Thanks for starting the ball rolling L6B.
Where ever this ends up (here, or as a separate forum), I'll be checking in frequently.
Personal Music Bio
I took piano lessons for a number of years and actually got some certificates to prove I'd accomplished some stuff, but the piano never really clicked for me. I was introduced to the bass when I picked up my room mates Hofner knock off in college, but didn't actually own one for some years. After college I played a lovely 4 string tenor guitar and a 6 string classical in the 60s, when my cousin and I played and sang in folk clubs. My sister lost my tenor guitar in Vancouver but I still have my classical and play it periodically when I go to visit my Dad, who loves strumming on his Harmony guitar.
Life - university, job, marriage, kids, etc. intervened for quite a few years and other than singing bass, I didn't do much music.
Bought my Fender P in 1983 and started playing with the pianist at church in about 1985. Have been playing regularly on the Worship Team since then. The band slowly grew over time and we are pretty much a full CC band now (piano, KB, drums, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, flute/whistle and sometimes another percussionist, and three singers) - with slight focus on the softer stuff like Robin Mark (we have a whistle player on the team who makes the celtic style come alive) along with Paul Baloche, Chris Tomlin, Brian Doerksen, and a good dollop of arrangements of old time hymns, etc. For a few years I played with another WB at the same time, but it was just too much work to move gear, set up, tear down, keep track of multiple set lists and styles, so I let the other one go.
Have picked up other basses as I travelled the road, my Tobias Killer B6 in 1997, my MTD fretless in 2008 and my NXT5 EUB in 2011.
Have found TMBG to be a fantastic refresher tool and Roy has prompted me to explore and stretch my comfort zone.
L6B is right about the team. Probably even more so than in a secular band, the team's commitment is of utmost importance when you are trying to deliver worship sets that complement/fit/support the pastor's message. No room for prima donnas or show offs who can't or won't assist the team in its goals.
We are currently preparing for an 8 day long gig at our District camp this summer (we played there last year as well - 800 to 1500 people there most of the time) which will involve about 14 sets of music. Although we all know the music, we are having 2 -3 practices a week from now until August to ensure that we have the new arrangements worked out, intros and endings nailed and transitions in place.
A worship band is probably one of the steadiest gigs one can have, but I have found the diversity of music and the need to adapt on the fly is unique. You get a great opportunity to get tight with the rest of the band, to learn to listen to what they are doing and adapt accordingly. Most road bands have a couple of hours of music that they play - most of the time. In our band, every week we bring in new stuff and drop off old stuff, plus play "remember, that song you did last month" at the drop of a hat. And you don't generally need roadies cuz you know where you're playing next!!!
OK over to some others here.
Questions? Lots.
Answers? Some, eh?
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Steinberger NXT5 EUB, MTD 535 Fretless, Tobias Killer B6, 72 Fender Precision
Eden WT500, WTX1000N & WP100, QSC PL230
Eden D410XLT, D410XST, 215, Fender Bassman 10
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