Embrace Chaos as a Worship Guitarist
Updated 2024
Estimate time to read: 4 minutes
Have you ever played on a worship team, only to have the key change at the last minute or someone on your team not show up? Of course you have! This happens to every team at some point, and some more than others. Learn how these situations can cause chaos and how worship guitarists like you can thrive, find rhythm (pun intended), and stay focused.
Sections:
How can worship be chaos?
Why worship can be unpredictable
How to embrace the chaos
Finding rhythm in the midst of chaos
Staying focused on the music amidst distractions
Wrapping it up
How can worship be chaos?
In the dynamic world of worship, chaos is often an unavoidable companion. From sudden changes in the instrument lineup (like the drummer is suddenly too busy to attend rehearsal) to unexpected technical glitches, worship guitarists frequently find themselves navigating an unpredictable or ever-changing environment.
Preparing for and embracing this chaos, rather than resisting it, can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and deeper musical connection. I know that sounds like a bundle of fluff, but let me explain what I mean.
Why Worship Can be Unpredictable
Worship services can be unpredictable when leadership or team members are inconsistent or when leaders aren’t empowered.
Sometimes everything is going right, but a change needs to happen. This isn’t always a reflection of leadership or your team members. Many times change can be deliberate and beneficial.
If the pastors and worship directors are rotating too frequently, this makes it difficult for the worship team to follow a consistent vision and expectations. I’ve experienced this in my own life.
Having to remember which pastor likes the guitar to play while he prays, and which one likes the piano more is kinda ridiculous.
Does it really matter? No.
Is it still an added step or change to what you’re used to or what you’re expecting? Sure.
Or the pastor that wants every service to be a rock concert with fast songs, lots of guitar and bass.
“Can we do that one song? The one with the guitar line…” Yeah.
Every pastor/director has their own vision of how a service should run, and when they aren’t promoting the same expectations and vision to you and the rest of the worship team, it definitely makes things difficult.
How to Embrace the Chaos
The same situations that can happen with changing direction from pastors and directors are usually passed down to the worship leaders.
Embracing this unpredictability involves accepting that not everything will go as planned and being flexible in response to these changes is important.
By welcoming these challenges and taking some time to prepare for these types of changes, you can cultivate a more resilient and adaptive mindset, turning potential disruptions into seamless contributions to the worship experience.
Here are a few common scenarios that may throw you for a loop and create some chaos if you aren’t ready. Practicing or being familiar with these skills ahead of time will help you when you encounter them.
One or more of your team members doesn’t show up to practice or rehearsal
The key of a song is changed to one you aren’t 100% comfortable with
There’s a new or unfamiliar sound engineer this week that you haven’t played with before. Read this post for some more info: 9 Things Sound Engineers Wished Every Guitarist Knew
The team changes the ending of the song. Read this post for some more info: 7 Solid Worship Song Endings
The team changes the transition between songs. Read this post for more info: 4 Ways to Transition Smoothly Between Worship Songs
Your team mates use new terms or lingo you haven’t heard before. Read this post for more info: Basic Terms Every Worship Guitarist Needs to Know
Finding Rhythm in the Midst of Chaos
Maintaining personal rhythm (pun intended) during chaotic moments is crucial for a cohesive worship experience and for your own emotional stability.
It’s the same thing as “rolling with the punches”. The idea is to adapt to what’s happening around you.
Be flexible, show up, but still be yourself.
Some strategies to achieve this include:
Developing a strong internal sense of timing
Staying attuned to the worship leader and other musicians
Practice improvisation to work on your “musical flexibility”
Maintain a solid understanding of song structure
Be prepared for various musical cues
These are all skills that good and great musicians have developed. They may take you a little bit of time to understand them and internalize how they play our in a team setting, but they are definitely worth any effort you can invest.
By practicing these skills, you can ensure your playing remains consistent, even when the worship environment is anything but predictable.
Staying Focused on the Music Amidst Distractions
Distractions during worship services can range from technical issues to environmental interruptions. From my 20+ years as a worship guitarist, I can say the best way to prepare for the unexpected is to put the time and effort in before you get on stage. Before you show up to rehearsal, the more you’ve internalized the songs, song sections, chord progressions, transitions, dynamics, and maybe even have your music memorized, the easier it is for you to relax and focus on worshiping with your team.
Read more about staying focused on a worship team with this post: Focus on the Moment to Master Guitar and Life.
Wrapping it up
Embracing chaos as a worship guitarist is more than just coping with the unexpected, it’s about turning potential disruptions into opportunities for growth and connection. By accepting the unpredictable nature of worship ministry, finding rhythm amidst chaos, and staying focused despite distractions, you can enhance your performance and contribute more meaningfully to the worship experience you’re helping to lead.
