And Can it Be on the acoustic guitar

11Mar11

In the spirit of making old hymns available to the current world of guitar-wielding worship leaders, I recorded a video of Charles Wesley’s great old hymn And Can It Be That I Should Gain. I personally think this is one of the best hymns ever written, and though the melody is challenging, I have found that by moving it down to E major, it is singable for most voices. We’ve loved singing it in my congregation. I hope you might enjoy it, too.

I’ve also got chords here if you would like them: And Can it Be (D,E).

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Filed under: Guitar, Hymns, Leading Worship | 12 Comments
Tags: and can it be, Hymns, hymns on guitar

12 Responses to “And Can it Be on the acoustic guitar”

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1 rcottrill on March 16, 2011 said:

H-m-m… Different strokes for different folks, I guess. But I don’t think the hippy-hop guitar rhythm reflects the majesty and power of this hymn–one of the greatest in the English language. Needs a pipe organ! And “the current world of guitar-wielding worship leaders” fortunately does not describe every congregation. The instrument works okay with some hymns, but even singing a cappella would be better than guitar for others. (Just another point of view.)

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- 2 churchmusicblog on March 16, 2011 said:
  
  Robert,
  Thanks for watching and thanks for your comment! Just a couple of thoughts:
  
  We share the sentiment that And Can it Be is one of the greatest hymns in the English language. And that’s why I want more people to sing it–so they’ll be blessed by its powerful Gospel message and beautiful music.
  
  But, unfortunately, a basic, used pipe organ costs no less than $10,000. (A decent guitar can be had for $800.) Should churches that can’t afford a pipe organ not be allowed to sing this song? My church in Washington, DC, for example, cannot afford the several million $ it would cost us to purchase our own building. So purchasing and installing a pipe organ is not an option for us. But we love this hymn and would like to sing it. So we’ve arranged it in a way that works with the instruments we have.
  
  I think it’s a question worth considering: should only churches with pipe organs (and the payroll to afford classically trained musicians) be able to sing the great old hymns? Unfortunately, in practice, this is often what happens. Guitar-players think, “I can’t do this song on the guitar,” so they just write new ones. (But often the new ones are not as rich and powerful as the old.) So, then those old hymns begin to slowly die out and stop being used.
  
  However, if those hymns are able to be translated into different musical contexts (like a guitar-led band), then hopefully they will survive and flourish and continue to bless the Church. That’s what I’m hoping will happen with And Can it Be.
  
  Just a thought. Again, thanks for the comment!
  
  Reply
  - 3 Henry Lim on April 18, 2012 said:
    
    Amen brother!
    
    Let us encourage one another in love founded in Christ instead of making discouraging remarks on non-core issues.
    
    “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” 1 Cor 8:1
4 Allen Smith on March 16, 2011 said:

Well done, Wendell! It sounds like a rendition I would do! And though it also so good on an organ, the guitar is becoming more and more accessible to upcoming generations. I’ve only found one congregation in Peru that uses an organ.

Thanks for sharing.!

Allen Smith

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- 5 churchmusicblog on March 16, 2011 said:
  
  Thanks, Allen! Good to hear from you.
  
  Reply
6 Josh Hunt on March 23, 2011 said:

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing this old hymn in a new way.

Josh
http://staugustineflchurch.com/

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7 Joel Diaz on April 19, 2011 said:

Wendell:

Thank you for sharing this song. I am a youth worker at a Methodist church, and I also lead worship. I love this hymn, and this is the prefect arrangement for our contemporary service and youth group.

I love hearing it in our sanctuary with the big pipe organ, but guitar works for me as well. I hope that you continue to share your favorite hymns. This is a great resource for the rest of us who lack the talent.

Peace,

Joel

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8 Hong on April 24, 2011 said:

Your music is wonderful. It turned out I had to lead the congregation to sing this hymn last Sunday. I have to spend hours to learn this hymn. We used piano… I wish I can play the guitar like you.

Please show us more wonder hymns.

God bless…

Hong

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9 mark aquino on February 18, 2012 said:

Thank you for sharing the talent God has given you. You are an example of a great steward of God’s blessings. Please share more old time gospel songs…. I love to play and sing for Jesus. Not very good but willing to learn and be used of Him…. to bless others like what you do….

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10 Levi Blatchford on February 25, 2012 said:

THANK YOU FOR THIS HYMN I have been trying to play it with no luck can you include the tab I cant make out some of the chords that you are using and would like you to explain the strum if you could I WOULD really like that thank you and God bless

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- 11 churchmusicblog on February 27, 2012 said:
  
  Thanks, Levi. Glad you like it. The chords are linked on the blog, just below where the video is embedded. I can try to do a more in-depth demonstration video at some point.
  
  Reply
  - 12 Henry Lim on April 18, 2012 said:
    
    Yes please! That would be really helpful.