5 Free Worship Chord Sheets Available Now!

The 8 chords are G, C D, Em, A, Am, Bm, F#m and you can play so many great songs now without using a barre chords.  And you  don’t have to search the internet for hours through poorly made chord charts.  I have easy accurate chord charts and great advice to get you playing right away.

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Now available! 100 great songs with easy chords for worship

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Best Acoustic Guitar for 300 Bucks and Buyers Guide

Best guitar for 300 bucks!

I have several of these and they sound great plugged in and are the right price.  Here is the link

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-PF-Series-PF5ECE-Dreadnought-Cutaway-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-103036463-i1147779.gc

If you don’t find it here, just search for the Ibanze Pf5e

Or the complete model number in mine is Ibanez Pf5e-cent-14-01  or   14-02

They have a fishman pickup system and they sound really good!

Two worship bands I produce use this guitar.  Read on to find out more about how to approach buying a guitar.

Eric’s Guitar Buyer’s Guide

What kind of guitar should I start with?
This is a huge question and the decision you make on what type, size and quality of guitar can affect your journey to learn in a really positive way or a terribly negative way.  Before you make a purchase or just grab the guitar from your basement and start strumming, read my advice here in the support center.

I am a girl/smaller child and cant get my arm around the acoustic easily.  What do I get?
They make an acoustic guitar with a thin body just for you.  The auditorium style guitar has a smaller body and is great for girls and younger kids.  The bloom guitars are just like this and they also plug in so you can run them to an amp or a sound system.

What type of strings are the best?
The best strings for a beginner are light gauge.  For an electric, use .09 gauge strings (most common) and for an acoustic use with a .10 or .11 gauge.  No thicker than .12 on an acoustic.  The thicker the gauge of the strings you use, the harder it is to press down, make sound and sustain practice time without pain.  In the beginning, it is best to take your guitar to a local shop and ask for it to be set up with a light gauge string.

Should I use an electric or an acoustic?
Either one is going to work just fine.  An electric is easier to play for a beginner because the strings are lighter, less tension and the body is smaller.  Acoustics are usually more desirable because of their beautiful sound and portability.  For a small child, I always recommend an electric because it is much easier.  You can purchase a small battery powered amplifier for a great price to avoid spending too much on the amp (plus it won’t drive everyone in the house crazy).

Why would I want an Electric/Acoustic?
An electric/acoustic is an acoustic guitar that has a pickup under the saddle and can plug into an amp or a sound system.  If you plan on leading worship soon, this is a great feature.  You can always use an external pickup in your sound hole (about $100.00) but the onboard preamp in most acoustic/electric guitar is a really nice feature to have.  It allows you to control the EQ settings and the volume with switches on the side of the guitar.

Where should I purchase my guitar?
Shop  at a local guitar shop but heed this important piece of advice that will save you time and MONEY!  Take a friend, a church member or someone in your circle of trust that plays guitar well when you go to make your purchase.  Tell them what you want and have them play and make the deal at the music shop.  Guitar shop sales teams will most likely take advantage of you if you do not know what you want.  A larger price does not mean a better instrument.

How much will a guitar cost?
For acoustics, a good beginner guitar will cost between $150-300.  This is the price range I suggest for complete beginners.  You will learn enough in your first year to begin to hear the difference in quality and make an informed decision on your next guitar.  The next price level is $300-600 and then $600-1,000.  I advise beginners to stay away from this price range until they really know what they want.  For electrics, you should be able to pick up a decent guitar for about $200.00 and then add an amp for $50-100.

Are guitar packs a good deal?
For a beginner ELECTRIC guitar, I say YES.  You can usually pick up an electric player pack, which included a guitar, amp, case and some other small accessories for about $200-300.  Two guitar packs I suggest for an electric are the Fender Squire pack or the Dean Player Pack.
For an ACOUSTIC, I say NO!  I don’t like the acoustic packs because they are usually cheap guitar packaged with unnecessary things and the price just goes up.  I suggest picking a good sounding acoustic guitar and then adding an inexpensive case and a few picks.  The Lauren guitars are just as good and sound even better than most acoustic pack guitar.

If you have any questions, please comment and let me know!

Be still and know…

Today during worship, I let go for just a moment and stopped looking at the worship band, the stage, the lights and at every single part of a worship service.  I stepped back with my mind and looked at the whole picture.  I saw something very nice.  I began to see just 1 big picture…  a scene of people and efforts all praising God.  And I let myself go with it for a few minutes and began to see that God sees the big picture too.  He hears the bigger part of the song.  Sure He is in the details and He sees each heart, but he also stands back and hears the sound of the saints gathering and singing praises to Him and about his son Jesus.  He is well pleased.  It is no small miracle that all of these “not so perfect” people gathered at this place and time and have laid themselves aside to sing a praise song to God.  It is a huge blessing to our Father.  So many people seem to just stand and watch, but inside our hearts, the songs and words flow in an out and up to God.  I read in the bible that we are to be still and know the He is God.  Not to be so wrapped up with all the hype of church and worship services and just to listen and worship God with simple quiet hearts.  That is what He is really looking for, and today I believe that He found it.  Many worshipers got it right in churches all over the world!  Not all, but many worshipers connected and God is pleased.  Next time you are all caught up in preparing and working for the worship service or practicing and getting every chord right as you play, remember to also be still and know that God is really just interested in connecting with you.  So take the time to connect with Him.  Take a step back and connect.  Let it all soak in that you are moving and living under the hand of the Great God.

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Listen to the song and read the lyrics from Steven Curtis Chapman…

Be still and know that He is God Be still and know that He is holy
Be still, O restless soul of mine Bow before the Prince of peace
Let the noise and clamor cease

Be still and know that He is God Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change Be still

Be still, and know that He is God
Be still; Be speechless

Be still and know that He is God Be still and know He is our Father
Come rest your head upon His breast Listen to the rhythm of His unfailing heart of love Beating for His little ones
Calling each of us to come Be still, Be still

Music helps tell the greatest story at Christmas

 

Melodies that will never grow old and ring out over hundreds of years of history remind us of a King that was born to save humanity.  And what a privilage that we share in singing them and playing them on modern instruments every year.  Before I gave my heart to Christ at age 17, I attended Christmas services, opened presents and was, like most, wrapped up in the idea of getting great stuff for Christmas.  That is all good, but I have a fresh perspective on this whole story now.  I actually struggle every Christmas when our whole society cranks up for sales and shopping and get togethers because I feel like we are missing one of the most important elements of Christmas…. a relationship with Jesus.  A real personal realationship that makes us understand the story of Christmas in a clear way.  This year, when you hear that story conveyed through music and singing and in every other way, remember Christ.  Stop and reflect on how blessed we are to have been rescued by Him and set free to understand God in a personal way.  Sing some of your favoirte Christmas songs, play them on guitar, use them for worship and remember the story.  If you need easy to play Christmas songs, you can get many of them from my new songbook.    

2 Free Christmas Song Sheets

Christmas is approaching fast….

It is easy to play your favorite Christmas songs!

If you have been using my method then you know that you can play any of your favorite Christmas hymns and songs with EASY chords.  No more switching every beat and playing those impossible chords……

Download 2 Free Christmas songs now!

1. Joy to the World

2. Silent Night

If you don’t already subscribe to my E-newsletter, Join Now and get 5 Free Songs!

Silent Night Strum Along Video

Joy to the World Strum Along Video

These charts are from the NEW 8chords100songs Worship Songbook!

Click Here to order now!

5 Tips for electric guitar in the worship band

Get the right gear first!

For about 2 years I have been leading worship from the ELECTRIC guitar!  Deffinely a challenge and something that has taken a long time to get the hang of during a worship service.  Here are my top 5 tips for getting started with it.

Tip #1

If you are new at the approach of leading worship from electric guitar, be sure to have a strong accoustic player in the band with you and get the right gear.  Click here for Eric’s top 5 tips for electric guitar worship leading!

Tip #2

Get the right guitar.  Make sure it stays in tune.  Make sure it is a good quality and can produce the right tone for worship.   I use a Fender Mexican Strat with 3 single coil pickups.

Tip #3

Get the right tone…. This is huge and you can work for years tweeking it so be patient and be dilligent.   I currently use the Pod Live X3 Pedal. Very versitle though sometimes hard to set up.

Tip #4

Get the right monitor system.  I found that stereo floor wedges worked great for this.  I sent my electric through one and the other guitar player through the other.  This gave great seperation and allowed me to really hear what was going on.  I play with a band with 2 electric guitars so this is really important.   I love the Aviom system…. it is the best thing that has ever happened to me concering sound system technology…. more about that later.

Tip #5

Once you are all set up and ready to play the electric guitar for worship, be sure you don’t melt anyones face off (except for maybe yours).  Work with the band, your tones, your sound team to get the best blend for your instrument in the worship setting.  You are going to have to change the way you strum, pick and overall how you play the guitar to make this work.

I switched to electric in the beginning because many of the players at my church were unable to play the lead parts and my backgroud as a lead guitar player for my previous bands gave me the edge for playing the new electric parts.

Check out the new arrangement of the song “Mighty is the Power of the Cross Video Click Here”

More on techniqes for electric guitar will follow in my upcoming blogs and videos.  Watch some of my videos on youtube to get the feel for how I use the electric guitar in worship.

I sing and I am renewed… Finding God’s healing through worship.

Sometimes being with friends and having a great time is just what you need to get out of a bad

Renew me God.

mood or just have a better day. I find that it is very important to have Christian fellowship with others and to be encouraged in my faith daily. It is similar with God but more intimate and more life changing. I have noticed that leading worship and pouring out those familiar worship words sometimes penetrates my heart in a deep way. I can really feel that God is changing me, healing me, speaking truth back to me. In fact, the Bible says that he dances over us. It is as if our worship time is just a time for friendship between us and our God.  Being with God like this in worship time brings true renewal to our lives.

I have been leading worship for many years at my home church weekly and I have always had to fight to stay renewed.  Things in life and in ministy tend to reach down in your heart and drag the peace right out of you.  Many times we just go on “knowing” but have a hard time “feeling” the peace of God deep down.  But when we sing and worship, we are opening our heart to God, calling on Him, being built up by Him.  Do you feel the strain?  I recently sang the song You Are Good for a congregation in Kentucky and the words rang out in my heart…. “my life depends on you…. you restore me…. You alone God can forgive and heal my heart….   You are Good.”

As a worshiper, a minister, a guitar player, a true Christian… being rooted in Christ and being renewed by Him is the only way to sustain peace in this life and to be effective in our ministry and in our day-to-day living.  Christ gives us the strength and clarifies the purpose for our songs and our ministry and He will always renew us when we spend time with Him.

Reflect on this passage.

Isaiah 40:30-31 (The Message)

For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind.

Isaiah 40:30-31 (King James Version)

³⁰Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:³¹But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Our music rises up to God ears.

When I became a Christian at age 17, I threw out every secular CD I had.  I was listening to all kinds of music that was not good for me.  I began to learn about God and why it was better to sing for Him.  Before I met Christ, I was filled with hate and despair in life.  I guess everything seems so important when you are a teenager but I was fueling the fire of negative living with music from Metallica and Pantera and other God hating music.  When I was rescued, I turned away from that.  I threw it out of my life.  As a musician, I eperience a very moving emotion when I hear and play music.  Why give my allegiance to any other than God?   Worship music and Christian music lifts the soul and confirms our faith.  I do listen to some secular music and I appreciate all music, but I try to keep the worship tunes going and keep my heart right.  I do not like to listen to music that strays away from what the Bible teaches.  You can tell, as a worship leader and church musician, that you are called to a higher calling.  The music is lifted up from us and rises to God’s ears.  He hears our music and our praise and it defines a relationship between us.  It is so much bettern now.  So, I take it seriously and I rejoice in this God-given gift of music and the opportunity to use it for Him.  I know that I would be lost and hopeless without the saving grace that was poured out on me.  Now, my songs and my meditation must give glory to God.  It is a higher calling with a great reward.   I do listen to secular music and have many infuluences from different great musicians but now I know where it is all coming from and who it is really for.

Playing Hymns on Guitar with Ease!

I know that many of you are called upon to play hymns on the guitar and the hymns were not really written for our instrument.  The arrangements in the hymnal do not have chords and many of the hymn

Make hymns easy to play.

arrangements are in hard to play keys with chord changes every measure.  One way that I have been successful at playing the hymns on guitar is to make the arrangement guitar friendly by playing them in the best keys for the guitar like C, G, or D.  Next, I simplify the hymn by dropping all the chords that are not necessary.  Many of the hymns can be played with 3-4 simple chords.

Here is my 1st secret…..

Take the hymnal to a copy machine and make a copy of the hymnal arrangement.  Blow it up as much as you can to get it as big as you can on a single page.

Then, find the best key for you to sing the hymn.  Try to stick with G and D and maybe the key of C.  Use your capo if you need to.

Next, sing the hymn while playing the most basic progression and take a marker or a sharpie and write in the chord changes on the hymnal sheet.  You are not going to be reading the music!  You are going to focus on the simple guitar accompaniment.

If you are playing with a piano player and are forced to play in the same key that it is written for example Eb or Bb.  (those are unfrinedly guitar keys)  Then you need to pick a good guitar key and devise a capo plan.  In no case do I suggest playing in the keys of Eb or Bb on the guitar.  Avoid it.

Now you have a hymn chart with all of the correct words and an easy guitar chord arrangement.

The new 8chords100song Songbook contains many of the popular hymns with easy chords in the keys of G or D.  This is also a great way to play the hymns if you are not comfortable yet with writing in your own chords.  Get the songbook today!

Keep an eye on the blog and the store for more resources for learning to write your own chord charts in the hymnal!  It does not have to be hard!

God knows where we are going

God knows where we are going.

And the journey is blessed by God.

I sometimes don’t know exactly where I am headed and why I am at a certain place…. in ministry, in family life and in many of the aspects of a true Christian life.  But when I cry out for God, when I realize that it is all because of Him, I get a sense of direction and He leads the way.  Where is your musical journey headed?

I know that in ministry and while pursuing your dreams in music, the road can sometimes be foggy and the light seems to be shining at the end of a 1 million mile tunnel that you will never get to the end of.  BUT I also realize that through the journey we find out who we really are and who God really wants us to be.  What do people say about you?  Where is the fruit of what you are doing?  Are you focused on making music with excellence and giving all of your talents to God without holding anything back?  I know that I have been challenged with these questions over and over again in music ministry.  I have to continuously remember that I am nothing without what Christ did for me.  I walk out on that stage to sing praises and it all hits me.  I have no right to be there.  Nothing I did can make all the wrongs of my sin go away.  BUT Christ has saved me and picked me up. It is by the blood of Christ that all my sins are washed away.   So now when I sing out a song on praise it comes from a grateful heart.  I really believe that He is worthy and I am just singing to give back my love to him, my true appreciation to my saving God.   Remember where you came from.  Don’t let that pass you by.  Because I always try to keep that in my mind.  I know that I would never be where I am without the love of Christ.  I think this is what really fuels my worship and passion for music and for making music for the creator.

If you are leading worship or just learning, take a moment and remember where you were 1 year, 2 years, 5 years ago.   The journey you have traveled has been blessed by God and He always knows where you are.  I know that is true when I look back.  Looking back is what gives me the assurance that I can fully trust him as I move forward.

The words of this hymn say it all in such a beautiful way:

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.