Cool Chords for Church: Basic Jazz Harmonics for Piano : Book Review

"Cool Chords for Church" written by Jim Hammerly is a comprehensive guide designed for musicians aiming to enhance their chord playing skills specifically within the context of church music. The book covers various genres, including contemporary Christian, gospel, and hymns, providing a wide range of chord progressions and voicings to suit musicians of all backgrounds and preferences.

One of the notable strengths of this book is its clear and organized layout of chord progressions. Each chord is presented in both standard notation and chord diagrams, making it easily accessible for both beginners and experienced players. Additionally, Hammerly offers insightful explanations and tips on how to effectively apply these chords, ensuring that readers not only learn the chords themselves but also develop a deeper understanding of their musical context.

Another standout feature of "Cool Chords for Church" is the inclusion of audio examples. These recordings serve as a valuable resource, allowing readers to hear how the chords sound in a practical setting and providing inspiration for their own playing. Moreover, the book offers suggestions on incorporating these chords throughout various sections of a worship service, such as the intro, verse, chorus, and bridge, enabling musicians to create dynamic and engaging arrangements.

Although the book primarily focuses on chords, Hammerly also provides guidance on incorporating melody and improvisation within the chord progressions. This adds a creative element to the learning process and encourages musicians to explore their own musical ideas. Additionally, Hammerly emphasizes the importance of playing with sensitivity and intention, reminding readers that the ultimate goal is to support and enhance the worship experience.

Overall, "Cool Chords for Church" is an invaluable resource for any musician involved in church music. With its comprehensive chord progressions, insightful explanations, audio examples, and guidance on creativity, this book equips musicians with the necessary tools to create engaging and meaningful worship experiences. Regardless of your skill level, this book is sure to enhance your chord playing abilities and inspire your musical expression within a worship context.

What are readers saying?

Jim Hammerly's book, titled "Cool Chords for Church," has received a range of reviews. Some readers highly praised the book for its extensive collection of chords and its practicality for musicians in a church context. They found the wide variety of chords provided in the book to be relevant and suitable for playing in a worship band. These readers expressed that the book helped them improve their guitar skills and inspired them with new ideas for incorporating different chords into their church music.

On the other hand, there were readers who expressed disappointment with the book's lack of detailed instructions and guidance. Some felt that the book assumed a certain level of prior knowledge, which made it less accessible for beginners. These readers believed that more thorough explanations and demonstrations would have been beneficial in fully understanding and applying the chords in a church music setting.

Additionally, many readers found the absence of accompanying audio or video resources to be a drawback. They believed that having these resources would have facilitated the learning experience, as being able to hear or see the chords being played would have enhanced comprehension and practice. These readers suggested that including audio or video demonstrations would have made the book more user-friendly and effective.

Despite the mixed reviews, "Cool Chords for Church" appears to have generally fulfilled its purpose of providing a resource for musicians playing in a church setting. While some readers found it helpful and comprehensive, others were disappointed by the lack of detailed instruction and the absence of audio or video resources. Overall, the book seems to be a valuable reference for experienced musicians who want to expand their chord repertoire for church music. It is worth noting that the book may be less accessible for beginners who require more guidance and demonstration.