The problem usually isn't the congregation, it's you! It's time to address a problem that seems to be increasingly more prevalent in churches: people can't sing the songs because they are in a key that is out of the congregation's singing range
We pick certain keys because the song was originally recorded to promote the lead vocalist on the recording.The original sounded so cool with all of those high notes and licks the singer put into the performance on the CD, and it's our desire for the song to capture the same energy and excitement of the recording. Also, we choose keys to suit our own singing range and comfort zones.
Below is a chart that illustrates conventional singing ranges, across the spectrum, for most people. Some have low voices and others medium or high. Usually in choirs, we label singers either soprano, alto, tenor or bass, in order to find a part to sing. But when we sing the melody together in a congregational setting, we must find the average range in which most people can sing. This range is considerably limited, but we must consider the congregational range as our priority when choosing songs for a service.
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| Diagram 1 |
Determining the correct vocal range in advance helps our people to engage in worship. The audience is the lead singer!
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| Diagram 2 |
You'll notice in the first diagram, the tenor and soprano (in a higher octave) sit comfortably within the congregational singing range. This is why, when altos and baritones choose keys for a worship set to suit themselves, its usually too high or too low for the average congregation.
Don't scold your congregation for not singing with you, worship leader. Most likely they are silent because you haven't done your homework to find the correct key. You'll find that sometimes songs will have a low verse and a high chorus, and vice-versa. I led a song yesterday that had to be re-keyed for the congregation. The verse was very low in the melody, but by the time I sang the chorus it was fine. I'm not sure if I'll do the song again, even though its by a major artist and a big radio hit!
The congregational singing range principle is also a helpful tool in writing songs. Don't go below the Bb in the diagram, or above a D in the melody. If the song is written to sing in the congregation's range, chances are, people will be quick to join in with you (there are many other factors to consider regarding a song's success--more for another time)! It's really about being a servant to our congregation and not taking an opportunity to show off our vocal abilities.
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I am currently writing an instructional book for worship leaders. This is an example of some of the nuggets that will be included in the book. I'll keep you posted on the progress!
So true! Even worse when a teenaged/young adult worship leader wants teenagers to audition for their praise team with a tune they chose that has neither a strong melodic or lyrical leading. In this age of great worship songs, musicians need to choose better in all circumstances. Just b/c you can sing along (in one octave or another :) ), does not mean you should use it on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights. Thanks, Jamie. Common sense isn't as common as it used to be.
ReplyDeleteGood for you Jamie. This is the second article I have seen about this in the last week.
ReplyDeleteThat may be the reason. I personally get so tired of singing songs about me, me, me. What I am going to give the Lord and what I am going to do. Let's get back to singing about Jesus and the blood. Is there anything else that means anything more. Let's sing about what brings conviction. God knows we need "conviction" in our lives! Make a place for the holy spirit to bring conviction. Make an atmosphere for HIM. HE will not invade our space unless we give HIM liberty. Our alters should be full every time we have a meeting. It was that way when I was a kid growing up in Southern California in the 60's and 70's. If we needed the spirit of conviction then, and we did, how much more in these LAST DAYS!! It may be about the key but I would rather think different. God bless you and love in Yeshua, Jesus.
ReplyDeleteIt's a result of the Top Ten tendency. They don't play old (10 yrs. or so) songs on Christian radio, and writers apparently have trouble coming up with new takes on songs based on scripture.
DeleteCat and Dog Theology!
DeleteAmen. One of the things we do in Kairos prison ministry which is all men, is lower most all songs anywhere from 1 step to 3 steps DOWN. Meaning a G song played in Gb, F or E.
ReplyDeleteOur music minister likes to do girl verses/guy verses. How about dividing it by high voices, low voices. As a woman with a low voice, I appreciate having songs dropped just a little bit.
ReplyDeleteAnd just maybe... you can't sing any range if you can't hear yourself sing. Many times the instrumentation is amplified to a level normal vocal sound can not be heard.
ReplyDeleteAmen and amen!!!
DeleteHere is another point of view from someone who plays keyboard and is on a praise team. The songs can be in the range but may not be written congregational friendly. It may be to hard for them to learn to sing. Just because we as musicians and we can learn the songs it does not mean the average person sitting in the pew can.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I wish our worship leaders exercised such wisdom.
DeleteI agree with this completely! Familiar tunes get altered, new choruses added at unexpected places, familiar words with unfamiliar melodies - nothing more disheartening than finally having a song that I can join in on, only to have it go some other direction and my (not so great) voice standing out as the one who sang it the old familiar way!
DeleteWe used to hear that worship choruses had too much repetition. There is a reason for repetition! You want the congregation to focus on their worship, not on the screen with the words!
I've been the Director of Worship / Worship Leader at our church for ten years. I am less of a musician though and more of a worship leader... that said, I'm a male tenor who loves to sing and I have struggled with the congregation not singing with me. Truth be told, I have cast blame on the congregation many times: They don't try hard enough, blah blah blah etc.. It's hard to hear these words as it means that I am the one responsible for their inability or unwillingness to join in more fully. I appreciate your words though Jamie. I'm going to try and lower the keys of our songs so that more people can join in. My concern is that the worship time will lose energy since I cant sing as loudly.... I guess we'll see how it goes though. thanks again brother. - Derek
ReplyDeleteI could sing at the top of my lungs, and the person next to me wouldn't know it due to the rock concert mentality of the praise team. Sometimes I'm surprised they don't smash their guitars and kick their drums after worship.
ReplyDeleteI had someone from a congregation come up and ask if we could turn the volume up a little - and why?? - because they want to sing but they don't want the person next to them to be able to hear them sing; in other words, they'll sing if they blend in at a lower level than the Stage/PA volume but not if they stand out over it. Picking songs that MOVE the congregation will tend to make them want to sing too.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed that when the instrumentation is at a volume where the congregation can hear itself, they sing louder (even harmonize!), but when it's at a volume where they cannot hear the person next to them, they are not as engaged and tend to look around or even not sing.
ReplyDeletewow! that hits home...as worship leaders we want to sound good ourselves so the keys are set to fit our voices. I have noticed when the songs are out of range no one sings. Thank you for bringing that home.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. I can't tell you how many times I've done the same songs in the same keys and had people really singing out... and then other times with other groups I feel like I'm the only one singing. The atmosphere of worship is the key. Looking back and going through most of the recordings reveals a lot. I noticed that the times I felt alone, I was leading a group that did not worship to modern music much... I also notice what came before my time of leading. Sometimes it just did not "set the mood" if you will... and other times I just did not lead (without music) well. Most artist have no trouble getting the "crowd" to sing along in the CD recorded key. Most worship songs sound off when you change the key to try and fit your above theory. When you do that no one wants to sing at all.
DeleteWhat wonderful insight! I live in an area where a Christian radio station has great influence on our worship leaders. I often feel that this influence has made our congregation more of an attempted re-recording of a series of their songs. Volume is up! Praise Team energetic! Congregation less than half involved in the praise and singing. What's great on the radio as a solo, may or may not be effective in leading a congregation to sing. Choose wisely. Hit a nerve in music selection that takes people to a place where they are reminded ...He is worthy of our Praise.
ReplyDeleteAmen! and Amen! Except my lead guitar player doesn't always understand the need to fit the key to the congregation...He's learning.
ReplyDeleteRick Muchow has a tool called the "Best Key Finder" at his website here: http://rickmuchow.com/best-key-finder/
I'm late finding this but I'm so glad to find someone else making the case for this! I've heard people say "Chris Tomlin seems to get people to sing ok at his concerts and he sings pretty high"... Um, yes, but I'm not Chris Tomlin and most of the people in our seats on Sunday AM aren't paying to attend his concerts, either.
DeleteThe difficulty faced by musicians and vocalists in trying to prepare outside of practice has been the biggest challenge I've faced. This year I used Amadeus (audio editing software for Mac) to transpose each track for them. Sounded weird but allows them to practice. I believe Transposr.com does this too.