Role of Keyboards in Worship

Piano / Keyboard is an interesting role in contemporary worship. I will try to give the short version of its role seeing how it could be debated and discussed forever. The role of the keyboard player depends on the style of music, the importance of piano in each specific band (who is leading the song instrumentally), the musical effects and sounds that the player uses, and other smaller factors.  Piano is one of the most commonly used instruments in worship and has been for many years.  One of the piano player’s roles is to play full chords that help guide the singer(s) to hit the right notes and help any other singers singing harmonies to stay within the appropriate key. Piano can create a background to the music being played help fill in the gaps with the bass guitar. This is found in many more contemporary worship groups through the use of pads and strings. The piano can be the lead and play complex musical lines, arpeggios, scales, and melodic lines that drive the song forward and are at the forefront of the song. An example of this can be found in southern gospel, tradition worship music, hymns, and gospel music. The piano leads the song and after the voice is the next important role in the band. The player’s effects play a role in the band as well, however the bands style dictates what effects he or she uses. If the keyboard is playing a lot of synth it will be more of a lead instrument. The player will use lots of lines and play thinly in appropriate places. If the player uses an organ then the role is the either lead instrument or be a background that is heard in appropriate places. If the player uses piano then he or she could play almost any style of music. The situation does and should influence how the piano player plays. An obvious example is if the congregation is worshiping and praying you do not want to play anything loud or too busy such as a solo that would distract others from worship. The piano helps create an atmosphere of worship and should never hinder or block that experience. As one can see there are many factors that determine the piano player’s role in a worship band. In conclusion I believe a piano player role is to create good music and create the right atmosphere for the situation.

Now as to what I primarily use in worship; I’d like to use piano more than any other effect. I love the sound of a good piano and also play piano. However a good pad or strings sound is probably what I use the most and is a very important tool for worship. These effects helps fill empty gaps and also truly make create background noise which usually assists others when worshipping. The pad and string sounds also help gap the spaces in-between songs which is something every band deals with. I believe it is important to create an atmosphere for worship and the strings I found is one of the best for doing so.   I like to use synth sounds and other weird and cool effects as well but haven’t used them too much in worship as of right now, (used synth sounds for a couple of songs but it requires me to bring my laptop or keyboard from home and I usually forget or don’t want to bring them.) these sounds are primarily used for upbeat praise songs. As I have said probably a hundred times I will say it again; it is about creating the right tone and atmosphere for worship whether it’s for jumping up and down and dancing in worship or if it’s for falling down before Jesus and surrender oneself in worship. The music should not be a tool we use to play with emotions but a tool in the hand of God for him to do whatever he desires. A band should create the right mood so that the congregation can worship Jesus with no distractions and freely and also so that God can move and speak to us his people. - George