Rock music, blues, jazz, you pick the genre and there will be a song with a guitar solo that stands out. In the realm of Christian worship music, a solo is a funny thing. Is it a necessary part of worship? It CAN be part of the worship as long as it’s mixed in the right way.
Mixing a “worship solo” means weaving in a lead line in a way that supports the worship music. This can be done in two primary ways:
1. Pick the right volume. The volume of the solo instrument needs to be loud enough to stand out in the mix but soft enough so it feels like it’s part of the mix, not standing head-and-shoulders above it.
2. Blend and contrast with the rest of the band. Blending and contrasting seem like complete opposites but it’s something you do every time you mix music. You are blending the instrument in with the other instruments while giving it a distinct sound so it’s easily identifiable in the song.
Solo Example
A couple of weeks ago, I was mixing the band and for one particular song, they opted for a more stripped down sound. If memory serves me, the song arrangement was as follows:
—Rhythm acoustic guitar #1
—Rhythm acoustic guitar #2 which would also play a solo
—Percussion
—Lead singer
—Backing singer (on parts)
—Possibly a little electric guitar on parts
The song was “Nothing I Hold On To” by Will Reagan & United Pursuit. There comes a time, near the end of the song, where there is a 15-second acoustic guitar solo. The song has a meditative nature about it and I wanted to keep that feel flowing throughout the solo.
Therefore, as the guitar was already EQ’d to sound a little different than the other rhythm guitar and made to sound a tad brighter, all I had to do was give it a small volume boost.
Solo In 30 Seconds
Listen to this 30-second clip of my mix, recorded directly via our board mix.
** Recording by The Worship Band at Greenwood Christian, Greenwood, IN
The Take Away
There is a place for instrument solos in worship music. They are part of the worship. They are part of the music lifted up in praise. It’s our job to make sure they fit into the worship mix like everything else.
Ready to learn and laugh? Chris Huff writes about the world of church audio at Behind The Mixer. He covers everything from audio fundamentals to dealing with musicians, and can even tell you the signs the sound guy is having a mental breakdown. To view the original article and to make comments, go here.
