Group Admins
Contemporary Christian Bassists
Public Group active 3 weeks, 3 days agoFor those of us that understand the freedom and importance of our place in contemporary Christian music and how much latitude we have to really “bust it up”.
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Preston posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 3 weeks, 3 days ago · View
Hello My Brothers and Sister. How is life and i pray all is well. I want to share i had my first big break through Thursday night at rehearsal with the Praise Team. After a rough previous week and lot of prayer regarding my relationship with the lead musician, he came in and began providing leadership and direction which he has not in the previous months since we have been together. From just that interaction the Lord has blessed our union and i was able to play a couple of grooves which lead to a jam session. I felt so good standing before others laying down my first groove in public which was a glorious feeling. Continue to pray for me while i continue to learn and expand my range and chops as a bassist in the house of worship.
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Rob joined the group Contemporary Christian Bassists 3 weeks, 4 days ago · View
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Maegen Kott posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 1 month, 1 week ago · View
now choose this day whom you will serve. to be a light in a darkened world. its in your hands. its in your hands. become the light in this darkened world
could you please change your avatar picture here? thanks!
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Maegen Kott posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 1 month, 3 weeks ago · View
hey. what im about to share has nothing to with bass lines or even music. i honestly just need to pour my heart out to my brothers and sisters… because this is probably one of the hardest times in my life that i have faced. on monday a friend of mine commited suicide. i hadnt known Carson long or very well. hhes my best friends cousin. anyway… he struggled with depression at times and talked to me about some of the things going on in his life. i began texting scriptures to him every morning to encourage him in the Lord and give him hope. id check on him every couple of days to see how everything was going. Sunday night i was up late packing for camp so i didnt type out a Scripture to send. i was soo sleepy. monday morning i didnt have time to type it … so i never sent one. that was the day he shot himself. he was only 18 years old. i feel soo guilty. what if that scripture wouldve been enough to give him hope and strength to hang in there longer? ill never know if God wouldve spoken through it or if it wouldve made the difference and hed still be here today. the guilt and sorrow i feel is agony. ive prayed and wept since monday morning. i still weep. i dont know if this will ever end. everyone tells me ’you cant do that to yourself.’ my loved ones have tried encouraging me… but this is a heavy burden that does not lighten. please pray for me. pray for Carsons family. thank you for the prayers annd listening. Christ be with you all.
Maegan thats awesome seeing you share such a difficult time in your life! I wanted to share a similar story I had with a coworker who committed suicide! I talked to him and we got along well…I could see that he was looking for someone to help him! I should have seen the signs that he was about to make peace with his ultimate decision! Only I was so inward focused that I walked on by him the day before he killed himself! I knew I was doing wrong because of the way I felt inside! But did I turn around…No! I came to work the next morning and they said he had commited suicide! I regret being selfish and not reaching out to him more! That day changed me forever because I could have at least tried…I could have at least tried! No regrets anymore! We are not meant to walk by someone who wants to feel the healing hand of God!
I guess what I’m trying to say is you did the best you could because you tried to help your friend! I know the pain and shame never goes away…but God gives you the strength to forgive yourself and to carry on! Keep going! I will be praying for you and the Carson Family!
Oops correction… Carson’s Family!
kyle thank you so much for your encouragement. it means a lot. i read something his dad wrote about him… his dad stepped out and ministered to everyone else! it was amazing. my best Connor (Carsons cousin) is continually trying to lift me up and reasure me that its not my fault. but as you said… the pain and shame doesnt go away. i think this will be something i will always carry… but the burden has eased some. thank you for reminding of Gods continually presence and for pushing me to keep going. thank you for the prayers as well… they are felt and much appreciated.
you also mentioned that you had wanted to share what you were going through… im glad you did. i dont know what held you back all this time… but know that you are welcome to share whatever is on your heart with me at anytime. we are brother and sister in Christ… Galatians 6:2 says to carry each others burdens. we arent meant to live this life alone but to be there for each other. i know the pain you feel and will continue to pray for you as well. i dont know if you have facebook but im there more than i am here… youre welcome to look me up there. have a blessed day
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Preston posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 2 months ago · View
So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. Ephesians 1:6.
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Preston posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 2 months, 1 week ago · View
Trying to catch the groove with a piano who do not have an ear for the bass guitar.
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Jon Germain posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 2 months, 1 week ago · View
looking forward to Sunday…new stuff and old stuff, and just as you think you know what is going on, and as you learn new technique, the old becomes new and the new becomes way too cool!@!!
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Preston posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 2 months, 1 week ago · View
Spending my day off working my chops with tetrachords. More theory and practice. Now this is the life..
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Jon Germain posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 2 months, 1 week ago · View
So, I see that rules are what we live by but music transcends said boudaries…how nice that we as the foundation like to also be lyrical in expression…..thoughts?
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Tiffany R posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 2 months, 1 week ago · View
I’ve come to the discovery that gospel music breaks all the music rules … lol.
Tiffany, what do you mean gospel music break all the rules? I have attended gospel since I have saved and this is the first time I have heard this. Can you please expound on this concept? This could be good information in dealing with my music lead at church. Be blessed.
lol … I’m a music major. And we’ve been taught that pieces of music have key signatures which tell you what key a song is in. So if a song is in the key of G, the notes you will find yourself playing are G A B C D E F#. But the way gospel musicians play … the key signature is almost thrown out the window … suddenly you have all these sharps and flats coming into play. Too bad I’m at work … I’ll give you an example when I get home tonight. Its kind of like jazz …
could the rules be understood to be ”typical notes played” in any particular groove….thus opening us up for more of a lyrical position?
Very true … you can add more emotion to really convey the message of the lyrics. Its pretty awesome when you play… but man trying to grasp the concept with your mind … the possibilities are endless
Wow, praise God for your gifts. A music major to which I am all ears. I understand the scales, but basically you are telling me gospel music is all over the place. I am at work also, but to hear about the jazz concept is right up my alley. Look to hear from you.
We’re playing one this week that really does that, messes with me, not your typical 1,4,5 or even a 2,5,1… ALL over the place!
Doesn’t follow any of the standard rules of progressions.lol … I know. I made the mistake of learning the new ”gospel” concept the night before we led out in worship. I was hearing everything in a new way but playing with the standard rules of progressions. Talk about messing with my mind … lol. My brain was split in two. One side seeing all the possibilities … the other making the hands do the tried and true
Tiffany, let me ask you what do you think is the ”new all over the place porgession compared to the standard progressions.” or is just based on how th music sound?
Its based on how the music sounds. The keyboardist giving me ”gospel” tips told me that generally in gospel music there aren’t any rules. They are heavy on the semi-tones before and after chords … there constant movement, uses of the 3rds, 5ths, 6ths and 7ths. I’m going to check with him tomorrow … and I’ll give you some examples. The thing that makes the progressions all over the place is the semi-tone walk ups and downs.
Semi-tones? I understand. So, is that the same for contemporary Christian music? I listen to a lot of gospel and contemporary Christian and there is a difference in the sound of the styles. The way i see it, contemporary Christian do not move around as much compared to gospel. I see gospel as 16th notes and contemporary Christian 1 & 3 eights notes. I am just trying to get an understanding of both styles.
Another thing, on top of the semi-tone issue, is a lot of worship music, both Gospel and Contemporary breaks the ’standard’ rules. Say they don’t use your typical 4-5-1 progression or as Tiffany said early the key signature on the staff gets thrown out the window.
Harold, that is a good insight into this subject. Therefore, if the standard progresions are not followed I.e. 4-5-1, what is the progression if any of these styles of music? If it is throw away, what is replaced?
It’s not always throw away, but, it’s very frequently ’suspended’ at times… It pays to know your theory well, but as they say, you need to know the rules to break them.
And example of a song in F would have a typical F – Bb – C for your standard progression of a 1-4-5. This weekend we did one that was F-Am-C/E in the verses, going to a F-G-Am on the bridge then a chromatic F-G-Am-C-Dm-Am-F-G on the chorus…
And when you get into a gospel style or ’shout’ music, it can be totally different than that.
Theory. Okay this is good stuff. I understand where you are coming from regarding the ”suspended” at time. The song you performed this weekend, sure it makes sense to the band leader who explains the progression to the other musicians. Sure, the song is in ”F” and i see the progression is numerous, i.e. 1-3-5 to 1-2-3. So, can we say the style difference Gospel and Contemporary Christian is about progression?
Not exactly because there is some Christian Contemporary artists that don’t exactly follow standard progressions. Its really about what the artist is inspired to do. Matt Maher has a song that has a 1-5-6-4 progression and in the same song he has 1-3-6-4 progression. 4-Him did a cover of the Hymn Solid Rock (Jazz/Gospel sound to it) 1-4-2-7-1 and 1-4-2-5-1. I actually have to run … so I’ll explain more later today.
Okay, i see it is all about the progression of the song. However, listen to the two different styles of music and explain why, if it is the same progression, the sound is different. Theory. I just love it…
Its what each different instrument does with those progressions … the rhythm, the harmony.
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Maegen Kott posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 2 months, 1 week ago · View
the service was blessed! thanks for the prayers tiffany! we played: how he loves, blessed be the name, how great is our God, My Saviour my God, and two originals called well done and He chose to love which fades into amazing grace.
That’s awesome. I was just dropping by to ask you how it went on Sunday. Isn’t it exciting to find delight in serving God
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Maegen Kott posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 2 months, 2 weeks ago · View
the band, Upward Call, is leading the entire worship service on Sunday. it’ll be our first time to do the whole service so please lift us up. i love praising my Lord and using music to bring others into a time of worship with Him as well… but it can make me alil nervous lol. prayers are much appreciated. thanks!
I know exactly how you feel. I love praising God and leading people to Him through music. Its my greatest joy … but I am nervous every single time … lol. I’m always praying to God to calm my nerves.
What songs are you guys doing?
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Maegen Kott posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 2 months, 2 weeks ago · View
the band, Upward Call, is leading the entire worship service on Sunday. it’ll be our first time to do the whole service so please lift us up. i love praising my Lord and using music to bring others into a time of worship with Him as well… but it can make me alil nervous lol. prayers are much appreciated. thanks!
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kenneth d. alston posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 2 months, 2 weeks ago · View
The WORD says praise HIM on the string. My brothers and sisters of the low end. Be encouraged in the Lord.
from the B string to the G string give HIM glory!Master of the low end
KenbassMy brother Ken. Praise God for you and your gift of the strings. ”From the B string to the G string give him glory!” Now, that is way cool.. Be blessed.
from b to g my honor is to glorify Him….peace
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Preston posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 2 months, 2 weeks ago · View
Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ”We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22 But, in the mean time play that bass to the glory of the Lord.
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Preston posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 2 months, 4 weeks ago · View
Today let me reassure you that God knows right where you are, and He knows how to get you where you need to be. Even when things don’t go the way you planned, His hand is on you. Do not be afraid, trust that God is working behind the scenes on your behalf and that He will lead you into the life of blessing that He has prepared for you.
Thanks Preston…I really needed to hear that today(been one of those days). The Lord always seems to answer when I ask for guidance…today he used you to answer my prayer.
Thanks again
ROB
Add another to the ”thank-you” list. It is sometimes hard to see His hand at work, but over time you can see his guidance. thanks man
make that 3. its been one of those times when everything is at the peak of awesome… then you end up on the bottom totally crushed and not sure how it got to this point. someone told me that ’people will be your biggest disappointment’. that is so true… as ive experienced this week. but its a bblessing to still have others that share encourage. thanks dude
very well said….keep everything you do focused on why we are here….as this life is but a rehearsal my friend for the big stage…
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John Alden Davis joined the group Contemporary Christian Bassists 3 months ago · View
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Preston posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 3 months ago · View
What is the hot chord progression being played these days?
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Preston posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 3 months ago · View
Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ”We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22
its so awesome to find a brotha!
its so awesome to find a brotha!
its so awesome to find another brotha!
Hello Maegen
Yes, it is good to find someone else who really gig the bass and Jesus. If you want to you can really read my mind on facebook under Preston Dickens. Be blessed and stay in touch…
hey preston!
i tried finding you and couldnt. try looking me up. or you can find our bands page under Upward Call. blessings to you as well
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Preston posted an update in the group Contemporary Christian Bassists: 3 months ago · View
Check in with the brother of the Low end…..
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That’s wonderful news
Grace and Blessings My brother,
Praise God for your break through. It is truly wonderful to serve the Lord with gladness. And to express your praise From the B string to the C string is our purpose. Be blessed my brother and keep pressing for the mark. To God be the Glory.
Master of the low end
KENBASS