SAM'S PREACHER CHORDS COURSE

Welcome to Sam's Gospel Music Course " Preacher Chords "

We have developed this course to assist the local church musician to further

develop their skill in support of the local music ministry. From the links

above select additional courses you desire to take.

The effectiveness of preacher chords in a service carries a great responsibility. As a musician you, the preacher and evangelist or minister are working in harmony to deliver the point of the message. Preacher chords can vary depending upon the spirit of the minister and the receptiveness of the congregation. Preacher chords in essence becomes the stamp of approval musically to the message. Therefore, you must develop a sense of which chords, chord patterns and most importantly the placement of those chords should be used as you minister in music while the preacher ministers the word of God. I have the experience of playing behind some great preachers over the past 27 years. I have complied a basic to advanced list of chords and chord patterns you can learn and then adapt to your own.

Here are my  basic "up the ladder" preacher chords. Most preachers minister well when you keep the patterns simple. Remember, the preacher is in charge. You are just accompanying them while they are delivering message. Do not lead them with these chords, you follow behind them. Most like it when you give them a short and long burst with the chords. This allows them to catch their breath in between preaching.  A good rule I use is to let the preacher "signal" you when they invite you to minister with him or her. Now some preachers like to "moan" first, then they want you to accompany them. Beware that some may not be used to how you work with them. Some may bring their own musician with them for this reason. Don't ever feel embarrassed if the minster instructs you to "hold your fire" when they're preaching. It's a way to let you know that they are not ready to "take off" yet. You can burn out a preacher too early in his/her message with preacher chords. Experience will be your best teacher when it come this. I always wait until the preacher signals me when they're ready for me to give them the fuel to "take off".

When using these chord patterns you always end each pattern with the 1st chord.
Here is the "burst" pattern I talked about earlier - short - long - short - long -  short - long - short
 

Key 1st chord 2nd chord  3rd chord  4th chord 5th chord  6th chord
C major  C/EGAC F#/EAbBbC F/EbGAC  F#/EbF#AC G/EGAC G/FBEbG
Db major Db/FAbBbDb G/FABDb F#/EAbBbDb G/EGBbDb Ab/FAbBbDb Ab/F#CEAb
D major D/F#ABD Ab/F#BbCD G/FABD Ab/FAbBD A/F#ABD A/ADbFA
Eb major Eb/GBbCEb A/GBDbEb Ab/F#BbCEb A/F#ACEb Bb/GBbCEb Bb/BbDF#Bb
E major E/AbBDbE Bb/AbCDE A/GBDbE Bb/ABbDbE B/AbBDbE B/AEbGB
F major F/ACDF B/ADbEbF Bb/AbCDF B/AbBDF C/ACDF C/BbDAbC
F# major F#/BbDbEbF#  C/BbDEF# B/BDbEbF# C/ACEbF# Bb/DbEbF# Db/BFADb
G major G/BDEG C#/BEbFG C/BbDEG Db/BbDbEG D/BDEG D/CF#BbD
Ab major Ab/CEbFAb D/CEF#A Db/BEbFAb D/BDFAb Eb/CEbFAb Eb/EbGBEb
A major A/DbEF#A Eb/DbFGA D/CEF#A Eb/CEbF#A E/DbEbF#A E/DbAbCD
Bb major Bb/DFGBb E/DF#AbBb Eb/DbFGBb E/DbDGBb F/EFGBb Eb/EbABbF
B major B/EbF#AbB F/EbGAB  E/DF#AbB F/DFAbB F#/EbF#AbB F#/EBbDF#

These are my basic preacher chords for you to practice and learn. These chords below are to be mixed and match with the chords above.

Baisc Preacher Chord Techniques

for Organ

VIDEO LESSONS USING COURSE WORKBOOK

1.

Here's our first practice video for preacher chords in C. First listen the cadence of his voice as he begins to "whoop". The melody of his notes hover around the scale notes of the C harmonic minor scale (is you don't know this scale please refer to the course workbook) . Now, not all preachers follow the same pattern so we'll cover a few videos in this course. In your course workbook there's a section that covers our basic pattern for playing preacher chords. Turn to that page and reference the "preacher chords" we have written down in C. In order to develop your "ear" for playing behind the preacher your have to practice trial and error playing. I say that so that you won't feel like you've made a mistake if the preacher asks you to stop playing until they're ready for you. This course will get you ready we they ask for you. These chord apply to keyboard/piano and organ musicians taking my course.

Practice the chords as shown in the work book with the video. See which ones fit his voice patterns.

Now add the preacher chords you normally would use. Remember there's no right or wrong pattern as long as the preacher can get his message out. If possible send me a youtube video so I can rate your practice session

2. 

Here's your next lesson, now there's a musician showing how you play behind this style of preaching in the key of D. Refer to your preacher chords in D and play along with this musician on the organ. He's using basic chords and this is a good lesson for you to lean to play with another musician. Remember this is your practice time don't be afraid to experiment with all the chord changes in the reference guide and the chords you use already.

3.

I guess by now you see the pattern of lessons I'm using. Yes he's in E, you must learn to play in every key and don't touch the transpose button. I have provided preacher chords in every key in the workbook. We will cover more chords later in this course but for right now, use what I've provided in the course book. Yes, as before practice along with the musician in the video mixing the chords to match what he's doing. You can do it :)

4.

Now, in this video the preacher starts in D, Eb, and ends in F. This is the other style where the musicians ear must hear when the person preacher changes key how you must have the chords ready to go with him/her. The chords in the course book will guide through this lesson. As always if possible send me a video of your practice session. You will hear how all the chords we've given you fits with this lesson.

5.

OK, lets say you find yourself playing behind this preacher. He's in Ab and brought his musician with him. Practice the Ab chords in the reference course workbook and you will be able to match what he's playing and support the preacher. Stop listening to the other musician and work on the chords from the workbook. Listen to the patterns the musician is using behind the preacher not stepping all over is message. Oh, yes he changes key...expect the unexpected at all times.

Let me see those practice videos as soon as you can.