In addition to strumming and fingerpicking, playing a chord melody solo is a third major way to use the guitar for ministry. This wonderful style allows a guitarist to play in such a way that he plays the melody and accompanies himself.
Here is a chord melody solo for It is Well With My Soul that I recently produced.
Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
Recently, I heard the song, Lord of My Heart, for the first time. Very soon after I heard the first words of the song, I asked a friend who was with me at the time to stop the CD, start the song again, and listen carefully to the opening words of the song: “Jesus my heavenly Father . . .”
I was shocked to hear these words. Perhaps many people will think otherwise, but I believe that these words are questionable at best. I would never sing them.
Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
The visiting of church structures, both large and small, has always been one of my traveling delights. After observing the distinctive architectural characteristics and aesthetic features of a new sanctuary, I generally find myself browsing through the local church hymnal. I never cease to marvel at this one spiritual activity that churches of every branch of Christendom have in common around the world—voicing many of the same expressions of worship, praise and human concern. Experience has confirmed the conviction that next to the Bible, the hymnal is man’s most important aid in the worship of the Almighty.
—Kenneth Osbeck, 101 More Hymn Stories, 11; bold added
If this is the case, it would seem that making disciples of all nations includes producing good hymnals in their native languages. I wonder how many quality hymnals have been produced so far in other languages.
Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
This chord prep study provides beginning guitar students with a good exercise that trains their ears to hear basic chord progressions in the key of C. It also helps with note reading and fingerpicking.
A teacher can strum the chords while the student plays the notes or two students can alternate playing the notes and the chords.
Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
Here is a pdf of a piece that I created using MuseScore. This medley includes the melodies of Jesus Calls Us, Am I a Soldier of the Cross, and O For a Thousand Tongues.
Using MuseScore, it is simple to create such a document and to listen to what you have created to see how it sounds!
Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, I downloaded an updated version of MuseScore. This is a great program for a great price—it’s free!
Here’s info from the website about the program:
MuseScore is a free cross-platform WYSIWYG music notation program that offers a cost-effective alternative to commercial programs such as Sibelius and Finale.
You can print beautifully engraved sheet music or save it as PDF or MIDI file.
Some highlights:
WYSIWYG, notes are entered on a “virtual note sheet”
Unlimited number of staves
Up to four voices per staff
Easy and fast note entry with your keyboard, mouse, or MIDI keyboard
Integrated sequencer and FluidSynth software synthesizer
Import and export of MusicXML and Standard MIDI Files
Available for Windows, Mac and Linux
Translated in 43 languages
GNU GPL licensed
I especially appreciate having a music notation program that allows me easily to listen to how even very complicated music should sound. Using this program in my own practicing is undoubtedly going to help me learn very difficult rhythm patterns that I otherwise may never have been able to learn on my own!
I look forward to using this program to produce many quality resources to train Christian guitarists in the future, D.V.
Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
Here are the melody and the chords for Nothing But the Blood in my format for guitar.
Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
I have been playing the guitar for more than 25 years. In the past few months, noticeable progress in my playing has been very encouraging to me.
I have been able to play the soprano and alto parts together from 4-part music fairly well for quite some time now. Now, I’m finally attaining some proficiency on my guitar in playing other combinations as well: tenor-base and soprano-tenor.
Playing these various combinations has also had a very exciting side benefit that I had not expected—my ear is getting better at hearing different parts, and I’m being able to sing the tenor part better! I also have developed a new strumming technique that has given me something that I have wanted for some time as a complement to regular strumming and fingerpicking.
This past Sunday, for the first time ever, I accompanied all the congregational singing in church services for both morning and evening services. I also played a guitar offertory for the first time using a new style that I invented for filling out measures when I play two parts together from hymns.
Counting this past Sunday, I have now ministered 10 times this year with my guitar in church services! Praise God for His goodness in allowing me to make much improvement recently in using my guitar for His service!
Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
Melody and chords for When I Survey the Wondrous Cross in my format for guitar.
Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
Melody and chords for Like A River Glorious in my format for guitar.
My sermon from Wednesday night: Honor God by Being Filled with the Holy Spirit
Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
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.
