Reharmonising Christian Guitar Music for Today's Churches.

Christian guitar music in today's context needs to be modern and up to to days standards of music.

The Hymns we used to sing in churches need to be updated to meet today's standard. Many of my musician friends in Church share this same view and I have decided to try to, help you get started along this track. If you go to the Lesson on Christian Guitar Chords you will understand the basics of Diatonic groups and families and in this lesson we will further investigate chords that may be approached by other chords which belonging to the same key.

Christian Guitar Music, using the Diatonic approach help to keep the song within the key. Chords which belong to the same key, can be used to approached other chords. This approach is good as it keeps the harmonic rhythm active and it keeps the melody within its context. This technique is mostly found in pop, country, jazz and Folk music. We will now look at the diatonic triads in the key of C Major.

Building diatonic triads For Christian Guitar Music.

Key of C Major: The C Diatonic Scale

When playing Christian guitar music learn to form triads(three notes) by stacking them in thirds one above the other.

View this example of how to build triads(three notes): C-E is a third, E-G is a third

Diatonic Triads in the key of C major;

1.C,E,G= C chord

2.D,F,A= D- chord

3.E,G,B= E- chord

4.F,A,C= F chord

5.G,B,D= G chord

6.A,C,E= A- chord

7.B,D,F= Bdim chord

Christian Chords for Christian Guitar Music

The Diatonic seventh chords these are made up of four notes and are commonly known as block chords,

Chords in the key of C Maj.

1.C,E,G,B= C Maj7 chord

2.D,F,A,C= D- min7 chord

3.E,G,B,D= E- min7 chord

4.F,A,C,E= F Maj7 chord

5.G,B,D,F= G7 chord

6.A,C,E,G= A-7 chord

7.B,D,F,A= Bmin7b5 chord

To re harmonize Christian guitar music we must be aware of the Target chords and where it is placed at.These Target chords can be found placed at the end of last chord of the phrase. When you have your Target chord work backwards from it. ref finale file Target chords

For example: Target Chords.

work backwards from the target chord:

-------------------< Target Chord

|| FMaj7 | E-7 | A-7 | CMaj7 ||

By working backwards we are able to construct and select the best diatonic chords that are available.Always be aware that the melody note should not form a 1/2 step or b9 interval with any of the chords.

Lets now move on to understanding what are Cadences and how it affects the music.

Cadences Cadences

There are three types of Cadences you need to be aware of in experimenting with Christian Chords and melodies.

Strong cadences have a tendency to want to resolve to the Root chord and these Cadences are: G7 - C Maj(V7-I),and FMaj7 - CMaj7(IVMaj-IMaj7).

Weak cadences have Root motions that move by 3rds and sixth a part and they are: CMaj7 - FMaj7(IMaj7 - IVMaj7), CMaj7 - A-7(IVMaj7 - Vi-7).

Deceptive cadences happen, when a Dominant7 chord moves to another chord instead of the Tonic and these chords are: D-7 - G7(II-7-V7), G7 - AbMaj7(V7- bVIMaj7)

Be aware of the melody and how it is fitting in the chords. Avoid any 1/2 steps notes between the melody and the chords, remember its the melody that dictates everything.

Using Christian chords as an example, we will find the Target chords and support it with diatonic chords from the key of Cmaj:

CMajor Diatonic chords:

IMaj7, II-7, III-7, IVMaj7, V7, VI-7, VII-7b5

CMaj7, D-7, E-7, FMaj7, G7, A-7, B-7b5.

Try to find the target chords and begin to work backwards from it. I will give you the first example and you will write the next two examples.

II-7 V7 VI-7 IVMaj7

| D-7 | G7 | A-7 | FMaj7 ||

Target chord IMaj7

|| CMaj7 ||

Fill in any of the diatonic chords, which will support your Target chord.

|| A-7 | E-7 | D-7 | B-7b5 ||

Target Chord IMaj7

|| CMaj7 |

|| D-7 | E-7 | FMaj7 | B-7b5 |

Target Chord V7

|| G7 ||

|| CMaj7 | E-7 | A-7 | G7 ||

Target Chord IVMaj7

| FMaj7 ||

To make it more interesting for Christian guitar chords, we need to explore farther on the Diatonic chord approach. We could choose how to work towards the target chord. We could do this by making the melodies or notes to become the Root, Third and Fifth of the scales or melodies.This technique of utilizing the notes from the melody is a great way to find some interesting changes so lets get to it.

Root, Thirds and Fifths Chart.

In the first measure in e.g.1, the melody consists of the notes F, G, A, B, C, D, E and C. Now make these notes into Take the C major scale and note the notes F, G, A, B, C, D. E and G. Match the notes with the basic triads of the C diatonic Scale/chords. Then use the notes to form roots of the basic triads. Example F note for FMaj chord, G note for G chord etc.What I have done is to basically used the notes as roots of the chords and then I figure out how to work backwards towards the first measure.

In e.g.2, the notes E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, and B, are used as a third above the root of the chord, thus making it the top note of the basic triad.

In e.x.3, the the notes A, B, C, D, E, C, B, D and C are used as an interval of a fifth above the root of the basic chord.

Wow Christian guitar music is really gonna be fun. With all these very interesting basic techniques you be having a ball.I hope it will benefit you in some way in harmonizing the chords for your music. Try play and re harmonize some popular songs or Christian chords/melodies. See how these colors change the texture of the songs.

In summary of Christian guitar music, please try and work on the diatonic scale/chords in all 12 keys, tall order but it has its rewards.When you go for your jamming gigs get the guys to play your charts and be kind if they don'tunderstand the charts, here is where you can explain the procedure.

We will now go to a fun lesson where you can explore and learn Christian Guitar Tabs.

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