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

[@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

[@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😅

[@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😅

[@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.

[@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...

[@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.

[@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!

[@TVsBen]

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

[@crisepuyao7722]

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

[@robandangie7775]

Very handy information. Thanks for sharing!

[@therayn0]

Oh what a beauty in your hands

[@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.

[@holderview4373]

Excellent tips!

[@Connor-iu5xu]

Fantastic video, thanks guys!

[@pcanarsky]

Really good video. Helpful! Thank you

[@bobbysmith9380]

Thanks for this lesson!!

[@isaacthomas9279]

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

[@blainetrahan8883]

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

[@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

[@djfuzzystump]

I really like this type of content! Thanks Brad

[@burdmann24.7]

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

[@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 🙏🏼

[@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 😂

[@princejmn]

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

[@johnharrison8962]

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

[@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!

[@scottvarro823]

Love the guitar!

[@Cwhite.tx23]

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

[@HerroYuy246]

Super helpful!!

[@user-ie8lx6qq2m]

Really appreciate these videos

[@nicolasaraujo6890]

Really hopeful video!👏

[@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.

[@sargekowalkowski8572]

Love this!! God bless!!

[@TheGuitarbenji]

This is soooo awesome!!!

[@jasonfowble2875]

Great video thanks

[@Christ-is-King-]

Good stuff. Thanks

[@dougmann66]

Awesome thanks ⭐

[@matthewgibson9235]

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

[@stannavi3557]

What a great guitar!

[@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.

[@steveaustin2003]

I like this video very helpful

[@JonathanJulbe]

Gold + platinium video 🙏 thanks

[@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.

[@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

[@gt-blogger6406]

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

[@Aristarcus86]

man that guitar is beautiful

[@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.

[@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!!

[@anthony_shay]

Great advice. Also your guitar is gorgeous

[@BSullivan3793]

Bro that guitar is awesome.

[@joshscott3271]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@gibfen1235]

I need to watch this many more times to understand.

[@nekkon1989]

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

[@Pastor_RogerSherwood]

Agreed

[@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

[@SamuelStephen]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@venemataylor]

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

[@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!😂

[@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.

[@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 🎸

[@mcleroy1967]

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

[@Jd.421]

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

[@BLVINEOCKERMVN]

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"

[@Watchesnwardrobe]

That RGT sashiko jacket tho 💯

[@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

[@akwariprince2661]

Nice

[@Melchisedec81]

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

[@bmitchellmusic]

RGT Shashiko Cruiser 😍

[@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

[@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.

[@JeremyLeech]

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

[@dpoultski2499]

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

[@joeyfrazier4696]

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

[@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

[@jordancruz5685]

Wow look at that 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...

[@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!”

[@dinoparton6598]

Musical instruments played loudly with skill is biblical ,

[@elizabetheastman]

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

[@philliphagebusch7243]

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

[@Mecko11]

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

[@rorykeyes9337]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@MrFrozone93]

Hey guys, I am 30 years old and feel our church really could need someone playing the electric guitar. We only have vocals and a piano. I would junpninto this gap and take some time to learn playing the guitar. Inhale basic music understanding of chords and stuff but I just want to ask if you guys know what path is most effective, bc I don’t want to waste time with methodology bc I also have family and not that much time to spend on this. Thank you guys in advance, I love your videos, god bless you!

[@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.

[@ernestquinn1682]

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

[@michaelbao8849]

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

[@denzelcallummusic]

We need a part 2 a little more in depth