Do you ever lead worship with just an acoustic guitar or just a keyboard - a stripped down environment? On one hand, it can be intimidating because there's nothing to hide behind. On the other hand, these can be some of the most powerful moments in worship.
Here are 5 ideas for a stripped down worship experience:
1 | Use the environment to match the atmosphere
If you want to lead a more stripped down worship experience, you can change some physical things in your worship space to compliment it. What are some things you could change that would lend themselves to a more stripped back instrumentation? A few ideas: have the musician sit on a stool instead of standing, bring all the lights up - use an even wash on the stage and keep it brighter in your worship space than normal, or change how your congregation will be seated (ie. consider doing worship in the round).
2 | Embrace the intimacy
Stripped down worship can be more intimidating because it's more intimate. Use that intimacy to your advantage - embrace it! People long for that intimate worship experience where it's just one instrument, a leader, and the whole church singing together.
3 | Pick songs that translate well
Think about your song choice. Some songs work better in a laid back environment than others. I believe that you can make any song work with just you and an acoustic guitar but you have to know your limits.
4 | Understand that your congregation's voice is always the missing piece you're looking for
Whether you're leading in a full band context or by yourself - sometimes it feels like something is missing while you're rehearsing. That thing is nearly always your congregation singing along with you. The great thing about leading a stripped down worship experience is that your congregation's voice as a key component to the worship experience is highlighted even MORE.
5 | Learn from others
Find examples of people leading with stripped down instrumentation. Look for acoustic versions of songs on YouTube. Or check out Phil Wickham’s Singalong albums - they're a great example of how to lead with just an acoustic guitar!
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