Do you "gospelize" songs?

[Super_Leslie3000]

In the past few years, Gospel Music has seen the emergence of a more "Contemporary Christian" sound ( à la Don Moen); a sound that primarily relies on simple major chords, rather than the more jazzy, soulful sound of traditional black gospel music. This sound has proven to be quite popular among Black churches and can be heard in songs such as "How Great is Our God", "I Give Myself Away", and many others.

My question is, when playing  these types of songs, do you have a tendency to "Gospelize" them? Take for example "How Great Is Our God", which consists of a simple 1-6-4-5 progression... do you jazz it up by inserting lets say,  a 7-3 progression between the 1 and 6, or a 5-1 between the 6 and 4?

[T-Block]

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. But it's not that I want to "gospelize" it per se, I just get bored with the chords and wanna add a little spice to it.

In fact, I probably go the opposite direction much more. I try to take all the "gospel" stuff and CCM it up, lol. I've learned to appreicate the simplness of CCM, which is heavy on the lyrical aspect.

[Tiptip357]

I'm with T on the CCM part...

[under13]

Yeah I do. I'm tired of this CCM stuff.

[betnich]

Guilty as charged.

I have been known to insert a Gospel/Jazz chord between changes in "I Give Myself Away". Also have taken whole CCM songs in a soulful direction, to the horror of some lead singers. Pastor is my enabler as he squeals when I play them, then asks for those "phat" chords.

Something I did to "How Great is our God" (attached)....

[SoundofJoy]

Nice rendition, I'm tempted to add a Hammond organ track with this

[betnich]

Nice rendition, I'm tempted to add a Hammond organ track with this

Would be nice. Thanks.

I mainly do this with the slower CCM songs, mostly leaving the faster ones alone. Guess because I find the slower repetitive I-VI-IV-V boring...

[Mysteryman]

Guilty as charged.

I have been known to insert a Gospel/Jazz chord between changes in "I Give Myself Away". Also have taken whole CCM songs in a soulful direction, to the horror of some lead singers. Pastor is my enabler as he squeals when I play them, then asks for those "phat" chords.

Something I did to "How Great is our God" (attached)....

I was hyped up until my phone couldn't open the mp3. Guess I better find and app for that.

[raegenius]

I don't think I have ever left out the 7-3 in "How great is Our God".

[floaded27]

I don't think I have ever left out the 7-3 in "How great is Our God".

really? i thought leaving it out, or having one or the other  was a good way to add a bit of variety to the song.

[T-Block]

In the end tho, to me it's all gospel. Different styles of playing, but all gospel. Once you can get that mindset, then it's more like what floaded mentioned, adding variety.

[musallio]

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. But it's not that I want to "gospelize" it per se, I just get bored with the chords and wanna add a little spice to it.

In fact, I probably go the opposite direction much more. I try to take all the "gospel" stuff and CCM it up, lol. I've learned to appreicate the simplness of CCM, which is heavy on the lyrical aspect.

That.

Nice rendition Bet. I listened to the track before I saw Sound's post and I was already hearing him on the hammond for that. So please Mr T, let's hear the hammond on top..

[betnich]

That.

Nice rendition Bet. I listened to the track before I saw Sound's post and I was already hearing him on the hammond for that. So please Mr T, let's hear the hammond on top..

Thanks - we sang it last Sunday. Did the track for the early service (our PT plays the 10am service)

[musallio]

Thanks - we sang it last Sunday. Did the track for the early service (our PT plays the 10am service)

Tell me guys, for pre-arranged tracks like this, does it mean that only the choir/ worship team that's practised sings along or the whole congregation sings?
I would really love to prepare tracks for our services, but I feel that the majority of the people are not musically disciplined to sing along the track 
Maybe if we rehearse using tracks with the worship team they can lead the congregation

i really love to back or play on top of pre-arranged music...makes it sound pro...

[betnich]

Tell me guys, for pre-arranged tracks like this, does it mean that only the choir/ worship team that's practised sings along or the whole congregation sings?
I would really love to prepare tracks for our services, but I feel that the majority of the people are not musically disciplined to sing along the track 
Maybe if we rehearse using tracks with the worship team they can lead the congregation

i really love to back or play on top of pre-arranged music...makes it sound pro...

Everybody sings. It's not the preferred solution for our Pastor (who's a singer/drummer) but a viable alternative when musicians aren't there. Our Choir rehearses w/tracks, then musicians on Sunday morning...