Today we’re talking about singing in worship.
- Jered Mckenna
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
First of all, feel free to grab my free hymnal I made. Hope it serves you well!
I’ve tried a bunch of different things over the years, and I’ve learned a lot. I want to share that with you—especially if you’re just starting out or, like me, sometimes get stuck in one way of thinking.
Hopefully, by sharing what we’ve learned, we can grow together.
So first up: different vocal styles you’ll hear in worship settings.
1. The Opera Guy / Old Country Baptist Style
This is that big, booming hymn sound. Here's what it might sound like:
🎵 Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace… 🎵
It’s sweet. It has presence. But sometimes it can feel intimidating, like the worship leader is performing more than leading, which might accidentally shut people out instead of drawing them in.
2. The Blues Rocker
Think gospel meets grit. Kind of Brandon Lake or Elevation style:
🎵 I searched the world… but it couldn’t fill me… 🎵
It’s raspy, raw, and emotional—which I personally love. It carries a “life is hard, but God is good” vibe. The downside? It’s hard for the congregation to sing along, especially if it’s too stylized or rhythmically loose.
3. The Untrained Voice
This one’s near and dear to me. It’s often what you’ll hear in youth group worship: honest, humble, maybe a little timid—but super inviting.
That’s actually why I made it into the honors choir in college. The big, operatic voices didn’t blend. Mine was quieter, unsure, always listening—which made it great for group singing.
It might sound like:
🎵 Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace… 🎵
Not flashy. But it works. It makes people feel like they can join in.
4. The Sufjan Voice
This one’s like the untrained voice, but more indie and breathy. It has a sweet, almost whisper-like falloff.
🎵 Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace… 🎵
It’s pleasant, soft, and easy on the ears—but maybe a little too chill for a big room. Still, it’s got that intimate coffeehouse charm.
So those are four kinds of worship voices:
Opera Guy (Josh Groban style)
Blues Rocker (Brandon Lake vibes)
Untrained (youth group classic)
Sufjan (gentle indie folk)
Tips for Singing in Worship
Let’s talk technique. One of the best things I’ve learned is the power of falloff—starting a note with confidence, then letting it drop off quickly.
Why? Because it leaves space for the congregation’s voices to rise up. You’re not dominating—you’re inviting.
Here’s an example with strong onset + quick falloff:
🎵 Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace… 🎵
Now here’s the opposite—too much domination:
🎵 COME THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING… 🎵Whoa. Back off, bro.
The goal is that sweet spot—clear entry, quick exit. Enough to guide, but not enough to overpower.
Sometimes I accidentally jazz it up:
🎵 Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above… 🎵Yeah, okay, a little too jazzy. But you get the idea.
So in short:
Different vocal styles are all valid—just know what each one brings.
When leading, confidence + restraint = invitation.
Think attack and release—let the congregation breathe with you.
More to come next time. Let me know in the comments what works for you!
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