It used to be you would usually hear the most solemn of songs inside churches. More congregations used hymnals with the actual music sheet and lyrics as they would sing classics such as “Amazing Grace” and “The Old Rugged Cross”. These songs were usually accompanied with a piano or a guitar and nothing more. All other instruments were considered to be too noisy for such a holy place.
With the growth of charismatic churches, the type of music rapidly changed as well as the style of worship. Worship bands such as “Hillsong” and “Planet Shakers” use a more upbeat type of music in worship. Most of the songs they play are contemporary and use a full band ensemble. As years are going by, other instruments are able to slowly make their way inside churches.
Once it was just plain piano and at times, guitar. Now you have electronic keyboards, bass guitars, acoustic guitars and electric guitars. Some churches even have congo drums. Hence, the traditional piano is no longer enough and worship teams organize themselves in a different manner as well. Most of these worship teams and bands are comprised of the younger generations coming up in the church. These young ones learn music a little differently from the way older generations did. While in the old days, there were formal lessons available for those who wanted to join a church’s worship team. These young ones usually begin learning how to play instruments in a more informal manner. They are driven by the want to play a full song as a band and to perform in front of people. So what they do is they tend to be self-taught at first. Once they get hold of the guitar, they try to strum the instrument using the basic chords in order to play a simple song. The songs by contemporary bands are easier to play too. Just four chords and you are good to go.
This new generation also tends to be more modern, and more attached to their gadgets. They listen to their favorite songs over and over again through their mp4 players. They use the internet for resources. The keyboardist uses piano chords finding devices to search for piano chords for songs. There are several free piano chords on the Internet and you are sure to find it if you really need it now.
In no time, they are able to play as a complete band and perform in front of a crowd of people, which is the church. Some conservative churches still do not allow this kind of music, especially when it seems that the sounds the band produce are just senseless noise. But a lot of charismatic churches don’t care too much about how good the band is, as long that their main purpose for playing is worship. In due time they learn to become good musicians and are able to play more smoothly the songs for worship inside the church.
