HymnCharts Fits Your Worship Style



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by Don Chapman

Whether your church has a blended or contemporary style, my HymnCharts arrangements are designed to fit.

Really, it mostly has to do with the instrumentation. Contemporary worship is driven by electric guitars and blended worship is usually driven by piano and/or acoustic guitar.

Same arrangement, different styles. At the core of every HymnCharts arrangement is a piano part that can be performed simply with a vocalist. Or take the same charts, add drums and guitars and you have a modern worship arrangement. Change the key with Finale notation software (sold separately) to fit your worship leader or soloist.

Here are audio examples of how the same arrangement can fit the style of your church. It's my free arrangement for All Hal the Power of Jesus' Name (download it and use it in your own ministry.) A female worship leader sings it in the original key of E major, and a male worship leader sings it in the higher key of G major.

Contemporary version				- full band - female worship leader - 3 part background vocals (SAT)

Modern version				- electric guitar, synth, no piano - male worship leader - single female background vocal

Blended version				- piano, acoustic guitar, drums, bass - orchestral instruments

Piano/Guitar version				- piano & acoustic guitar only

Styles Change

For me, blended worship was a bridge to contemporary worship and the chronology of my arrangements reflect that. HymnCharts arrangements from 2002 sound different from arrangements I create in 2012. That's why I asked Epcot's renowned Voices of Liberty to record my older arrangements. Their rich vocal blend is perfect for the blended style of my Heritage Collection.

A blended worship style can certainly be your final musical destination, although some churches do gradually make the transition to contemporary. Some churches have both - a blended service and a contemporary service (imagine doing the same HymnChart arrangement in both services using different instrumentation!) Does your church's style sound any different than it did ten years ago?

Stylistic Differences

Here are some guidelines I use in creating my HymnCharts arrangements:

Blended worship is piano driven for the most part with acoustic guitar. If electric guitar is used you'll hear a reverby, chorused sound with little to no distortion. Drums are mixed low. Band instruments are primarily heard and if there's a string player or two they're often beefed up with synth strings.

Contemporary worship is driven by a distorted electric guitar and punchy drums. If there's a keyboardist, he/she's playing pads, leads or a piano patch for the occasional ballad.

Blended worship arrangements modulate and pop music stays in the same key. While chord movement is not as complex as the hymnal, blended arrangements are still a bit busy. Pop music can rock on the same chord for as long as 2 or 3 measures. Many of my earlier arrangements modulate on the final verse, but these days I rarely write a key change.

Start a quick tour of HymnCharts: Learn how our arrangements are the best sheet music value on or off the Internet.

I have just become a GREAT fan of you and your wonderful website. When I found your site, it was like it was written about our church and the problems we are having between praise music and hymns! We have used at least 4 of your songs with great success!

Sue Jacob

Clough UM Church
Cincinnati, OH

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