I have a very hard time worshiping in song after someone uses a pitch pipe. I have discussed it with brethren in our congregation. Some agree they don’t like it either. If we visit other places for gospel meetings, it’s to me like fingernails on a chalkboard. I heard a few sermons that try and teach it’s an aid. I feel it makes a noise just like a piano or guitar and now there are electronic ones. How do you feel about this matter?<\/p>\n
Thank you.<\/p>\n\t
“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ<\/em>” (Romans 15:5-6).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Singing is one way a congregation jointly praises God. To accomplish the idea of one mind, we all sing the same song. The reason we have songbooks is to facilitate everyone knowing what we are about to sing. We also have a song leader in order that we might sing together as one voice. “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification<\/em>” (I Corinthians 14:26).<\/p>\n
Pitching a song is simply the practice of starting on the same key. If a song is not pitched, then the congregation generally has to wait for a few notes to find the key before joining in. They are no longer singing as one, at least at the start. I have had musical training in my youth, but I will typically sing the melody line for a while, especially if the song leader doesn’t give the pitch, before switching to the usual tenor that I sing. But if the “do” (the base pitch) is given first, then I can start directly with the harmony. Harmony is not essential for a song, but it is a part of singing.<\/p>\n
A pitch pipe is not a musical instrument. You can’t play a melody on one. It is not even used during the song. And the song leader certainly doesn’t use it because it sounds pleasant to the ear. It is done to find the proper key so that the song is not too high or too low for all the singers, thereby allowing everyone to participate in the song.<\/p>\n
Can a pitch be given without a pitch pipe? Certainly, but it takes far more talent than most people have. I don’t typically use a pitch pipe because I was taught how to pitch songs when I was young, but I know most people don’t have the ability. Expert singers are more likely to use a pitch pipe because the correct pitch is important to them. Still, I would\u00a0much<\/em>\u00a0rather see men participate is worship by leading songs, even if they are not skilled at it. The use of a pitch pipe does not make a capella singing instrumental singing.<\/p>\n
Before I end, I would like to bring the phrase “like-minded” to your attention. Paul told the Corinthians to be of the same mind (I Corinthians 1:10). This doesn’t mean that they had to have exactly the same thought on every subject. Paul is talking about their thoughts about each other (Romans 12:16; 15:5-6). In other words, they should be in fellowship, having one heart and one mind (Acts 2:42; 4:32; Philippians 1:27; 2:1-2; 3:16; I Peter 3:8). It is the oneness that Jesus prayed for his disciples (John 17:21-23). To look for reasons to be offended when no offense is intended or actually given is not thinking about your brethren in the same way. Sure, you can express your preference for songs being pitched without a pitch pipe, but understand that it is your personal preference. That you allow this to interfere with joining brethren in singing is a pity.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: I have a very hard time worshiping in song after someone uses a pitch pipe. I have discussed it with brethren in our congregation. Some agree they don’t like it either. If we visit other places for gospel meetings, it’s to me like fingernails on a chalkboard. I heard a few sermons that try…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[520,862,521],"class_list":["post-34469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-music","tag-song-leading","tag-songs"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15104,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-should-be-done-when-everyone-doesnt-follow-the-song-leader\/","url_meta":{"origin":34469,"position":0},"title":"What should be done when everyone doesn’t follow the song leader?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 17, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I've been reading several of your comments with interest and ran across one that I myself have seen. I am a member of the church of Christ and have been baptized for 22 years. I have been leading songs for around that same time. I have a background in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":50161,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/pitch-pipes-and-powerpoint\/","url_meta":{"origin":34469,"position":1},"title":"Pitch-Pipes and PowerPoint","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"by\u00a0Bryan Hodge Members of the church of Christ have historically emphasized that the Bible teaches that we should have Biblical authority for what we do.\u00a0 God has required such.\u00a0 He did under the Old Covenant (e.g. Leviticus 10:1-2; I Samuel 13:9-14; II Chronicles 26:16-21).\u00a0 He does under the New Covenant\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24414,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thank-you-for-the-tips-on-song-leading\/","url_meta":{"origin":34469,"position":2},"title":"Thank you for the tips on song leading","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 1, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Thank you so much for the tips that you\u00a0have displayed\u00a0on the site about\u00a0Song Leading\u00a0in the Church. I have been part of the church of Christ as far back as I can remember.\u00a0 I am very thankful that my parents raised me in this church. I was inspired by my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19809,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-i-stay-with-a-congregation-that-pays-its-song-leader\/","url_meta":{"origin":34469,"position":3},"title":"Should I stay with a congregation that pays its song leader?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 8, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I attend a small church of Christ.\u00a0We have no elders or deacons.\u00a0We\u00a0pay a man to lead singing, which obviously is wrong.\u00a0What should I do?\u00a0 Will this cause him to lose his salvation?\u00a0Will I lose mine if I continue to worship there?\u00a0He is the only one among the men capable\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":90257,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/im-uncomfortable-with-changes-made-to-the-order-of-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":34469,"position":4},"title":"I’m uncomfortable with changes made to the order of worship","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello! I attend a church where some changes have occurred recently. Although several in the congregation are unhappy about it, I still am not sure whether these are scriptural matters or personal preferences. Our order of worship since I have been there is two songs, prayer, scripture reading, song,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35249,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-a-church-have-allowed-a-homosexual-to-sing-before-the-congregation\/","url_meta":{"origin":34469,"position":5},"title":"Should a church have allowed a homosexual to sing before the congregation?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: On Mother's day, our church leaders allowed a young gay man, who had never attended our church before, to get up and sing a song to his mother and Grandmother. The grandmother requested that what she wanted for Mothers' Day was for her family to attend church with her.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34469"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34469\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}