📺 If you’d prefer to watch, here’s the link to the video.

When it comes to learning worship songs, I’m not interested in just “getting through it.” I want to know the song—to internalize it, to flow with it, and to play with a sense of certainty and freedom. That only happens when I put in the work.

This is the system I use to ensure I really know the song, instead of just getting through it. It helps me reach the point where I’m not gripping the bat too hard trying to not mess up; instead, I’m flowing with the song, playing with certainty and a sense of freedom.

And just a heads-up—this post isn’t a “quick fix” piece. There’s no “one tip that changes everything.” This is about the grind. The work. The process. If you’re looking for a silver bullet, this isn’t that. But if you’re willing to put in the time, I believe this approach can help you.

Before We Jump In: A Few Assumptions

This process assumes a few things:

First, you know the major scale—front and back.

Second, you’ve got a working knowledge of the Nashville Number System.

Third, you understand basic chord structure, especially how to spot the root, third, and fifth visually on the fretboard.

If those things aren’t solid for you yet, pause here. Go learn them first, because they profound the foundation for the rest of the system. I’ve got lessons on this inside Worship Guitar Boot Camp and Worship Guitar Basic Training over at GuitarforHISGLORY.com, or you can check out other resources to build that foundation.

STEP 1: Studying the Song

So, let’s start with the first step: becoming a student of the song.

This is where it all begins. I don’t just listen to the song—I study it. 

What’s the feel of the song?

What’s the structure?

Where do I need to not play?

What’s the energy, and where do the guitars need to pop out or blend in?

I listen for prominent effects—delays, chorus, modulated stuff—and begin internalizing the full essence of the song.

Before I even pick up the guitar, I make sure I know the song inside and out, setting me up for success as I move on to step 2.

STEP 2: Mapping the Parts

Once I know the song inside and out, it’s time to break it down into parts. This step is about mapping everything:

How many guitar parts are there?

Which ones are essential to the song?

And, if multiple parts need to be combined, how will I do that in a way that faithfully represents the essence of the song as a whole. 

I’m really trying to avoid building a Frankenstein part that lacks identity and doesn’t serve the song well. Instead, I study the song, identify the key guitar parts, and get a clear sense of the tones and overall vibe. This allows me to create a part that’s cohesive, meaningful, and truly serves the song.

When I’m thinking about tone, I’m trying to identify things like:

Is this a mid-scooped, clean tone with few effects?

Is it the ballad-style worship guitar tone with heavy ‘verb and delay?

What delay tap divisions are being used?

Is it clean, ambient, dry, overdriven…all that stuff.

Sometimes, a song can have six or more guitar parts—Phil Wickham, ahem—and in these cases, I need to figure out how to condense things in a way that best serves the song.

So, I’ll listen to all of them, and pick out the feature parts. Sometimes I’ll write out a clear structure like this:

Chorus – EG1
Verse – EG2
Bridge – EG1
Big Bridge – EG4

The goal is to identify the parts that are absolutely essential and then see how I can combine a few of them, while still maintaining the integrity of the song. Some parts may just add texture, while others might be the highlight of the track. The key is to simplify without losing the feature aspects of the guitar parts. However, sometimes we have to sacrifice a part here or there—and that’s just part of the process.

STEP 3: Learning the Parts (Unplugged)

Now that I’ve internalized the song and mapped out the parts, it’s finally time to pick up the guitar—but still no amp, no effects.

This is about getting the parts down clean. I’ll pull up the track on my laptop and just run the part I’ve mapped out over and over again.

And this is important. I follow Bob Kauflin’s advice here:

I don’t practice until I get it right—I practice until I can’t get it wrong.

As I practice the song, if I mess up, I start over—from the very beginning. I keep going until I can master the section where I messed up, then I push a little further. If I mess up again, I return to the start. I keep repeating this process until I can play through the entire song without forgetting a part or making a major mistake.

Once I’ve got the whole song down, I start focusing on the tricky sections. I zero in on one problem area, work on it until I’ve got it, then go back to the beginning and run the whole song again.

This part is all about accuracy and consistency.

STEP 4: Building the Tone

Once I can run the song all the way through, I move on to shaping the tones I’ll need—delay tap divisions, reverb types, modulation, overdrive settings and so on. 

I start with my reverb and delay templates, dialing them in to match the vibe of the song. For the delay, I make sure to set the correct tap divisions and fine-tune the tone to fit the track. This ensures that when I step into rehearsal or the worship set, I don’t have to waste time adjusting the tone—it’s already dialed in.

Once I nail down the effects and start playing, it feels much easier because the parts flow so naturally with the effects. Since I’ve already conquered them unplugged, adding the effects is like gluing everything together. It’s almost like starting on acoustic guitar, which requires more precision and accuracy, and then switching to electric—everything just feels easier once you’ve mastered the basics.

Once the tones are built, I do a playthrough or two just to lock it in and then I’m good to go!

Note: For the delay, once I’m happy with the settings, I’ll usually save a song-specific copy of them, so the next time we play the song, everything is ready to go.

The Main Event: Worship

I’ve internalized the song, mapped out and memorized the parts, and built the tones I need.

Now I’ve arrived at the best part—worship.

Because I’ve done the work—studied, mapped, practiced, built tones—I can just play. I’m not thinking about transitions. I’m not second-guessing the parts. I’m just present.

This is why I take the time up front.
This is why I wake up early to make this happen.
This is why I don’t cut corners.

I want to bring my best for the team, for the Lord’s people—and ultimately to the Lord. I’ve put in the work so I don’t have to think too much when the main event rolls around. I get to enjoy the fruits of my labor: communing with God and worshiping him alongside his people. 

Final Thoughts

This is the process I shoot for when learning songs. I’ll be honest—there are times when I miss the target, but having a clear picture of what right looks like helps me get back on track. Because I’ve experienced success through putting in the work and grinding it out, I understand how much effort it really takes. I can tell when I’ve put in the work, and when I’ve just mailed it in. If you’re not putting in that effort right now, I hope this encourages you to push just a little harder.

We do this because Christ is worth every ounce of effort. He’s blessed us with talent, with music, and we should give it our best to honor Him. 

But I also understand that we have to balance our first ministries—our families—and our work responsibilities. It’s a challenge, but if a regular guy like me, with a family and a busy life, can make this happen, I truly believe you can too. I can guarantee the effort is worth it.

If you’ve got questions, or if you approach song learning a little differently, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Let’s learn from each other.

And if you want to dig a little deeper into technique, tone, and so on, I invite you to become a member of GuitarforHISGLORY.com, where you’ll find hours of Christ-centered training content in Worship Guitar Bootcamp, Worship Guitar Basic Training, Tone Training—all designed to help you grow as both a musician and a worshiper of Christ. 

Lastly—and most importantly—if you’ve never heard the gospel clearly:

Jesus lived the life we couldn’t, died the death we deserved, and rose again. When we repent and trust Him, we’re forgiven and adopted into God’s family. That’s the joy behind all this effort. That’s the reason we play.

Coram Deo,

Troy, GFHG