The title of this column is somewhat fitting, not just because I live “in the loop” of Chicago, but because I also live in the world of worship loops. I’ve been using Loops and MultiTracks in worship for over 9 years, with no looking back. A few weeks ago, my band and I were leading worship at a nearby local church. Afterwards, someone came up to me and said, “Wow! I’ve never heard so much sound come from just four people!” As much as I wanted to take credit for the band members and myself, I knew that our secret weapon was sitting only a few feet away on the stage behind me.

Four Humans and a Computer

It’s becoming more and more common to see a computer on stage, sitting “humbly and quietly” with its soft, soothing glow of an apple logo. But don’t be fooled by its seeming passivity – that motionless band member has become a critical part of the modern worship sound. Not only does the computer help keep everyone ‘N Sync with each other (bad joke) by providing a click track/metronome, it is also playing the role of band director by giving vocal cues and instruction to everyone in the band on where to go next in the song (Verse, 2, 3, 4!). If you’re a worship leader, you probably understand the problem this solves. We’ve all been in that train-wreck moment when you’re going to the verse, but the drummer is going to the chorus and the electric guitar is going to the solo … oh wait, they are always on the solo. Anyone with me? By using vocal cues and a click track, everyone knows where they’re collectively going next without question. This helps keep everyone tight.

However, this is just one side of the computer’s many talents. While everyone in the band is rocking out to a click track and band cues, the computer is playing back Loops and MultiTracks that enhance and supplement the sound coming from stage. For example, Loops and MultiTracks may contain sounds like shakers, tambourines, synth lead lines, or pads. Unfortunately, we can’t all have a full orchestra, percussion kit, analog synth, or mandolin every weekend at church. Also, a church may lack in the quantity or quality of available musicians. If you’re missing a keyboard player one weekend, your computer is always ready and willing to fill in. Want to add those cool delayed ‘beeps’ and ‘glitch’ noises you hear on a recording? Play a long with a Loop or MultiTrack. It’s also an easy way to add fresh and creative sounds to your worship experience.

So, How Do I Get In The Loop?

“Okay” you say, “I have a computer, but how do I get it from just browsing Facebook to becoming a key player on stage?”

The Software: You can use iTunes or any music software, but the preferred software choice among electronic worship leaders is Ableton Live. You can create your own loops and tracks in Live and then use them to perform on stage. You also can build a set list and quickly change the key or tempo of your Loops and MultiTracks. At first it may look intimidating, but once you put the “training wheels” on and go for a spin, I promise you’ll never want to stop. It’s also very affordable.

The Sounds: A few years ago, I was preparing a worship set for Willow Creek and thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a website where worship leaders could download and share worship loops and multitracks?” LoopCommunity.com was born which now provides practical resources for worship leaders around the world. If you’re brand new, get free training on how to use Ableton Live and other technology in worship. If you need a Loop or MultiTrack, search for a song and download one. If you create your own loops, upload and share your work with other worship leaders. We are a vanguard of electronic worship musicians. You can even join for free – everyone is more than willing to help you get going.

Loop Community has also developed a USB Foot Pedal that allows worship leaders to control their loops and multitracks with their feet. This is helpful for worship leaders who play acoustic guitar and don’t have their hands free. You can get your hands on “Looptimus” for $199 by pledging funds on KickStarter: https://loop.cm/kickstarter. Update 10/08/13 their goal has been reached: read more.

So the next time you play and someone says, “Wow, I’ve never heard so much sound come from just four people”, just tell them you’ve decided to add a fifth member to the band.

Visit LoopCommunity.com and sign up for free!

Matt McCoy is a worship leader and songwriter from Chicago, IL. He is the founder of Loop Community and an Ableton Certified Trainer. Follow him on Twitter.

I’ve talked before about which hymns work best in contemporary worship. Another step to fine-tune your hymn usage is to choose which verses of the hymn are the most appropriate for contemporary worship.

Some churches are plagued by the tradition of singing all verses to a hymn, period. I recall the contemporary Presbyterian church I attended in Nashville, where in the middle of their praise set they would launch into some cryptic Presbyterian hymn and sing all 12 verses. That’s a great worship flow killer, right there.

Some hymns tell a story and all verses should be sung. For instance, it’s hard to decide which verse of the carol The First Noel should be left out since the entire song tells the entire Christmas story.

Most hymns have a different thought for each verse so it’s easier to cut one and not destroy the continuity. For me, three verses of a hymn usually feels just right, and I’ll often repeat the chorus at the end. Sometimes if the hymn is upbeat I’ll repeat the final chorus with a more worshipful, stripped down feel.

If all four verses of a hymn are so good that I just can’t leave one out, like Jesus Paid It All, I’ll start sparsely on verse 1, pick it up with a slight groove on verse 2, continue the groove on verse 3, break it down on verse 4 and get big on the final chorus. The more verses you do the more variety you need in the accompaniment.

Which verse(s) should you leave out? There might be a verse or two that has antiquated language. Here’s an example of a hymn, I Love to Tell the Story where I think three verses are a “home run” and one verse… not so much:

verse 1
I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

verse 2
I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me,
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

verse 3
I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat
What seems each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

verse 4
I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.
And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song,
‘Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

refrain
I love to tell the story! ‘Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

Verses 1, 3 and 4 are winners – good words that are still singable for the modern worshiper. I’d cut verse 2 because “golden fancies of all our golden dreams” sounds antiquated, and sing verses 1, 3 and 4, repeating the refrain again at the end.

Bottom Line: There’s no law that says you have to do every verse of a hymn. Choose the best verses that are meaningful to the modern worshiper.

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