Guitarist Book for Baptist Hymnal
Jason Farrell
I'm a novice guitarist that is wanting to play guitar for our church.
Our pianist just resigned, so I'll be taking over this spot for
awhile. I've been looking for the chords of the Baptist Hymnal 1975
edition (which my church uses). Was one ever published for this
edition? I have found the Baptist Hymnal 1991 Guitar publication at
Lifewaystores.com. I just wanted to know exactly what the difference
is between the 1975 and the 1991 edition. I have searched for an
index to the 1991 edition, but couldn't find one at google. Are the
songs the same in both books (number and key they are in) ? I havn't
had a chance to go pick up this book to see how close it is to the
1975 edition. Any information will help!
Thanks,
Jason
bob_m...@agilent.com
Jason Farrell <fl...@hotmail.com> wrote:
: I'm a novice guitarist that is wanting to play guitar for our church.
: Our pianist just resigned...
: ...I've been looking for the chords of the Baptist Hymnal 1975
: edition (which my church uses)...
: ...I have found the Baptist Hymnal 1991 Guitar publication at
: Lifewaystores.com. I just wanted to know exactly what the difference
: is between the 1975 and the 1991 edition. I have searched for an
: index to the 1991 edition, but couldn't find one at google. Are the
: songs the same in both books (number and key they are in) ? I havn't
: had a chance to go pick up this book to see how close it is to the
Well, I have no idea what differences there are (I'm not even Baptist though
I sojourned there for awhile multiple decades ago). But I would suggest:
1) You really don't care if the new version's selections are in the
same key or not if you aren't playing with a pianist. Keys are
either traditional or selected for practical vocal range, so they
won't differ very much from book to book. When you are playing with
a pianist, a capo is your friend. 99% of vocalists will never notice
that you are plaing in D and their hymnal is in Eb.
2) You can always make yourself a one-page crossreference table between
the numbers in the old and new versions. I would bet that virtually
everything popular in the old is still in the new.
3) To not just order the new version seems penny-wise and pound foolish.
Get your church to pay for it if $$ is an issue. Considering what you
are trying to do for them, they *should*.
4) Being the sole accompanist for a church is a tall order for a "novice
guitarist". I've been playing for thirty years and I still cringe when
thrust into that role. To begin to fill this role, you need to teach
yourself how to figure out chords from the piano music or at least
by ear. If you learn to play the correct chords by ear you will also
be able to transpose on the fly.
5) Lots of hymns are well beyond my skill as a flat-picking rhythm-oriented
guitarist to make sound comparable in style and elegance to a simple
piano-accompanied rendition. Be realistic in your expectations of what
you will be able to do acceptably.
I know I haven't answered your specific question, but I will be genuinely
amazed if anyone reading r.m.c. *can*...
Bob (old fart) Miller