Simple HACKS for Worship Musicians

KC Conley has developed an innovative and accessible approach to teaching worship piano that breaks down complex musical concepts into digestible layers—much like building a pizza from the ground up. This method promises to simplify the musical journey for both beginners and experienced players looking to enhance their worship keyboard skills.

The Pizza Philosophy: Building Music Layer by Layer

The core concept treats worship piano playing as constructing a pizza, with each musical element representing a different ingredient:

• Crust: The melody line (the essential foundation)
• Sauce: Chord progressions (adds body and support)
• Cheese: Arpeggios (creates flow and smoothness)
• Pepperoni: Drop-two chords (adds sophistication)
• Supreme Toppings: Advanced techniques (the full experience)

This metaphor makes musical concepts more relatable and less intimidating for students at all levels.

The Foundation: Melody as Crust

Conley emphasizes that melody is absolutely essential—you can play chords all day, but without the melody line, there’s no recognizable song. The crust represents this fundamental element that everything else builds upon.

The Number System Approach

Rather than traditional sheet music or chord charts, Conley advocates for the number system (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8), which he finds more intuitive than solfege (do-re-mi). This numerical approach allows students to:

• Learn songs more quickly
• Transpose to different keys easily
• Focus on relationships between notes rather than absolute pitches

For example, the children’s song “Mary Had a Little Lamb” becomes simply: 3-2-1-2-3-3-3, 2-2-2, 3-3-3.

Adding Harmony: The Third Dimension

The next layer involves adding harmony through thirds—taking the melody note and adding the note that’s a third above (or below) it in the scale. This creates a fuller, richer sound while maintaining simplicity.

The Sauce: Essential Chord Progressions

Conley focuses on three fundamental chords that every keyboardist must master:

The Holy Trinity of Chords

• One chord (1-3-5): The major chord built on the root
• Four chord: Built on the fourth degree of the scale
• Five chord: Built on the fifth degree of the scale

These three chords can accompany the vast majority of worship songs and provide the harmonic “sauce” that gives songs their harmonic foundation.

Chord Inversions: Making It Smooth

Instead of always playing chords in their basic position, Conley teaches inversions—moving the bottom note to the top. This creates smoother voice leading and more professional-sounding progressions. For example:

• Basic C chord: C-E-G
• First inversion: E-G-C (C moved to the top)

The Cheese: Arpeggios and Flow

Arpeggios represent the “flow” element that transforms static chords into moving, breathing music. Conley’s approach involves:

Add-Two Chords

Starting with basic triads (1-3-5) and adding the second degree of the scale, creating more sophisticated harmonies. These “add-two” chords (like C-add-2) provide a contemporary worship sound.

Converting Chords to Arpeggios

Taking these enriched chords and spreading them out over time rather than playing them simultaneously, creating the flowing, cascading effect characteristic of modern worship piano.

The Pepperoni: Drop-Two Chords

This represents Conley’s “Disney chords”—sophisticated harmonies that add color and interest without overwhelming the song. Drop-two chords involve:

1. Starting with an add-two chord
2. “Dropping” the second-highest note down an octave
3. Creating rich, jazz-influenced harmonies suitable for contemporary worship

These chords work particularly well for:

• Transitions between song sections
• “Talk music” (playing during spoken portions)
• Adding sophistication to familiar songs

Cultural Context and Musical Freedom

Conley addresses the cultural aspects of gospel and worship music directly, noting that gospel musicians often approach music with less fear and more experimentation. This cultural context encourages:

• Creative freedom in musical expression
• Willingness to take harmonic risks
• Integration of various musical traditions

He suggests that all worship musicians, regardless of background, can benefit from this more adventurous approach to musical creativity.

A Word of Caution: The Balance Problem

Despite teaching advanced techniques, Conley offers an important philosophical perspective: there’s a danger in over-complicating worship music. Like a pizza with too many toppings, music can become cluttered and lose its essential message.

The Core Message Principle

• The message is in the lyrics and simple melody
• Additional musical elements should support, not overshadow, the worship experience
• Sometimes simple “cheese pizza” (basic melody, chords, and arpeggios) serves the congregation better than a “supreme” arrangement

This balance between musical sophistication and accessibility remains crucial for effective worship musicianship.

Practical Applications

For Different Skill Levels

• Beginners: Focus on melody (crust) and basic chords (sauce)
• Intermediate players: Add arpeggios (cheese) and simple inversions
• Advanced musicians: Incorporate drop-two chords (pepperoni) judiciously

For Different Worship Contexts

• Contemporary Christian settings: May appreciate up to the “pepperoni” level
• Traditional settings: Often best served with crust, sauce, and cheese
• Gospel contexts: May welcome more advanced “supreme” techniques

The Technical Foundation

Conley’s method builds on solid musical theory while making it accessible:

Harmonic Movement

Understanding how chords connect (I-IV-V progressions) provides the framework for most worship songs.

Voice Leading

Smooth movement between chords through inversions creates professional-sounding arrangements.

Rhythmic Considerations

While not extensively covered in this presentation, the method acknowledges the importance of rhythmic feel in different worship styles.

Learning Philosophy and Methodology

The pizza method succeeds because it:

1. Uses familiar metaphors to explain abstract musical concepts
2. Builds systematically from simple to complex
3. Emphasizes practical application over theoretical knowledge
4. Encourages experimentation within structured frameworks
5. Respects different musical traditions and contexts

Personal Health and Sustainability

Conley shares his personal experience with repetitive strain issues and dietary changes, highlighting the importance of physical health for musicians. This practical concern underscores the need for sustainable practice habits and ergonomic awareness.

Technology and Modern Worship

While focusing primarily on acoustic piano techniques, the method acknowledges the role of electronic instruments in contemporary worship, including the use of pads and other synthesized sounds to enhance the musical experience.

Conclusion: Serving the Message

The worship piano pizza method ultimately serves a higher purpose: enabling musicians to support congregational worship effectively. By providing a clear, systematic approach to building musical skills, it empowers worship teams to create appropriate musical settings for their communities.

The method’s strength lies not just in its teaching techniques, but in its recognition that musical sophistication must always serve the worship experience rather than dominate it. Like a well-made pizza, the best worship music combines quality ingredients in balanced proportions, creating something that nourishes and satisfies without overwhelming.

For worship musicians seeking to expand their skills while maintaining focus on their ministry calling, Conley’s pizza method offers both practical tools and philosophical wisdom for the journey ahead.