You may use this song in a ministry context provided you do not change any of the words and you provide copyright information to anyone whom you distribute it to. Please contact me for any other use of the song.
“Ode to Joy” is a beautiful tune that is easy to play. I often use it early on when I teach people to play the guitar.
This PDF provides the fret numbers and solfeggio notes (in my number format) to play the melody of this song on any string of the guitar. By practicing this classic tune on each string, you will become much better acquainted with many of the notes on the finger board!
For many years, I have prayed that God would give me opportunities to use the guitar for ministry in ways that would glorify Him. As part of His answers to my prayers, I had the opportunity today to use my guitar to accompany people in two ministries at my church!
Including the opportunities that I had today, I have used my guitar to minister in four different ministries at my church in the past two years:
1. Instrumental openers and offertories as well as accompanying people who sang specials for our regular Sunday morning and evening services;
2. Instrumental specials and accompanying people who sang specials for our Spanish ministry;
3. Instrumental specials and accompanying people who sang specials for our Neighborhood Class ministry; and,
4. Accompanying singing for our Released Time ministry—a ministry for children from a local elementary school.
I have also been able to minister with my guitar in various services at two local Spanish churches. Beyond my playing for some services at these churches, I have also had the opportunity to teach various guitar-for- ministry classes at these two churches.
The Lord has also answered my prayers by allowing me to create three new accompaniment styles for playing the guitar that I have not heard anyone else use before. Moreover, He has allowed me to develop a new approach to learning and playing the guitar that I have successfully taught to the students that I have had for the past several years.
In answer to my prayers, I have also originated several highly effective approaches to using the guitar to play music at an advanced level. It has been quite encouraging to have several students successfully learn some of these techniques.
Lord willing, I hope to publish several guitar method books in the future that will allow many other people to benefit much from what God has entrusted to me in answer to my many prayers about using the guitar for ministry. May He see fit to advance His kingdom and righteousness greatly through using these resources for His eternal glory.
“Aura Lee” is a beautiful song that is easy to play. This PDF provides the melody and chords for this song in the key of C. Because the song has only 5 chords (C, Dm, G7, E, Am), it is a good song to use to master basic chord changes between these basic chords.
You can practice playing the melody and the chords along with the audio of the song:
Many guitarists learn to play the guitar only in first position (open strings and the notes on the first four frets). Learning to play in other positions, a guitarist benefits himself in a number of ways.
Closer Fret Spacing in Higher Positions
Playing in higher positions, such as fifth position or ninth position, is easier because the space between frets is closer in higher positions. For example, on my classical guitar, frets 1 and 2 are 1 1/4 inches apart; frets 6 and 7 are 1 inch apart; and, frets 9 and 10 are 13/16 of an inch apart.
The closer spacing in higher positions makes learning to play the guitar easier in those positions because even a guitarist with relatively short fingers is able to cover more frets in those positions without having to move his hand. What’s more, various fingerings of multiple notes played at the same time are very hard (or even impossible) in first position, but they are often much easier in higher positions.
Variety of Timbres for the Same Note
Playing only in first position, a guitarist limits himself to playing a given note on only one string. By learning to play the same note on multiple strings, he is able to play that note with several different timbres.
For example, the open string E on the first string can also be played at the 5th fret of the second string, the 9th fret of the 3rd string, and the 14th fret of the fourth string. Although the pitch remains the same, the timbre of the E played varies widely from the fourth string to the first string.
Knowing the different timbres available on the guitar, a guitarist can create striking variations for playing the same melodies and chords of songs. Using this technique, a guitarist can accompany singers or other instrumentalists with an appealingly different texture of his accompaniment for each stanza of a song.
Playing in Certain Keys is Much Easier in Certain Positions
Advanced guitarists who take the time to learn where all the notes are on the fretboard discover that playing in certain positions makes playing the melody of a song much easier than it is in other positions. For example, seventh position is excellent for playing many songs in the keys of C, G, and D that are more challenging to play in lower positions.
Playing in Multiple Keys and Transposing Using a Movable Major Scale
By learning to play a movable major scale that spans two octaves, a guitarist who knows his positions well can play the same melody in multiple keys. This skill is especially valuable for songs that feature modulations in them.
What’s more, many songbooks have music in flat keys that are difficult for many guitarists to play because they do not take the time to learn to play songs in flat keys. By understanding how to use a movable major scale in different positions, advanced guitarists are able to play these songs both in these keys and in other keys by transposing them.
Chord Melody Solos
Playing a song in chord melody style provides a guitarist with a vital skill that increases his playing ability greatly. A guitarist can play both the chords and the melody of a song at the same time by using this style!
For example, listen to My Country ‘Tis of Thee played as a chord melody solo. Because this song is in 3/4, the guitarist plays a chord on beat 1 of every measure while playing the melody throughout:
Knowing where the notes are in multiple positions is essential for playing this style. Learning various chord shapes also makes learning the short chords that are the heart of this style much easier.
Conclusion
Learning to play in multiple positions on the guitar is valuable for many reasons. I have been teaching myself this skill for some time now and have found it to be very helpful in enriching my guitar playing!
I am also in the process of teaching a number of my students these advanced techniques. It is rewarding to see the progress that they are making!
“Walking Through the Flames” is a powerful song that glorifies God through both its lyrics and music. After receiving permission from The Wilds Christian Association, Inc., my friend Dr. Yuriy Leonovich and I recently recorded this guitar-cello duet of the song.
Using only the refrain of the song, “A Child of the King,” I have made a new simple song for teaching children many profound truths from Scripture about who they are.
A Child of the King
I’m a child of the King, a child of the King! With Jesus, my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
I’m a sheep in God’s flock, a sheep in God’s flock! With Christ as my Shepherd, I’m a sheep in God’s flock.
I’m a priest of our God, a priest of our God! Through Jesus, God’s Servant, I’m a priest of our God.
I’m a saint of our Lord, a saint of our Lord! Through Christ, my Redeemer, I’m a saint of our Lord.
I’m a member of Christ, a member of Christ! Through faith in His rising, I’m a member of Christ.
I’m the temple of God, the temple of God! Through God’s Holy Spirit, I’m the temple of God.
You may use this song in a ministry context provided you do not change any of the words and you provide copyright information to anyone whom you distribute it. Please contact me for any other use of the song.
This PDF provides the melody notes, guitar chords (key of D), and lyrics for the six stanzas of the song. Here’s how the melody sounds:
This morning, Ruthie Calvino, a young cellist in my church, and I ministered a simple guitar-cello arrangement that I put together of the hymn “Nearer, Still Nearer” (words and music by Lelia N. Morris). I strummed on the first stanza, picked on the second stanza, and used a new accompaniment style that I invented that I call a “finger roll” on the last stanza. You can listen to the audio below.
Nearer, Still Nearer
4-measure guitar introduction
Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart,
Draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art;
Fold me, O, fold me close to Thy breast,
Shelter me safe in that “Haven of Rest,”
Shelter me safe in that “Haven of Rest.”
No interlude
Nearer, still nearer, nothing I bring,
Naught as an off’ring to Jesus, my King;
Only my sinful, now contrite heart;
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart,
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.
3-measure guitar interlude for modulation from C to D
Nearer, still nearer, while life shall last,
Till safe in glory my anchor is cast;
Through endless ages ever to be,
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee,
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee.
4-measure ending tag that repeats the last line
This PDF provides the music for the arrangement. Here is the audio from this morning:
“O Thou in Whose Presence” is a nice hymn with very rich sentiments. This PDF provides the melody notes, first stanza, and chords to play and sing the hymn in the key of D.
You can practice the melody notes or the chords by playing along as you listen to the melody:
Taking the tune of “Holy is the Lord” and trying to translate the words into Spanish, I recently wrote a new Spanish hymn, “Santo es el Señor.” This song emphasizes the holiness of God, which at its essence denotes His uniqueness.
Santo es el Señor
Santo, santo, santo, santo es el Señor! Santo, santo, santo es nuestro Dios! Él que vive siempre, nunca va a cambiar. Rey del universo, sόlo tú eres Dios! Santo, santo, santo, santo es el Señor! Santa, santa, santa es la Trinidad! Sin par y querido es nuestro buen Señor. Santa, santa, santa es la Trinidad!
You may use this song in a ministry context provided you do not change any of the words and you provide copyright information to anyone whom you distribute it. Please contact me for any other use of the song.
This PDF provides the guitar chords, melody notes, and words for playing and singing Santo es el Señorin the key of D.
Rajesh Gandhi holds a Ph.D. in New Testament Interpretation from Bob Jones Seminary; he's a long-time member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, SC.
