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How To Pad During Worship On Guitar And Keyboard


First of all, feel free to grab my free hymnal I made. Hope it serves you well!



 

Hey guys!


Today we’re talking about padding—also called underscoring—during worship. That means the subtle background music under a pastor who’s praying or a worship leader encouraging the room. Maybe you are the worship leader with a guitar.


So how do you musically get people there without distracting them?


Before we jump in—quick shoutout to the featured artist of the day:


My four-year-old daughter Bonnie drew this masterpiece of me and my wife. It's blurry, but trust me—it's profound. I might frame it. Very proud.


Now—Padding is an art form.

It’s really challenging. I know, because I’ve done it badly. Let’s start with guitar, since that’s what I play.


Why guitar is hard for padding:

The guitar is a plucky instrument.

Notes decay fast. Like… super fast.

I was at a church recently where the pastor said:

“Let’s quietly prepare our hearts before the Lord…”

And the guitarist hit: 🎸 STRUM-CHICK-A-BOOM

And I thought… bold move, cowboy.

But it felt more like a saloon than a sanctuary.


What we actually want from padding:

We want it to sound like peace. Like a texture.

Think NPR-speak: “a sonic landscape.”

Not distracting. Not energetic. Just gentle resonance.


So—how to pad with guitar:

Keep it super simple. Use open chords.

Avoid thirds (they define the mood too strongly). Try adding a 9 for some floatiness:

🎸 G9 chord example

But again, it decays fast.

You’ll need to hit again… gently… maybe just on a few strings to keep it ambient.

🎵 [Demonstration]See how that kind of rings like a bell? That’s the goal.

Not:🎵 “DA-DA-DA-DA”That’s a hammer drill.


You can also add soft finger-picked rhythms under the chord:

🎵 Plucks with decay

That helps extend the sound without re-strumming every second.

And hey—if you’ve got an electric guitar player with a big pedalboard?He probably knows how to do the infinite pad swell:🎸 Swell the A chord until it lasts 7 days. Love it.


Now let’s switch over to keyboard.

Pianos have longer decay, so they’re a better tool for padding.

If I just do a basic C to F with a C drone… 🎹Already sounds calm and beautiful.

(Oh—hi Bonnie.)

Anyway, back to the pad—


Now add a synth pad underneath:

🎹 Soft, slow-attack pad

Hold the note, and let the piano lightly dance over it.

This gives you a Braveheart / Little Women / Last of the Mohicans vibe.

That’s the vibe. That’s what you’re going for in your transitions.


Want it even sleepier?

Kill the piano completely. Just let the pad ring:🎵 [Ambient synth tone]Add a little low-end for warmth and weight.

If your room has subs, this is chef's kiss. 👌


Some final quick tips:

  • Keep chords simple. Use 2s, 4s, and 9s.

  • Blend the third with the fourth to keep it ambiguous.

  • Enjoy the sound yourself. If you’re not loving it, chances are your people aren’t either.

  • Practice beforehand. Know your transitions and chord progressions.


🎬 If this was helpful, hit the description below and jump on my email list!I’ve got all kinds of free stuff coming—lead sheets, chord charts, PDFs, the works.


Thanks for watching. See you next time!

 
 
 

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