We aren’t just singers; we are worship leaders.

Singing on the frontline is just as much about countenance and leadership as it is about the voice. During a set, a singer may move in and out of singing harmony as a support worship leader and singing lead. As team players, we are always willing and capable of doing both. Whether singing lead or harmony, we are engaged with the crowd through our countenance. When singing harmony, we blend our voices to the lead, rather than having our own style. When leading songs, we do so with confidence and passion.

COMPETENCIES WE’RE LOOKING FOR IN VOCALISTS:

· Ability to sing lead and harmony

· Ability to control vibrato to blend

· Good stage presence

· Confident leadership

Drums are the most powerful instrument on a stage.

At Antioch, we are power drummers. Our style is more simple than complicated and more authoritative than impressive. We play by the 80/20 rule – 80 percent of sound on drums, 20 percent of sound on cymbals. Our fills are simple and infrequent. What we play complements the other instruments in the band. We are aware of where the song is going so we can lead into each section of the song. We build simply – the bigger we get, the simpler and more open we get.

COMPETENCIES WE’RE LOOKING FOR IN DRUMMERS:

· Listens well to other band members

· Plays to a click/metronome

· Ability to play a song lick for lick

· Eighty percent on drums, twenty percent on cymbals

· Controls volume on cymbals by using good cymbal technique (hitting back and forth across the cymbal instead of up and down through the cymbal)

· Simple fills

· A powerful attack on the drums

Bass is the foundation that our music is built upon.

As a bass player, our job is to hold down the substance of the song. We are not flashy players. We can play fills or substitutions when needed, but know how and where to place them. We match to the drummer ensuring the groove is locked in. As the foundation our tone should be full but not muddy, present but not in the way.

COMPETENCIES WE’RE LOOKING FOR IN BASSISTS:

· Listens well to other band members

· Ability to play to a click

· Ability to play a song lick for lick

· Ability to rhythmically sync with a drummer

· A basic understanding of the Nashville Number System

Electric Guitar provides melody, rhythm, and atmosphere in a tasteful non-distracting way.

Tone is important in playing electric guitar. We use overdrive tastefully, delay in an understated way, reverb that’s not too heavy and have an overall clear and full sonic quality. We can play lead lines but can also create atmosphere or rhythm when we aren’t the lead. We understand how and when to use different effects. We can improvise when needed, but do so tastefully. We are always aware of what the keys players are playing so we complement each other rather than step on one other.

COMPETENCIES WE’RE LOOKING FOR IN ELECTRIC GUITARISTS:

· Listens well to other band members

· Can play to a click

· Can play a song lick for lick

· A basic understanding of the Nashville Number System

· Knowledge of basic chord shapes and how to move them up and down the neck

· Ability to utilize overdrive, delay, reverb and other effects to create a full sound

GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS

· We recommend at the bare minimum having tuner, reverb, delay, overdrive and volume pedals. Other common pedals include compressor, pitch shifter (octaver) and tremolo.

Keys create atmosphere, fill sonic space and make transitions happen throughout a set and service.

We are keys players; not merely pianists. We shoot for simple as opposed to cluttered or busy. With several octaves at our disposal we are the most prone to stepping on band members toes so we must be the best at listening. We generally have a pad layered beneath what we play to create atmosphere and texture. It is our responsibility to anticipate and ensure transitions happen smoothly. Whether moving between songs or shifting from the sermon to ministry time, we are the bridge that connects the two parts. We are always aware of what the electric guitar is playing so we complement each other rather than step on one other.

COMPETENCIES WE’RE LOOKING FOR IN KEYS PLAYERS:

· Listens well to other band members

· Can play to a click

· Ability to play a song lick for lick

· A basic understanding of the Nashville Number System

· Can play chord inversions

· Willingness to learn how to use synth pads (and other synths)

· Make smooth transitions between songs and other service segments

· Good ear for timbre/tone of an instrument

Acoustic guitars add a rhythmic and melodic element to worship music.

Acoustic guitar is a central instrument to a worship band. However, in a full band setting, it is rarely the featured instrument. We play simply – realizing when it’s important to drive a song rhythmically and when to hold back and let other instruments be the driving force. We can play various strum patterns, but recognize the music often calls for us to simply “down strum.” Unlike playing in a Lifegroup or other small group settings, we don’t necessarily play an entire song. We use the rhythm and tone of our instrument to help create the groove and feel of our music.

COMPETENCIES WE’RE LOOKING FOR IN ACOUSTIC GUITARISTS:

· Listens well to other band members

· Ability to play to a click

· Ability to play a song lick for lick

· A basic understanding of the Nashville Number System

· Ability to play different strum patterns

· Ability to play with a capo and transpose

RECOMMENDED GEAR

· Tuner pedal

· Capo