My ultimate goal when it comes to practicing and getting ready for a performance, be it for WEC or any other place I've played, is to know a song so well that I don't have to think at all.
When I don't think about what I'm playing, it means I know the song: its chord changes, its melody, its harmony. I know them from an instinctual feeling, rather than procedural memorization. I know the sound of the next chord and the shapes of the frets I need to play, rather than thinking of A - F#m - D - D/A.
How do I get to this state? It doesn't always go the same way. The easiest is, of course, when I can immediately tell what I want to play over a song after I've listened to it, or when I've written something I actually like. In these situations, I can improvise leads, rhythms and fills in the most natural way (at least to my own ears, I won't speak for everyone listening). I feel the most comfortable with my instrument and the song, and this is where I want to aim to be.
Sometimes this desire to know songs is complicated by the fact that I don't always know what I want to play at the first listen. Generally this results in a feeling that I don't like the song. Really, this isn't the case, but when I'm frustrated about having nothing that sticks out to my ear, the song is tainted in my mind.
This past Sunday and TNL and WEC had all the songs that I am comfortable with. I know them, I love them, and I don't think about them. What comes out of the fingers is just me worshiping over six strings; I love being able to concentrate on the Most High God without worrying about messing up or making bad playing choices. I'm just lost in the song and in the prescence of the one who gave me the song and the ability to sign and shout and play.
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4 comments:
You are fun to watch in those moments when you are lost in worship and in song. I definitely fall into the head banging end of worship.
It always amazes me when you get into this state of knowing your music so well that you can just worship. I also know that to get to that point, you have done a lot of practicing and thinking about the music. I'm grateful for your dedication to the music and I love watching you worship because I'm able to see your relationship with the Creator played out.
You rock bro! Even though your tongue does push against your teeth in these modes :)
I am thankful for your dedication to your music! You are an amazing part of Phil Poteat and the Waters Edge Band! It is easy to worship God when the WEC band is leading us and I think your worship is a part of that. Thanks!
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