Updates - Chords for more Christian songs

It has been a while since I posted information regarding updates here.  Chords for more songs have been added to Tamil Christian songs file [Baara siluvayinai, Belan ondrum illai Dheva, En Idhayam yaarukku theriyum, Endha kaalathilum, Enakkaai jeevan vittavarae, Maatchimai (Majesty), Oru thaai thaetruvadhu, Unnai thaan kaetkiraen and Yesuvae Aandavar (He is Lord)] and Transliterated songs file. Also these files have been re-organized completely with the songs now listed in the alphabetical order for easier browsing through the files.

 

Also, I have recently added one more video in Youtube for the Tamil song Aadhi Pidhaa Kumaaran. Unlike most of my other videos, this video is more about the usefulness of guitar synthesizer and looping technologies (currently available through various types of gadgets) in doing traditional praise and worship songs.  Such traditional Indian Christian songs were generally composed utilizing Carnatic or Hindustani ragas which are primarily classical Indian musical scales.

 

Carnatic Music Intro: Let me give a small intro about Carnatic music here. The ragas (Carnatic scales) differ primarily from their western music counterparts in their utilization of what are known as ghamakas which are note ornamentations or expressive sliding between different (adjacent or farther notes) in strings. Thus by utilizing ghamakas (adding expressions to the semitones) the commonly known twelve western musical semitones can further be distinguished in Carnatic music as sixteen (what is more commonly known as) microtones. (Due to these additional finer expression details, it is often said that Indian Classical music lessons often need a physical tutor demonstrating the ghamakas than just the written notes.) I have added some additional information regarding Carnatic music in the Scales and Chords file for those of you who want to explore more about it.

 

The Tamil Christian Keerthanai, Aadhi Pidhaa Kumaaran is a classical composition in the janya raga known as Gambhiranata. The song is done here in D major and Gambhiranata raga involved here is a pentatonic scale known as Gambhiranata (Five note raga involving D,F#,G,A and C# notes). The Carnatic notes used in this raga are S, G3, M1, P and N3.

 

 

 

As I started attempting this song with guitar, I realized that the currently available gadgets are so advanced that we can utilize them with guitars to get any type of sound (for example, sitar or even tabla) for even ethnic musical styles.

 

Instrument set up: A MIM Fender Strat equipped with a GK-3 hexa-phonic pick-up triggering a Roland GR-30 guitar synthesizer (Sitar, Flute and Tabla sounds) which in turn triggers Roland SH-201 (strings sound) synthesizer through MIDI. Additionally, the regular guitar sound from the Strat's pick-ups are processed through a Zoom G9.2tt multi-effects processor for the distorted tone.  The audio output from this set up is connected to a Boss RC-30 looper. For the backing track, a simple one measure loop was created overlaying tabla, sitar and string sounds from GR-30 over a basic RC-30 foot drum looping pattern.

 

The only chord that I have used (with Sitar tone) in the looping backing track in this song is D5 which involves D and A notes.

 

 

Thandhaanai Thudhipomae Chords Video and more updates in Christian songs files.

I just added a video showing chord arrangements (contemporary) for the song,"Thandhaanai Thudhipomae"The pdf file with the written chords and chord diagrams can be downloaded from Chords - Tamil Christian songs page at the top of this blog post. Here is the video:

 

 

I have also added chords for few more songs in Tamil Christian songs pdf file (Ummai pola nalla Dhevan, Raja Um Prasannam, Magimai Umakkandro, Aaviyaanavarae Anbin Aaviyaanavarae, Unnadhamanavarin, Aathumamae).

It has been a while since I updated the song.pdf file (the file with English songs and choruses) as there are many websites providing sheet music for most of the English Christian songs. But I found some time to add chords for a meaningful old song by imperials known as "Praise the Lord". If someone is interested in English songs, please feel free to look into the Chords - English Christian songs file.

 

Chords for few more songs and video for Tamil Song - Ellaavatrilum Neer

I just added a video showing chord arrangements for the Tamil worship song, "Ellaavatrilum Neer Maelaanavar". Here is the video:

Finger positions for few relatively uncommon chords involved in this song may appear to be difficult. In the video, I have attempted to give some practical suggestions that may be helpful in conveniently changing the finger positions for these uncommon chords during the song. As I started writing chords for this song, I realized that this song can be a nice example to demonstrate the utility of  5 note chords (FmM9 and FmM7+13) and even a 6 note chord (FmM9+13/G) in guitars. Such chords may be relatively more difficult to be positioned for common use in guitars as we more often use just four fingers on the fret board. In keyboards, the notes of such chords can be split and positioned using two hands. This is one of the few songs in which even guitarists can enjoy using 5 note and 6 note chords with little additional practice.

 

For quick reference, I am also giving some of the chord diagrams here in this post. The pdf file with the written chords and chord diagrams can be downloaded from Chords - Tamil Christian songs page at the top of this blog.

Along with this update, in the pdf file, I have also added chords for common FMPB songs - Hallelujah Kartharaiyae and Irul soozhum kaalam. 

 

 

  

 

Web resources available for Christian Musicians

Over the past few years, it is great to see a considerable increase in  available free web resources for Christian musicians. In this post, I am giving a list of  websites/blog pages with free resources for Christian musicians that I have found through Bing/Google searches. Most of these pages are maintained by like minded Christians with a vision to facilitate free web resources for young/young at heart Christian musicians/worship leaders. These resources not only expand the database of available worship songs with chord arrangements but also provide us helpful insights into various styles of chord arrangements by various musicians. The chord arrangements for a given song by different musicians are generally different. The more we listen/practice different styles, the more effective we can be during worship sessions.

Psalms 150: 6 says:

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord; Praise ye the Lord

and Psalms 33:3 says:

Sing unto Him a new song; Play skillfully with a loud noise

May all these resources continually facilitate more meaningful worship  of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with the best of our talents. All said and done, the best expression of music is realized only when we utilize it in glorifying our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The list given here is not comprehensive. Please feel free to give links of similar websites that you may find in the comments section.
 

Churchspot.com:

This is a great website constantly updated with chord arrangements written over lyrics of Tamil and English songs. This website already has chord arrangements for a lot of Tamil and English Christian songs commonly sung in churches. The website also features a unique convenient feature to select songs for particular programs  and print the songs along with chords in the required key.
 

Link: http://churchspot.com/

Aatmik-sandesh.com:

This web page is a big resource of chord arrangements for Hindi Christian songs. This page also has mp3 links for some songs to listen and learn the tunes.

Link: http://www.aatmik-sandesh.com/as/downloads/guitarchords/index.html

Sam Mugunthan's Youtube Page:

This page involves videos featuring simple instructions with guitar chord arrangements for common Tamil Christian songs. This can be very helpful for new guitarists. Here is the link:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/thillalangadi69/videos?view=0&flow=grid

Tamil Gospel Lessons:

This is an upcoming webpage that can be very useful and inspiring for young keyboard/ players. The instructor is highly talented and has some great videos demonstrating how simple old and new worship songs can be played with beautiful expression utilizing advanced music workstations.

Link: http://tamilgospellessons.com/

Tamil Song Chords:

This blog page has been started by its author to provide chord arrangements over transliterated lyrics of Tamil Christian songs for the benefit of Christians who may not be able to read Tamil fluently. This is a thoughtful presentation to address a growing need.

Link: http://vadadas.blogspot.com/2012/04/reason-for-this-blog.html

Tamil Christian Songs Facebook page:

This Facebook group is a social page where any musician can put forward a request or submit a song with chords. This is a great group resource

Link: http://www.facebook.com/LFvYM?sk=app_2309869772

Gospelguitar.com:

This webpage is currently under re-construction. This is one of the first few pages started years back to provide with useful resources for Christian musicians.
 

Link: http://www.gospelguitar.com/tamilsongswithchords.html

Christian Tamil Song Chords:

This blog page has been started by its author to provide chords for Tamil Christian songs. This page currently has chords over transliterated words. 

Link: http://thomsonjabakumar.blogspot.com/

Christian Songs (Lyrics and Chords):

This blog page has lyrics and chord arrangements for Hindi and English worship songs.

Link: http://cherrydove.blogspot.com/

Telugu Christian Songs Chords:

This blog page is a useful resource  with chords over lyrics for primarily Telugu Christian songs. This page also has chords for some English and Hindi songs. 

 

Link: http://teluguchristiansongchords.blogspot.com/

Chords for Telugu Christian Songs:

This blog page is again a useful resource with chords over lyrics for primarily Telugu Christian songs. The author of this page has also given links where chords for songs can be transposed.
 

Link: http://beawarriorforjesus.blogspot.com/

Telugu Christian Guitar:

This page has chords for Telugu and English Christian songs.  It also features some videos showing how to play some of these songs.

Link: http://teluguchristianguitar.blogspot.com/

Telugu Christian Guitar Chords:

This blog page has a good collection of chords for Telugu and English Christian songs.

Link: http://teluguchristianguitarchords.wordpress.com/

Update: Corrections and chords for few more Tamil songs

 

It has been a while since I updated the blog page. I would like to point out a minor correction in couple of my previous videos. In the video for the song, "En Uyiraana Yesu", the chord that I introduce at 3m:31s is actually called either Esus4 (or A2) and not Asus4. Please note this correction. I have also updated the pdf file with this information. Similarly, Esus4 has again been referred as Asus4 in Thaen Inimayilum video at 0m.44s. Please note this correction. I think that it all started with a minor typo and the fact that the same chord may also be called as A2 if the root note is A. Sorry about this confusion.

 I have added chords for few more songs in the Tamil Christian Songs.pdf file (Kirubaiyaal nilai nirkirom, Maghizhvom maghizhvom, Uyirinum Maelaanadhu, Umdhan Naamathaal and Pottri Thudhipom). 

I have also added a new video that shows how the chords for the song Uyirinum Maelaanadhu can be played.  For quick reference, I am also giving some of the chord diagrams here below the video. The pdf file with the written chords and chord diagrams can be downloaded from Tamil Christian Songs tab page at the top of this blog page.