PADS
TOO MUCH MUSICAL SPACE? | Mike Graff
Is it possible your worship team is attempting to “more, more, more” to your worship sound will A beautiful way to catalyze the "cure for
fill too much musical space? make you sound more professional (or, if we’re overplaying" is to use pads. Turn on a pad
honest, will perhaps sound more “worship-y”). audio file and it will give you a beautiful musical
To frame this thought, stop for a moment Granted, successfully bed so you don't have to fill the musical space.
and think of an incredible painting, photo, incorporate a lot of intricate parts with ease. You can be choosy and intentional with every
or sculpture. Surely there are hundreds of But the majority of worship songs benefit from musical decision you make. Playing fewer
incredible details that go into each piece of a "less is more" mentality. notes allows you to be less of a "hole-filler" and
some
songs
can
art, but most brilliant pieces have a single
more of an artist.
focal point. That is, your attention is drawn to That means, instead of trying to jam your one aspect of the art. The other details exist amazing new strumming pattern into every I promise you, less is more. Take it from a guy
primarily to support the main focal point. song on your setlist, be intentional about what who tried to sneak every musical lick he knew
each song calls for. Less rhythm, more melody, into every performance situation possible. Strip
less dynamics, more gusto, etc. it down, make intentional choices, and draw
Have you ever found your worship team playing
more and more just to try to fill space? Chances
attention to that singular focus.
are, especially if you have a small-to-mid-sized Try it at rehearsal this week. Take one song you
team, you’ve been guilty of this. Lord knows typically "over-play", and try to do significantly
I’ve been there multiple times! less with it than you would normally do. Draw
attention to a single chord or harmony line. Let
There seems to be a misconception that adding
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the music speak for itself!
October 2018
Mike Graff
Mike is the Chief Creative of internationally-
acclaimed Coresound Pads, and has been a worship
musician/leader for over 20 years.
CoreSoundPads.com
WorshipMusician.com