SYI Music

Using this Resource

The SYI Guitar Hymnal and SYI Hymnal for Wind Instruments are designed for a wide range of guitar and wind players and musical environments. The hymns are organized alphebetically and PH1, for example, indicates that his chart works with Presbyterian Hymnal, page 1; G2G 197 works with Glory to God, page 197. Each of the zipped files contain all the available charts for that hymn.

SYI Guitar Hymnal

This first iteration of the SYI Guitar Hymnal coordinates with the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal. If the resource proves valuable, more hymnals will be added in the future (so let us know: SYIMusic@pts.edu).

The guitar hymnal presents as many as five versions of each hymn and facilitates guitar accompaniment of congregational hymns in neo-traditional worship, in addition to blended or contemporary settings. Each hymn is presented in a range of difficulty levels. There are at least two, and as many as five, versions or “charts” of each hymn. Advanced guitarists will be able to accompany the four-part vocal harmonies printed in the hymnal. The system also works well for those who would rather strum a folk, rock, or pop style and for whom the four-part harmonies are less of a priority.

All of the charts are designed by a professional guitarist and church music director who has taught more than 10,000 guitar lessons and understands the needs and abilities of a wide range of players.

The charts fall into several categories: no capo (the default) or capo; full harmony (the default) or easy, easiest, and campfire versions. These designations are explained as follows:

Full Version - use for chord melody or pianistic accompaniment. Works well with four-part harmony with or without other doubling instruments.

Easy Version - use for simplified chord melodies or flowing, strummed accompaniment. Works with four-part harmony if played in conjunction with other doubling instruments. The player must deemphasize the omitted passing chords. (Compare easy version with full version to find these; they are usually on beats 2 and 4.)

Easiest Version - use for accompanying the melody or melody with improvised vocal harmonies. Can work with instruments doubling the four-part harmony if the guitarist strums each printed chord once.

Campfire Version - use for accompanying the melody or melody with improvised vocal harmonies. Will not work with instruments doubling the four-part harmony.

SYI Hymnal for Wind Instruments

The SYI Hymnal for Wind Instruments coordinates with the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal and the 2013 Presbyterian Glory to Glod Hymnal. It resource contains three charts for each song, and each chart shows the SATB vocal lines from the hymnals transposed for a collection of instruments. The first chart is alto sax (x2), tenor sax, baritone sax. The second chart is for Bb instruments such as trumpet, clarinet, baritone, euphonium, and bass clarinet. The third chart contains charts for French horn. Players of most other instruments (flute, trombone, tuba and also violin, viola, cello, and bass) can read the concert key notation right out of the hymnal.