However, I do get increasingly frustrated at the number of worship songs there are out there - and especially new worship songs - that are still using the same chords as all the others. For me as a creative chap it really gets in my way as it comes across as lazy and of the attitude of ‘I know this works, so I’ll just do it again’. Harsh? Possibly.
Lets get technical for a minute and have me back this wild accusation up with some evidence here. The chord sequence that seems to be used the most in all Christian worship songs is the I, V, VIm IV chord sequence (i.e. the root chord, the 5th, the minor 6th and then the 4th chord). If you were in the key of G, this would translate to G, D, Em, C (or for a minor variation the V chord sometimes has the major 7 in the bass - i.e. G, D/F#, Em, C). If you are a guitar player, go get your guitar and play those chords and they will probably sound familiar. Why? Because they are so overused!
There may be some people out there who would suggest that in a worship song, the only thing of real importance in the lyric - as long as they are sound, then who cares what the music is doing as long as it is not distracting from the theologically correct words. There is some truth in this I’ll admit - as a worship song with great music and poor words is not really going to serve any purpose expect to make ‘Songs of Fellowship‘ Volume 97 slightly fatter. But I believe music is something that can engage not only our intellectual with the words, but also with our emotional through the music. A great worship song needs to be equally balanced with fine music and awe inspiring lyrics - and when this is executed by superb, God-fearing musicians then for me it allows me to do what Jesus intended us to do - and that is to worship God freely.
In everything I do at the moment, I am constantly reminded of this word excellence. I don’t want to do anything half-heartedly but want everything to be the best it can be empowered by God. In the same way, when we write worship songs lets not settle for the same old chords, the same tired phrases but let us use the creativity God has placed within us to craft new sounds for God’s glory.
10:47 pm
Exactly.
I do think that one valid reason for simple melodies is that if we’re writing for congregations, we can’t come up with music that only the most talented will be able to sing.
But within that, there is still plenty of room to craft compelling melodies with excellent arrangements, rather than going “back to the well” over and over, writing songs that all sound the same.