3 Simple Techniques I use for Playing Preacher Chords

Playing the piano in a spirit-led church setting is non-stop experience. It's a place where you have to be ready to play anything, in any key, at any time. Mastering preacher chords will take you to the next level as a musician. I’m going to show you how easy it is to add preacher chords to your playing and we'll dive into some simple techniques to help you learn them. 

 https://youtu.be/VBsN3U6sJKg

Preacher chords, also known as shouting chords, are popular of gospel worship music. They provide a backdrop to whatever is happening in the worship service. When played skillfully, these chords can create a sense of anticipatio and, build momentum. By incorporating preacher chords into your bag of skills, you can take your piano playing to a whole new level and start playing like a pro.

Mastering Gospel Progressions

1. Basic gospel progressions are the foundation of preacher chords. These progressions often involve a combination of major and minor chords, incorporating dominant seventh chords for added flavor and tension. Practice popular gospel progressions such as the “1- 2m7- 2#o-1/3" and experiment with different voicings and inversions. The key is to develop a strong sense of chord progressions and their relationship within a song.

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1. In spirit-led church music, the rhythm is just as crucial as the chords themselves. Experiment with various rhythmic patterns such as syncopation, off-beat accents, and broken chords. Grace notes and trills will make you sound like a quick pro. 

1. Another powerful technique is call and response. This involves playing a musical phrase or chord progression after the preacher makes a powerful point, especially if he’s talking slow. 

Here’s an example of Preacher Chords - https://www.instagram.com/p/CtSMd17gctd/

1. While mastering the techniques mentioned above is important, being able to improvise and adapt on the spot is what truly sets apart a newbie from a pro. Learn to follow the flow of the service, listen attentively to the preacher, the choir, and the congregation, and respond musically to their vocal cues. Keep your eyes glued to the preacher, if he pauses, that’s probably a great time for you to pause too!  

Preacher Chords are the next level of background music. Remember that EVERY NOTE YOU PLAY counts!