Apr 18, 2009
Note to the Congregational Worship Song Writer
Like this post?
A guest post by Scott Jamison
If the song you are creating tends to make the women sing on the same octave as the men, consider reworking it.
* * * * *
© 2012 Abuyo. All rights reserved.
Amen.
Yes, please!!!
Yes!
yay!!! a post from scott! i always, ALWAYS enjoy his comments. always. (and i liked this post.)
Thank you!
Amen to that!!
Yes, I agree; but at the same time, there are some songs in which the men are also expected to sing along with the women sopranos and that’s just not a sound pleasing in the ears of God, nor in the ears of those next to them.
Sorry…
YES!!! :) Just change the key by a 4th or 5th (or tri-tone), and you should have it… Most all Chris Tomlin songs have to be re-worked this way. :)
Not to be contrary, but I LIKE singing in the lower register. It suits my voice better and isn’t uncomfortable. Anyone else?
Except when I want to sing the high harmony part on Chris Tomlin songs. Can’t do it if you change it. But I have a weird range. I can’t sing congregational stuff very well.
But better that than the other way around, which I find only works on the Sundays I’m wearing pants that are too tight.
Couldn’t agree more!.
Finally, someone is addressing this problem.
Blame Hillsongs for that
There is much to congregational song writing that I have learned of late. Two of the most important are: 1) give the song a musical resolution at the ending so we don’t have to rely on the worship leader to tell us when to stop repeating the last line and 2) too syncopation is great for solos, but had for the average person to feel and learn; minimize it where possible.
No! Those are the only songs I can sing with my low (for a female) voice.
Liz wrote:
> Not to be contrary, but I LIKE singing in the lower register. It suits my voice better and isn’t uncomfortable. Anyone else?
No problem with that. I just have a hard time hanging around middle C, D, and especially anything higher.
Anyone notice how many popular male rock/pop vocalists are comfortable tenors and enjoy hanging out in the higher ranges? Girls with lower voices are able to sing those comfortably. Meanwhile, us mortal baritones and basses are dropping an octave and sounding like droning insects.
Funny, I like female vocalists who are altos because I can sing in my register without straining myself. Chrisy Nockels, Sara Groves, Sandra McCracken, Imogen Heap, Alanis Morissette, Amy Lee, Feist, Elizabeth Fraser (“Teardrop” from Massive Attack), Sheryl Crow, etc.
It’d be interesting to see the ratio of popular male vocalists and female vocalists. My theory is that the vast majority of popular male vocalists are tenors, and female are altos.