Worship Guitar Class

Christian Guitar Lessons and More

Sing and Play the Guitar Together

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guitarist-young-womanAs a guitar instructor of many years I have seen that some guitar students have a natural ability to sing and play songs at the same time. Others struggle to get their singing and playing to match.

Here are a few tips to help you sing and play at the same time.

  • Learn the guitar part first. If you are struggling to change the chords, it will be impossible to match the singing and playing. You might invest in a metronome to help you learn to change the chords in an even tempo.
  • Learn the song. Get someone to help you sing the melody. A teacher can be very helpful here. I suggest starting with a simple song with easy to play chords. When you can get the hang of playing with easy song, then move on the ones with more elaborate chords and strumming patterns.
  • Combine the singing and playing. It helps to try the song at a slow tempo. In our Christian guitar lessons, there is an actual practice session for each guitar lesson so students can follow along like being in a private lesson. You may want to hum the song first, and then try the words.
  • Prayer. The last tip should actually be the first step. Expect to learn this skill. As a Christian, I always suggest starting with your practice times with prayer.

Not used to praying? Open your eyes to the incredible beauty in this planet. I highly doubt that these beautiful flowers were accidentally created by some molecules randomly banging together.

All of creation speaks of an intelligent Creator. Could prayer actually be a means to communicate with Him?  Yes! It may even be a means to help with paying and singing with your guitar.

Remember to start with an easy song. Learn to play it fluidly on the guitar. Learn to sing it in tune with good rhythm. Then combine playing with humming the tune and finally playing and singing it at the same time.

One of the sweet testimonies we received was from a gentleman who was pleased that he was able to sing and play the guitar at the same time with our course and God’s help.

JW Worship Guitar Class Videos
Step-by-step guitar lessons for learning to play worship songs on your guitar.
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School Curriculum

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Christian School Curriculum for Worship Guitar Classes using Jean Welles Worship Guitar Class™ Books

This method is suitable for ages 10 through adult. What an honor it is to help others learn to worship our God. I would like to share my experiences and insights to help you nurture and encourage others in their desire to worship with a guitar in their hands.

One of my daily prayers, as a guitar teacher, was that God would love my students through me. In Scripture, Jesus told us that people would know we are His disciples by our love for one another.

Interwoven in the lessons will be ideas that you may want to implement in your class that I used in my many years of teaching.

In talking to some of the Administers and teachers of Christian Schools, I’ve discovered that some of you offer guitar classes as an extra curriculum non-credit class while others incorporate guitar classes with credits in music. Since a semester runs between 17 and 18 weeks, options will be suggested for both formats.

Here is a weekly breakdown of the classes from the first two volumes of JW Worship Guitar Class Lessons: [Read more…]

Guitar Sore Fingers

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Sore fingers from playing the guitar? You’re not alone. Most guitarists have gone through a phase of experiencing sore fingers. This phase can last anywhere from a couple weeks to a month or even longer.

The type of guitar and the strings you’re using can make a difference in how long it takes to get calluses on your fingers It’s easier on you fingers to start with either a nylon string guitar or an electric guitar.

If you already have a steel-string guitar, you should try to lower the action and to get l ight-tension strings. The action is the distance between the strings of the guitar and the neck. If your guitar has a low action is will be much easier to play. If it’s high, or you just want it checked, you can take your guitar to a music store and ask them to lower the action.

The action will make a big difference in how easy your guitar is to play, not just making it nicer for finger soreness. One caution, if the action is too low the guitar strings will buzz on the frets. That’s why it best to let a guitar repair shop do the adjustment.

Once your fingers develop calusses and get used to the strings, they will no longer hurt. Meanwhile, if they do hurt, try holding ice on your fingers before and after you play.. It may also help to soak your fingers in vinegar for around 30 seconds before you play the guitar.

For more solutions read Guitar Sore Finger Solutions

Music In The Bible

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Music In The Old Testament

hymnbookThe first musician in the Bible, Jubal, is mentioned as “the father of all who play the harp and flute” in Genesis 4:21. In Exodus, Miriam played timbrels and danced.

Perhaps the Biblical figure who most remember for his musical abilities is David. David charmed others with his harp playing wrote songs and made music. His music caused the evil spirit to depart from King Saul.

Psalm 22 begins with “For the director of music. To the tune of, The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm

of David.” The Psalms speak often of praising the Lord with song. Nowhere is it more evident that music was used for worship than in Psalm 150:
“Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with crashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!”
Many other times in the Old Testament, music was mentioned. Sometimes the musicians went before the Army of Israel in battles, like the battle at Jericho. King Solomon was credited with writing more than 1,000 songs. Solomon also had many musicians in his court. In II Kings, Elisha’s minstrel played and then Elisha gave prophecies.
  1. Singing caused evil spirits to leave Saul.
  2. Singing and music gives God praise.
  3. Singing and musicians are used in battles.
  4. Songs are used to teach, as in the song of Moses.
  5. Music is used to express great joy, as in Miriam’s song of deliverance.
One of my favorite Old Testament references of music is in 2 Chronicles 20. Israel was divided at this time and King Jehoshaphat was one of the few kings that worship the true living God. They were surrounded by a massive army looking to destroy them. Jehoshaphat sought the Lord and was assured victory.

18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
    for his love endures forever.”

Notice how they worshipped the Lord before the battle and even sent the singers and musicians out ahead of the army. They were indeed victorious and did not even have to fight in that battle!

Music In The New Testament

  1. Jesus sang hymns with His disciples.
  2. Paul and Silas sang hymns in prison.
  3. Spiritual songs are used for admonishment and teaching
  4. We are told to sing.
  5. There is singing and worship in heaven for eternity!

In the New Testament, hymns were a source of comfort and strength as early Christians faced their challenges. Jesus sang hymns with his disciples. One of the most mentioned times is after the Last Supper. “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (Mark 14:26.)

In Acts 16: 25 Paul and Silas used hymns to comfort them when there were in prison.–“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”

The Bible further talks about the role of music in Colossians: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16).

In Revelations, the Bible talks about music during the end times. “And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.” (Revelations: 14: 2-3).

The role of music in worship continues today. Most church services start with worship. This is because music is an international language we share and it helps us focus on God. Like the musicians and heroes of the Bible, modern day Christians use music to exalt the name of God.

Contact

Jean Welles Worship Guitar
2355 Westwood Blvd. # 812
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Ph: 800-391-5412
Fax: 800-391-5412