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.
Last week, we looked at connecting songs in the same key. Continuing this week, we will look at additional 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.
Segue directly, singing the next song after a very brief pause.
This may work well where the tempos are quite different to provide just enough time over a sustained chord to have a drummer count off the new tempo. This also works very well with the Planned Spontaneity approach described in session two. This uses the SHORT GAP method of transition.
Go to the previous lesson on PLANNED SPONTANEITY and view examples 1-3 to see this connection once again played out.
Segue directly, singing the next song at the completion of the first song.
This requires you to go quickly into the next song. If it seems too rushed, consider using the next connection idea. This uses the NO BREAK method of transition.
Play an extra measure or two of “filler” between the two songs, as you then segue directly into singing the second song.
This uses the NO BREAK method of transition.
All three of these examples below have added a small filler between the two songs to prevent the transition from seeming too rushed. As you design transitions between two songs, you may find that a slower tempo can handle a connection without filler. Take time in rehearsal to determine the right feel for what you want to achieve.
Example 1:
Your Name (in A) – How Great Is Our God (in A)
We end, Your Name, add one bar of the ending chord with a build-up into the bridge of How Great Is Our God.
Long Version
Short Version
Example 2:
How Great Is Our God (in B flat) – Great I Am (in B flat)
In these two songs, there is an extra measure added between the final chorus of How Great Is Our God going into the chorus of Great I Am.
Long Version
Short Version
Example 3:
Forever (in G) – Mighty to Save (in G)
These two songs connect in something between a No Break and a Short Gap. The second song is slower than the first. Forever ends on a held final word of the song as the drummer counts off the new tempo for Mighty to Save, going into the introduction.
Long Version
Short Version
Use your creativity to craft a smooth flow as to how many measures to end the first song and how many measures to introduce the second song. You can craft enough time for a key passage of scripture or to set a new feel, or you can move very quickly into the next song depending on what you want to accomplish.
Take a look at twelve possible transitions between Your Name and Agnus Dei.
Next week we will look at transitions between songs one-half or one-whole step apart.
