Instructor Sam Tolbert Music Director

Music Director Galilee United Methodist Church 

What is the Gospel Sound ?

In order to articulate this question one must break down the words in to descriptive meanings. Lets start with the word “ gospel ” .

gos·pel (gŏs'pəl)
n.
often Gospel The proclamation of the redemption preached by Jesus and the Apostles, which is the central content of Christian revelation.
Gospel Bible. One of the first four New Testament books, describing the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and recording his teaching.
A similar narrative.
often Gospel A lection from any of the first four New Testament books included as part of a religious service.
A teaching or doctrine of a religious teacher.
Music. Gospel music.
Something, such as an idea or principle, accepted as unquestionably true: My parents' rules were gospel.
adj.
often Gospel Of or in accordance with the Gospel; evangelical.
Of or relating to gospel music


sound1 (sound)
n.
Vibrations transmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing.
Transmitted vibrations of any frequency.
The sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium.
Such sensations considered as a group.
A distinctive noise: a hollow sound.
The distance over which something can be heard: within sound of my voice.
Linguistics.
An articulation made by the vocal apparatus: a vowel sound.
The distinctive character of such an articulation: The words bear and bare have the same sound.
A mental impression; an implication: didn't like the sound of the invitation.
Auditory material that is recorded, as for a movie.
Meaningless noise.
Music. A distinctive style, as of an orchestra or a singer.
Archaic. Rumor; report.

Again we see several descriptive meanings to the word sound. My definition in summary is “ any melodic tones that are pleasing to the ear”. So in short the “gospel sound “ in my opinion is good news that sounds good .  How do we get that “ good news gospel sound” as a church musician?

We have posted a series of video clips deplicting the gospel sound found in various traditional gospel selections. Watch how we apply melody, chords and chord patterns to theses selections.

Videos by Sam Tolbert , Sound of Joy Music Services