Howdy do folks! So I play for my church worship team and I was curious to know if anyone else has figured out good methods to playing with a full band in a worship setting. Sometimes the tunes we play are more in the bluegrass style and timing. But most of the time they ain’t so I’m wanting to pick some brains on some good roll styles, licks and overall approach to playing worship music on the 5 string! I’ll attach a song to give y’all an idea into the music we play! Happy pickin!
Grif
Worship Music
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I have not played banjo in worship yet, so let us know what you figure out 
I have played mandolin in worship and it is really fun. I think there are likely similarities in how I would approach it with banjo. In my case, I wasn’t expected to carry the modern worship stuff and I could pick my spots. Sometimes I just punched in to bring the chorus up. The most fun was playing little ornaments between vocal phrases. The equivalent in the example you gave, with a banjo you could fill the space after the vocal phrase ends at 1:15 with a 1/16 note roll (or a little fill if one comes to you). So in other words, on a song like that with mando, I wouldn’t be playing all the time. Just pick the spots and add a little something… I would try to be pepper instead of salt.
Maybe you can get the band to do “Build Your kingdom here” at some point 
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So, when we play a modern worship song and I’m really just trying to use the banjo to add a layer to the rest of the music, I don’t use all three fingers. I’ve found that using three tends to create an issue with the rhythm. So, I usually will stick to the first three strings (the G,B, and D strings) using simple movable chords and alternate between my thumb and my middle finger. Only having two touches on the strings like that seems to give me the flexibility to play something simple that is easy to keep in time. Also, your low D is going to compete with other instruments on the stage so it is only marginally useful and the high G drone doesn’t fit in well with most modern stuff.
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Yes, I would avoid a syncopated roll on something like this, so stick to quarter notes or maybe a square roll pattern.
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I play every few weeks and the ONLY bluegrass type song we’ve ever done is “I’ll Fly Away.” We do a lot of Chris Tomlin, Elevation, etc. and I never go in knowing exactly how I’m going to play something. (It’s like marriage, ya gotta listen first) I almost never play an entire song, but will fill in licks when I feel like I can add something. My cue is the drummer. If he’s quiet, I’m quiet. Learning how to go up the neck (Waypoints) can add unique layers by playing G , for example, in different positions. Every worship leader is different & most see the banjo like I look at a unicorn but they keep asking me back 
Also, I’m playing with a different group almost every time and we don’t practice until 7:30 am on Sunday morning so I’ve got to keep it simple.
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