This week we continue to consider ways to seamlessly connect songs in your worship set to provide a smooth transition or journey of worship. If you missed the previous lessons, check out part one first. The easiest way to connect songs is obviously when they are in the same key. Of course having every song in the key of G can get a bit boring for everyone, but having a couple flowing together can be quite impacting. Over the next three weeks, we will look at different ways of connecting songs in the same key. Some of these techniques can be used in other key relationships that will be presented in future lessons.
Songs in the same key and same meter will almost always work well together.
Take a look at this short explainer video:
If the tempos of the songs are not the same, you can creatively add a tag, extra chorus, etc. to the end of the first song at the second song’s tempo (or simply slow down the ending), if appropriate, then move to the second song by beginning the introduction of the second song on the last sung note of the previous song. INTRO OVERLAP
The examples below demonstrate the Intro Overlap method of transitioning songs. The tempos are sometimes the same and sometimes different.
[Note: Each example has a long and short version. The long version provides more context for the two songs, while the short version zooms in to the transition.]
Example 1:
Lord I Lift Your Name on High (in G) – Trading My Sorrows (in G)
The first song, Lord, I Lift Your Name on High, has a tag ending, on the final word of the song, the band begins the intro to Trading My Sorrows.
Long Version
Short Version
Example 2:
Trading My Sorrows (in A) – Blessed Be Your Name (in A)
The song ends with a chorus accompanied only by drums. On the last syllable of the first song, “-men,” the band begins the introduction to Blessed Be Your Name.
Long Version
Short Version
Example 3:
This Is Amazing Grace (in E-flat) – Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) (in E-flat)
There is a difference in the tempo in these two songs. This Is Amazing Grace slows down at the end. The intro to Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) begins on the last sung note of the first song.
Long Version
Short Version
Example 4:
To God Be the Glory (in G) – Forever (in G) (This one was also given as an example in Lesson 1)
Both of these songs are in the same key – G major. In the Intro Overlap method, the introduction of the second song, Forever, begins on the last sung note of the first song, To God Be the Glory.
