How To Be A Great Backup Worship Singer

Becoming a great backup singer on a church worship team requires a combination of musical, stage and interpersonal skills. Here are some essential skills to develop:

1. Vocal Ability: Work on having a strong singing voice. Work on your vocal range, pitch accuracy, tone, and control. Practice regularly to improve your vocal technique and expand your vocal capabilities. Here’s a link to ‘10 Ways To Improve Your Singing‘.

2. Harmony Singing: Backup singers play a crucial role in providing harmonies that complement the lead vocalist and add depth to the music. Practice singing in harmony with others and learn to blend your voice seamlessly with the other singers. Here are some tips on ‘How To Learn To Sing Harmony’.

3. Ear Training: Developing a good ear for music is essential for backup singers. Train yourself to recognize and replicate harmonies and melodies accurately. Ear training will also help you stay on pitch and adjust your singing accordingly. Here’s a link to ‘7 Keys To Improving Pitch’.

4. Rhythm and Timing: Being able to stay in sync with the lead vocalist, the band, and the overall rhythm of the song is vital. Practice singing with a metronome or backing tracks to improve your sense of timing.

5. Flexibility: Worship songs can vary in style, tempo, and arrangement. As a backup singer, you should be adaptable and comfortable singing in different genres and musical settings.

6. Team Player Attitude: Being part of a worship team means working collaboratively with others. Be open to feedback, communicate effectively with other team members, and maintain a positive and supportive attitude. Here are some tips on being a great worship team member.

7. Sensitivity to Dynamics: Pay attention to the dynamics of the music and adjust your volume accordingly. Sometimes, backup singers need to blend into the background, while other times, they may need to add power and emphasis to certain parts of the song.

8. Stage Presence: Good stage presence adds to the overall worship experience. Develop confidence in your performance and engage with the congregation without overpowering the lead vocalist or drawing unnecessary attention. Learn how to smile as you sing. Learn to look at the congregation as you worship. Be comfortable with the actions of worship such as clapping and lifting of hands. Love the Lord and love the people that you are leading. Here are 12 tips on ‘Developing Stage Presence‘.

9. Lyric Memorization: Familiarize yourself with the worship songs and memorize the lyrics. Being confident in the words will enable you to focus on worshipping God and connecting with the song’s message. If your church has a lyric monitor on the back wall, only glance at it occasionally as a back-up for your memorization.

10. Emotional Expression: Worship songs often carry deep emotional themes. Learn to convey the emotions of the music through your singing and facial expressions, connecting with the song’s message on a personal level. Learn to get beyond the music and worship the Lord from your heart as you sing. Love the Lord with your whole heart and let that love show on the platform.

11. Breathing Technique: Proper breath control is essential for maintaining consistent and steady vocal support. Practice breathing exercises to improve your breath capacity and control while singing.

12. Reliability and Commitment: Being a part of a church worship team requires dedication and reliability. Attend rehearsals regularly, memorize the music and be prepared for your churches services.

Remember that becoming a great backup worship singer is a journey that involves consistent practice, learning, and growing as a musician and a believer. Embrace opportunities to serve, grow in your personal worship of the Lord, seek constructive feedback, and continually refine your skills.

Check out my new book.. “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’ available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions.  This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.

This blog is part of my vision to train over 100,000 worship leaders around the world. If you would like to support this vision you can help by giving any amount via PayPal here.