Song Transitions and Flow in Worship
As a worship leader, leading within a song is a given… But what about the in-between?
Transitions are a great
way to help create a seamless time of worship and reduce potential awkwardness
between songs. The truth is that we practice and plan so much when it comes to
our songs that we sometimes neglect how to connect them. Playing all the songs
in the same key isn’t always enough to create a smooth flow. So here are some
useful techniques I’ve learned over the years through both the easy way
(learning from others) and the hard way (learning from your own mistakes):
Playing all the songs in
the same key isn’t always enough to create a smooth flow.
1) New Intros – Not all songs have to have a concrete finish in order for
the next song start. Feel free to use the band creatively and maybe even write
up fresh new segues/intros to connect songs. For example, a song that normally
starts abruptly with a loud intro can be redone by easing in with a guitar line
that imitates the melody line. Use the music! You could fade in some pads (cue
the guitarists or keyboardist for some verby swells), chord progressions from
the previous chorus or bridge, or maybe sing one last chorus repeat if the
Spirit leads. Even loops are a great lead-in and can also carry much of the
burden of “how to start the next song.”
2) Talking – It’s good to engage with people in the middle of the set!
Welcome them, talk to them, lead them. It’s also a great way to introduce the
next song (maybe it’s a new one). At my church I try to do this with vocabulary
that isn’t so “Christianese” so that newcomers or nonbelievers can feel more
comfortable. Try sharing between songs something God revealed to you regarding
the next/previous song, scripture that inspired the songwriter(s), or even a
funny story that can put things into perspective. But it’s important to do this
as simple and seldom as possible… After all, we’re using these transitions to
help make our worship smoother, not interrupt it. So I like to talk once before
everything begins, or before a fast song to help get the congregation ready!
This can even be a quick invitation, especially if the click/loop for the next
song’s already started. And if you’re worried about uncomfortable silence
during your spiel, you could have a go-to chord progression so that the band
lightly supports in the background.
Welcome them, talk to
them, lead them.
3) Prayer – Sometimes premeditated, sometimes not. I try to treat prayer during worship much like the talking. Because people worship in different ways, I’m always receptive to how the congregation responds during these times. This will depend on your church but I try to keep them at a minimum. Try incorporating key lines or ideas from the songs that sandwich your prayer, or invite the church to pray and reflect upon what was just sung (in case they have yet to hop on board for what’s already going on). I believe it’s important to intertwine prayer with our praise. It keeps our head in the game while our heart pours out to God.
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Song Transitions and Flow in Worship
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