Singable Keys:
Put the songs in keys that the congregation can sing. Most people do not have a huge vocal range. If in doubt, use the ‘Rule of D’ principle. Make the top note around a D (C-E). My personal favorite is making C# the highest note.
Original Songs:
By all means, use original songs that are birthed in your congregation. But my advice is to make sure the songs match the quality of the rest of your list. Personally, I usually use only one original song and the rest of my list is great songs from around the world.
The Basics of the Song:
Make sure the melody is singable and memorable. Does the song work without the band? Does the song work with just a simple acoustic guitar or piano? Do you find yourself singing the song when you are by yourself?
Working on the List:
First, pray! What is God saying? What song is He bringing to mind. Is there a theme for that service or message? After that, I try to start and end strong! I usually start with an upbeat praise song that people can easily connect with and I usually end with a slower great song for worship that is sung directly to God. I never start or end with a brand new song, no matter how good it is.
In between that, I am working on transitioning musically and thematically with my main purpose of having the congregation focus on and meet God in our short time together each week (for more tips on this check out my blog: 8 Tips On Taking Your Sunday Morning Worship To The Next Level).
Question: What can you add to this great songs for worship list? What is working in your congregation?
This article on great songs for Worship originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
Check out Mark’s book, Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure, available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions. This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.
