planetside11]

It was very helpful, Bradford. Thank you very much for making this. It's always good to hear somebody who plays as well as you do with a bent towards worshipping the savior, Christ Jesus, the only name under heaven by which we must be saved.

[@denzelcallummusic]

We need a part 2 a little more in depth

[@Melchisedec81]

That basket weave jacket is SIIIIICK!!! From Blue Owl? I see you.

[@bmitchellmusic]

RGT Shashiko Cruiser 😍

[@elizabetheastman]

Bonus tip 🙌🏻 sometimes silence speaks louder than our words. 😂😁

[@Timrobrus]

We are spoiled nowadays. 30yrs ago many songs sung in church did not even have easily accessible recordings so being able to play something suitable that you came up with yourself was a fundamental skill.

[@JeremyLeech]

Adventure drums once said “sometimes the best thing to play, is nothing at all” and honestly sometimes that is true.

[@Mecko11]

Hi there, nice effects, could you please share them for Line 6 Pod Hd500x? thx

[@musicproductionvideos5019]

Do you remember what you were playing through here (which profile/platform)? This sound is so great!

[@worshiptutorials]

May have mentioned it in the video. Can’t remember for sure but maybe Helix.

[@troyeggers2939]

How about Christmas music? Could you give some examples of how electric should play Christmas songs. Not the most friendly for the electric but my church still wants it in there

[@joeyfrazier4696]

You should do a video showing what you would play in a song like Wild Love by Hillsong Young and Free

[@safvue1]

thank you for the great vid...... what brand is that guitar please?

[@worshiptutorials]

Thanks! It’s a Jennings Voyager Deluxe

[@jordancruz5685]

Wow look at that guitar

[@MoveUpMedia]

I have three tricks that I’ve used for 20 years. By the time I get to the third trick, you’ve forgotten about the first one. When I restart the cycle you’re all “Whoa, this guy has endless tricks up his sleeve!”

[@michaelbao8849]

What's the guitar brand and model? I really like it.

[@rorykeyes9337]

Any way I could get tab for each of the 5 alternate chord positions?

[@isaacthomas9279]

Thank you so much for this video I was able to learn a lot. Now I just wish I had pedal board 😂.

[@michaelparsons5352]

If you are just getting started might I suggest pedal from Amazon. When I started I bought several Donner pedals reverb, delay, tuner, chorus & compressor . Add a small isolated power supply and an inexpensive board and you are on your way. This way you can experiment with effects without spending $300 + on a strymon. Then trade up as you get a better understanding of what you want

[@dinoparton6598]

Musical instruments played loudly with skill is biblical ,

[@philliphagebusch7243]

I'm not gonna lie, I feel ya. Sometimes I feel like why I'm even up there.

[@ernestquinn1682]

I still just play a 80s shreddy lead. If your are a lead guitarist I believe you should play like one

[@mitchbeauchamp3397]

What in the **** did you turn on for FX at 4:45?? Omg that ambient sound is juicy 😮

[@bmitchellmusic]

That’s just our Helix patch for the song. ST Match.