How to Use Our Music

Getting Started

1. Browse and Download

Visit our Music page to explore available songs. For each song, you'll find:

• Audio recordings (MP3) to hear the song
• Chord sheets in multiple keys (PDF and editable DOCX)
• Biblical foundations documents explaining the scriptural basis
• Multitrack stems for advanced production (when available)

All resources are free to download — no account or payment required. Simply click and download.

2. Listen and Learn

Start by listening to the audio recording several times. Pay attention to:

• The melody and vocal phrasing
• The chord progression and arrangement
• The song structure (verse, chorus, bridge)
• The emotional tone and dynamics

Then read the biblical foundations document to understand the theological themes and scriptural context. This will help you lead the song with conviction and clarity.

3. Choose Your Key

We provide chord sheets in multiple keys (typically F, G, and A major). Choose the key that best fits:

• Your congregation's vocal range
• Your lead vocalist's comfort zone
• Your instrumentalists' preferences

If you need a different key, see the Transposing Songs section below.

For Worship Teams

Teaching Your Team

Once you've learned the song, it's time to teach your worship team:

1. Share the resources — Send the chord sheets and audio recording to your team in advance
2. Set aside rehearsal time — Don't try to learn it during a Sunday morning soundcheck
3. Explain the context — Share the biblical foundations and why you're introducing this song
4. Work through it section by section — Start with the chorus, then verses, then bridge
5. Practice transitions — Make sure everyone knows the song structure
6. Establish dynamics — Decide where to build and where to pull back

Arranging for Your Context

Our songs are designed to be adaptable. Feel free to:

• Simplify or expand arrangements based on your team size
• Change the instrumentation (acoustic, electric, piano-only, a cappella, etc.)
• Adjust tempos to fit your congregation's pace
• Repeat sections or extend instrumental breaks as the Spirit leads
• Add harmonies or vocal layers

Remember: The goal is faithful worship, not perfect replication. Adapt as needed for your community.

For Congregations

Introducing New Songs

New songs can be intimidating for congregations. Here's how to introduce them well:

Before Sunday

• Announce it in advance — Let people know you're introducing a new song
• Share the lyrics — Post them in your bulletin, on social media, or via email
• Provide context — Share the biblical basis and why the song matters
• Offer audio — Link to the recording so people can listen ahead of time

During Worship

• Teach it in parts — Focus on the chorus first, which is usually the easiest to learn
• Sing it yourself first — Let the congregation hear it once before asking them to join
• Repeat it — Don't be afraid to sing the chorus 3-4 times for familiarity
• Provide lyric slides or sheets — Make it easy to follow along
• Be patient — It takes 3-5 weeks of repetition for a song to feel familiar

After Worship

• Make resources available — Provide links to download the song and chord sheets
• Encourage feedback — Ask people how the song resonated with them
• Repeat it regularly — New songs need consistent repetition to stick

Transposing Songs

Using Our Chord Sheets

We provide chord sheets in multiple keys (F, G, and A major for most songs). If you need a different key:

• Download the DOCX version (editable Word document)
• Use a transposition tool (see below) to change the chords
• Edit the document and save your own version

Free Transposition Tools

Here are some free tools for transposing songs:

• ChordPro (chordpro.org) — Text-based chord notation with transposition
• Transpose Chord (transposechord.com) — Online chord transposer
• Ultimate Guitar Tabs — Most chord sites have built-in transposition tools
• MuseScore (musescore.org) — Free notation software with transposition

Finding the Right Key

To find the best key for your congregation:

1. Identify the highest and lowest notes in the melody
2. Test your lead vocalist's comfort range
3. Consider your congregation's average vocal range (typically D to D or E to E)
4. Transpose up or down as needed to fit comfortably

Most congregations sing best when the highest note is around D or E (one octave above middle C). Adjust accordingly.

Using Multitrack Stems

What Are Multitrack Stems?

Multitrack stems are individual audio tracks separated by instrument (vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keys, etc.). They allow you to:

• Create custom mixes for your worship team
• Remove or isolate specific instruments
• Build backing tracks for live worship
• Learn parts by isolating them
• Produce your own recordings

How to Use Stems

1. Download the stems from the song's page (when available)
2. Import into a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) like:
   • GarageBand (Mac, free)
   • Reaper (Windows/Mac, free trial, $60 license)
   • Ableton Live (paid)
   • Logic Pro (Mac, paid)
   • Pro Tools (paid)
3. Align the tracks — Make sure all stems start at the same time
4. Adjust levels — Balance instruments to your preference
5. Export your mix — Create a custom backing track or reference mix

Creating Backing Tracks

To create a backing track for live worship:

1. Import stems into your DAW
2. Mute or remove the instruments your live band will play
3. Keep instruments you want in the backing track (strings, pads, click, etc.)
4. Add a click track if needed (most DAWs have built-in metronomes)
5. Export as MP3 or WAV and load it into your playback system

Recording and Streaming

Recording Your Own Version

You're free to record and distribute your own versions of our songs. Here's how:

1. Learn the song thoroughly using our resources
2. Arrange it for your context — make it your own
3. Record using your preferred setup (home studio, professional studio, live recording)
4. Mix and master to your taste
5. Distribute freely — upload to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Bandcamp, etc.

Important: Provide proper attribution in your credits. See our Licensing page for details.

Using Songs in Live-Streams

You can use our songs in live-streams, worship videos, podcasts, or any online content without additional permission. Simply:

• Include attribution in the video description (song title, No Crown Worship, nocrownworship.com)
• Optionally, display the attribution on-screen during the song

No need to contact us or request permission — the Creative Commons license covers this automatically.

Teaching and Planning

Integrating Songs into Sermon Series

Use our Scripture Index to find songs that align with your sermon series or liturgical calendar. Each song includes biblical foundations that explain the scriptural themes, making it easy to tie worship to teaching.

Creating Worship Sets

When planning worship sets, consider:

• Thematic flow — How do the songs connect theologically?
• Musical flow — Do the keys and tempos transition smoothly?
• Dynamic flow — Is there a natural build and release?
• Congregational participation — Are the songs accessible and memorable?

Our songs are designed to complement both contemporary and traditional worship styles, so feel free to mix them with hymns, newer worship songs, or psalm singing.

Tips for Small Churches and House Fellowships

Limited Musicians?

You don't need a full band to use our songs effectively:

• Acoustic guitar or piano alone works beautifully
• A cappella singing emphasizes the lyrics and theology
• Backing tracks (using multitrack stems) can fill out the sound
• Simple arrangements are often more powerful than complex ones

Building Confidence

If your congregation is new to singing or hesitant:

• Start with simpler songs that have repetitive choruses
• Sing loudly and confidently as a leader to encourage participation
• Repeat songs frequently — familiarity breeds confidence
• Celebrate participation — thank people for singing, even imperfectly

Resources and Tools

Free Software for Worship Leaders

• GarageBand (Mac) — Free DAW for recording and editing
• Reaper (Windows/Mac) — Affordable DAW with free trial
• MuseScore — Free notation software
• Audacity — Free audio editor
• ChordPro — Free chord sheet formatting tool

Recommended Learning

• Worship Leader Training — Seek mentorship from experienced worship leaders
• Music Theory Basics — Understanding keys, chord progressions, and melody will help you lead more effectively
• Biblical Theology — Deepen your understanding of Scripture to lead worship that's rooted in truth

Still Have Questions?

Check out our FAQ page for more answers, or contact us if you need specific guidance for your worship context.