God Songs: How to Write & Select Songs for Worship [Paperback]

Paul Baloche (Author), Jimmy Owens (Author), Carol Owens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2008

This instructional book by songwriters Paul Baloche and Jimmy and Carol Owens covers basic songwriting principles like how to develop a song after inspiration comes, 30 characteristics that make a song memorable, 16 shared qualities of great worship songs and 12 keys to unlock writer's block. You will also learn how to gain the listener's attention quickly, find fresh ways of expressing worship and choose just the right words. God Songs also contains advice on how to make your song its best before releasing it, how to get your songs heard and used by others, and ways to minister most effectively with your music. Song stories and advice from writers and publishers such as Darlene Zschech, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Bart Millard, Craig Dunnagan and Rita Baloche are also included. Softcover, 304 pages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: Provident-Integrity Distribution (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933150033
• ISBN-13: 978-1933150031
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Music
  • #33 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Forms & Genres > Lieder & Art Songs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good suplement for Worship Pastors who are also songwriters, May 12, 2007

By 

Jeremy Deats - See all my reviews
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This review is from: God Songs: How to Write & Select Songs for Worship (Paperback)

There's a growing trend in contemporary Christian churches where the worship pastor(s) introduce original songs to their congregation. While not obligated to, many worship pastors have a creative side that bubbles up in their private worship and other times and for many there is a difficult bridge to cross to take their God-inspired and God-driven musical ideas and melodic prayers and put them in a form suitable for corporate worship; that's where God Songs comes in.

As a musician and worshiper who is not a worship pastor (but very interested in the subject), I feel the book does a good job of laying a foundation for the basics of what makes a good worship song and how a great worship song may differ from other forms of popular music and does (for the most part) a good job validating the ideas presented. It also has a chapter on music theory that focuses in on theory in relation to contemporary worship songs, I found this part of the book especially interesting. The stories behind some of todays most famous worship songs were also very good.

The book assumes you know how to play an instrument (piano or guitar) and you already know the basics of music theory; it assumes you're already a songwriter looking to expand your knowledge of worship songwriting.

If you want to hear these techniques applied, check out Paul Baloche's latest album A Greater Song. Paul is an worship pastor trainer, worship pastor and recording artist.

5.0 out of 5 stars I Was There, April 6, 2011

By 

James D. Ellis - See all my reviews
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This review is from: God Songs: How to Write & Select Songs for Worship (Paperback)

Length:: 0:41 Mins

God Song Book Review - April 2011

3.0 out of 5 stars good for imitation, June 13, 2010

By 

Mophi (Louisiana) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: God Songs: How to Write & Select Songs for Worship (Paperback)

While this book is full of good advice and many concepts that I would never think of on my own, the only thing I found it lacking was that it was very rigid in it's concepts about what sounds good. But I suppose after you've mastered many of these concepts you'll be able to emulate the great Christian songwriters, who probably never learned this stuff.