How Loud Should Our Church Music Be?

By Jordan Richmond

If you have any semblance of modern, band-driven worship, I guarantee you’ve had complaints about volume. I had a guy who would stick toilet paper in his ears every week and obnoxiously pace the foyer during the music set.

Conventional wisdom tells us that more volume equals more energy. After all people don’t want to hear themselves sing right?

So what’s the perfect volume? In this case, Disney has the answer. Disney seems to have a knack for managing expectations and providing the best user experience on the planet. They can teach us a thing or two about worship. So during my last visit to Disney World I decided to conduct an experiment. Every show I attended I would take out my iPhone and fire up the RTA Lite app. This handy (and free) little tool let’s me measure the decibel level at certain frequencies. I can see the level of the bass, mids, and trebles. The results shocked me.

  • Decibel Level – At every show and concert, the average level was about 75 db. That’s pretty soft—about the same as a dial tone with the phone up to your ear. Occasionally it might pop up to 85 db (city traffic), but not much more (hearing damage occurs at 90-95 db with sustained exposure). It was amazing how an explosion or kick drum had incredible intensity when everything else was at a pleasant level.
  • Frequencies – The frequency spectrum was linear (as opposed to flat or the typical “smiley face” with enhanced lows and highs, and reduced mids). Bass was the loudest, and it would evenly taper off as it headed toward the higher frequencies. So the sound I heard was ultimately smooth. It had impact when it needed to, and was never shrill or brassy.
  • Other Factors – Admittedly the shows I attended were family friendly—inviting young and old. EPCOT did have more concert/dance adult-oriented venues later in the evening. These were significantly louder (too loud for my taste). Also, every Disney venue featured Meyer arrays and trained sound men, so the end product was excellent.

So what did I learn from Disney?

I observed everyone, babies to grandmas, enjoying their experience. They participated. I also realized that sound is something we cannot escape. We cannot turn off our ears. We can look at something else if a light is too bright, but we cannot divert our hearing.

I attended a church service that weekend and felt almost assaulted by the sound (around 90-95 db). Admittedly I’ve subjected my church to that numerous times and wondered why they didn’t participate as actively. By all means pump the volume for youth groups. But for the large corporate service featuring all age groups (or children’s worship), it might be a good idea to bring the volume down.

More volume does not necessarily equal more energy. It insults your listeners, and robs you of the head room you need to emphasize dynamics and impacts when you need to. Turn it down. Smooth it out.

How loud is your church? Would you respond differently if the volume were different?


Jordan Richmond is a worship pastor at Idlewild in Tampa, FL. He has also served other local churches in Florida, Kentucky, and the Cayman Islands.

Posted on April 17, 2013


With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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346 Comments

  • Really! Instigating conflict within the church, don’t we have enough of that?
    These comparisons between a highly refined, professionally mixed,pre produced program content, in a room designed to house the show and a sound system designed for the show and most churches worship services is ridiculous. Disney = pro talent, pro equipment, pro environment .
    Lets compare with the average church…
    Amateur talent, amateur tech, non ideal room conditions and a group of people who didn’t invest anything to have an opinion.
    This whole article was meant to cause problems, not provide any positive help.
    Then the rest of you go off on your personal tangents and give him what he wanted.
    It’s things like this that divide the body of Christ.
    Give me a break. Quit supporting this crap with your opinions and they will quit putting this one sided crap out there.

    • Byron,

      What I shared with you is exactly how I go about managing our AV system. It’s simple – and it works. I’ve seen a great reduction in conflict, increased participation in worship, and increased attendance. Isn’t unity of the body important? Isn’t this worth a look?

      I’m with you. We have a less-than-adequate room, no acoustic panels, all volunteers, and I do several things all at once. I’m a musician by training – not a sound guy. Anyone can open an app on their phone – it’s easy and free. You can get a sense of where your volume and mix is. And as has been said, if you want to be really accurate, get a pro dB meter from Radio Shack – we have both. I presented my observations as a way to help average churches with average systems and volunteers.

      Just trying to help man,
      Jordan

    • Ron Bartels says on

      I disagree with you entirely. We have met privately with the pastor with intend to avoid conflict to the degree possible. We have done the testing with db meter. We have asked that the sound volume be reduced to 85 db. The pastor says he is running it at 99 db but the readings show and average of 104 db including the quieter times, with a peak reading of 129 db. The pastor says it get the young people into worship mood. We are puzzled to say the least. We hate to withdraw since it is us who provide most of the giving. His excuse if that souls are being saved. That is true but we don not believe that it is the music but the Holy Spirit that draws people to Christ.

    • Debra Magrann says on

      Dear Ryan,
      From the language that you use, may I ask if you are even a Christian? Last time I checked, Jesus taught us to be peacemakers. You certainly have a strong opinion; why are you so defensive of someone else expressing theirs? America is still a free country . . . so far. This blog is doing a good service by allowing believers to express their frustration with a critical health issue to which leadership has turned a deaf ear. Take it from someone who, as a teenager, was on the front row of a Black Sabbath concert, toured with Journey, met the Wilson sisters of Heart fame, as well as many others: my hearing is more important to me than any rock star wanna-be worship leader’s aggressively, loud entertainment hour.

      So, there. I’ve ‘voiced’ my opinion. I hope you find it in your heart to trust that God loves to speak to us in a still, small Voice (original translation: ‘soft blowing’). We can take to heart His admonition to “be still and know that I am God.”

      • Ron Bartels says on

        I don’t think the folks who are speaking out about the ultra loud rock music in churches are trying to stir up revolts. It is the the tone deaf rock promoters who are the ones being inconsiderate. However, I do suggest resolving this matter in chambers, even if it means several meetings with leadership. Mutiny is not the answer most of the time. It took us three in chambers meetings to work out our own solution. The church leadership finally approved our suggested solution, after about 30 people left over the painful music.

        While I have read that it takes a long period to damage hearing above 85 decibels, that claim does not address the ear pain issue, which is common amongst the 50 plus crowd who do not have scarred ear drums. With age, the ear drums become more sensitive to excessive loud music. Personally, I had to take medicine and begin leaving early when the pain became unbearable. When they put in new speakers, it became much worse and about a dozen walked out of service before the sermon. They were not throwing any tantrums, they just could not stand the ear pain, as I found out later. Not one of them I personally talked to were mutinous in any regard and are now happy we have started the off campus small group for the ear pain sufferers. I hope this helps more than one additional group. Until more pastors become aware of the conflict that loud rock music causes and accommodates the ear pain impaired (as I call myself in a self deprecating way) and the others who suffer but who want to continue to support the church.

  • Lillian says on

    Jordan — thanks for sharing this. As an audiologist, I think it’s great that people are made aware and sensitive to this issue. Technical aspects aside, our sound engineers and worship leaders are constantly trying to find that perfect mix and volume level. Their job is tough, and I don’t think there is an easy answer, solution or formula. But I LOVE that they are working on it together. Sure, I cringe when I see a child coming into the service with hearing protection because of the volume – and decibels aside – it can be loud. But I’ve also heard the music mixed and set at comfortable volume as well, which I see as awareness and a learning curve. In some ways, maybe we should not look at how close to the ‘damaging level’ we can get without going over, but how far we can stay away from ‘it’ during our worship services, while still maintaining a comfortable level for worship. I think you’ve made some great suggestions — tough topic!

  • How timely is this article. My husband and I struggle with finding a church where we don’t feel entertained! What ever happened to listening and singing worship music and hearing the voice next to you. We have been on and off visitors at a church in Saline, Michigan. My son and our Grandson attend the Church. I have emailed the pastor who kindly sent me an email about talking to the worship team. There have been numerous complaints. I have been told to sit in a certain spot in the church and the volume isn’t as bad. The complaints keep coming in and now someone is designated to walk around the auditorium measuring DBs. What? Let alone now they are handing out ear plugs. Seriously people, I don’t mind the contemporary/modern music – that’s all I listen to. I love it – I just want to praise and worship on Sunday mornings and let the Holy Spirit do his work in me. I can’t when the volume is so loud. I will continue to look for a church that doesn’t have to give me ear plugs or walk around with a DB reader!!! I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels this way. I’m only in my 40s and don’t think or feel that I’m old. How do you think God views all of this? Somthing to ponder!!!!

    • Ron Bartels says on

      In my church, new high range speakers were purchased and installed. One of our members, an ex jet jockey, F-14 TomCat, brought in a decibel meter. The sound average was 104 db. The music was broadcast over the speaker system in mostly high range with little mid range and no observed low range. It has chased away most of us seniors. I’m age 67 but I have to wear ear plugs to reduce the ear pain and so does an 83 year old and a 64 year old female. Many seniors and some middle agers have left over the ear pain. The young people seems to like it so they keep it pumped up. The pastor must have hearing loss but he likes it. We are starting a small group and will start meeting at a coffee shop normally closed Sunday Mornings. (The owner and his wife can’t take the loud noise either.) It was my idea to start an unaffiliated small group to assemble together and I obtained permission to download sermons from Liberty Fellowship. I do not know what will be next but we are beginning this October 3, 2013.) I am looking into getting licensed to play decent worship music for us to sing along with. Most of us are very well educated, with one MD and 2 earned PhDs and one Pharmacist in the small group. Suggestions would be welcome as none of us have ever done this before.

  • Jesse Martin says on

    I have been in churches with full orchestras, some with praise bands, some with just organ and piano, others with just a piano; worship has varied in all of them. I believe true worship occurs when Spirit fills the worship center and not “energy”. My biggest concern with “modern” worship and worship ministers, and worship people yield to doing what will reach and get more people “energized”, rather than God’s Spirit drawing people to His which is the only way to salvation. What ever happen to hearing the words of a song (seeing words on a screen is not hearing words are not the same)? I believe that the goal of ever worship leader, and pastor should be “every person that walks out of this worship place, be it 100 capacity or 10,000 capacity, can say, “today I worshiped a living God, the creator of this universe and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ.”

    • It all comes down to “Love one another as I have loved you”. The musicians and singers should be pursuing excellence in their respective gifting. They are also worship >leaders< and not performers. They should be worshipping with the music they create and loving the people with the sound that they make. The sound techs job is to reinforce that sound so that the congregation can hear it (comfortably) and make sure that it is done musically (make sure harmonies are balanced, the keyboard is turned up at the appropriate time, etc.). This should always be done for God's glory so that the congregation is not distracted by feedback, distortion, harshness, etc. but is focused on Him. The best compliment that a sound tech can get happens when nobody says anything to her/him after service. You should be invisible to the congregation.

      • Ron Bartels says on

        In my church, new high range speakers were purchased and installed. One of our members, an ex jet jockey, F-14 TomCat, brought in a decibel meter. The sound average was 104 db. The music was broadcast over the speaker system in mostly high range with little mid range and no observed low range. It has chased away most of us seniors. I’m age 67 but I have to wear ear plugs to reduce the ear pain and so does an 83 year old and a 64 year old female. Many seniors and some middle agers have left over the ear pain. The young people seems to like it so they keep it pumped up. The pastor must have hearing loss but he likes it. We are starting a small group and will start meeting at a coffee shop normally closed Sunday Mornings. (The owner and his wife can’t take the loud noise either.) It was my idea to start an unaffiliated small group to assemble together and I obtained permission to download sermons from Liberty Fellowship. I do not know what will be next but we are beginning this October 3, 2013.) I am looking into getting licensed to play decent worship music for us to sing along with. Most of us are very well educated, with one MD and 2 earned PhDs and one Pharmacist in the small group. Suggestions would be welcome as none of us have ever done this before.

  • It seems to me that “old people” like their tv’s loud and their worship music soft… Ha ha!
    I was a younger worship leader and my experience from the older saints in my church was almost always encouraging. They had plenty to complain about and yet they chose to to be excited to see a young man desiring to worship God and lead others to do the same. It made me want to serve them better and when that meant turning the sound down at times I was happy to do it! To often people see a musician playing loud and think its all about them wanting attention and forget that there is a young man or woman desiring to use there gifts to worship God. Be careful that what comes across to that young musician isn’t ” we don’t want your gifts used here”. I know God loves music and worship will be loud in heaven! Can’t wait!

    • Al Hayes says on

      The issue with older people is more about frequencies than volume. As we all get older we lose the abilitiy to hear high frequencies. Any good Sound guy will tell you that if you take out certain frequencies in a Mix you end up with partial spectrums which can sound harsh, tinny, bassy etc. Now volume will be an issue as the louder it gets so does the problem for older ears.
      If you want to know what it sounds like for these guys try on a pair of hearing aids and listen to your Mix. No kidding you might learn a lot.

      • Ron Bartels says on

        In my church, new high range speakers were purchased and installed. One of our members, an ex jet jockey, F-14 TomCat, brought in a decibel meter. The sound average was 104 db. The music was broadcast over the speaker system in mostly high range with little mid range and no observed low range. It has chased away most of us seniors. I’m age 67 but I have to wear ear plugs to reduce the ear pain and so does an 83 year old and a 64 year old female. Many seniors and some middle agers have left over the ear pain. The young people seems to like it so they keep it pumped up. The pastor must have hearing loss but he likes it. We are starting a small group and will start meeting at a coffee shop normally closed Sunday Mornings. (The owner and his wife can’t take the loud noise either.) It was my idea to start an unaffiliated small group to assemble together and I obtained permission to download sermons from Liberty Fellowship. I do not know what will be next but we are beginning this October 3, 2013.) I am looking into getting licensed to play decent worship music for us to sing along with. Most of us are very well educated, with one MD and 2 earned PhDs and one Pharmacist in the small group. Suggestions would be welcome as none of us have ever done this before.

  • I wonder if we did a survey of the ages of all the commenters just where the median would be? I wonder if the older the commenter is, the more likely s/he is to complain about the volume level? My 2c.

    • The usual complaint from the elderly in my church is that the volume is not turned up enough.

      • Ron Bartels says on

        In my church, new high range speakers were purchased and installed. One of our members, an ex jet jockey, F-14 TomCat, brought in a decibel meter. The sound average was 104 db. The music was broadcast over the speaker system in mostly high range with little mid range and no observed low range. It has chased away most of us seniors. I’m age 67 but I have to wear ear plugs to reduce the ear pain and so does an 83 year old and a 64 year old female. Many seniors and some middle agers have left over the ear pain. The young people seems to like it so they keep it pumped up. The pastor must have hearing loss but he likes it. We are starting a small group and will start meeting at a coffee shop normally closed Sunday Mornings. (The owner and his wife can’t take the loud noise either.) It was my idea to start an unaffiliated small group to assemble together and I obtained permission to download sermons from Liberty Fellowship. I do not know what will be next but we are beginning this October 3, 2013.) I am looking into getting licensed to play decent worship music for us to sing along with. Most of us are very well educated, with one MD and 2 earned PhDs and one Pharmacist in the small group. Suggestions would be welcome as none of us have ever done this before.

      • Jenny Mertes says on

        Ron, 3 years later, how is your small group coming along? I hope you’ve made a success of your effort to worship and learn together.

  • Charlie Crane says on

    The OSHA “dB-SPL/duration of exposure” examples refer to expected, natural hearing loss over a 30 year working career, not a concert or one time event as I understand it. So, for example, if OSHA says that one should limit their exposure to 75 dB-SPL to no more than 4 hours (I forget the real scale, just making an example), the “rest of the story” is this; If one limits their exposure to 75 dB-SPL for no more than 4 hours per work day, one can expect to experience the average hearing loss at the end of a 30 year career to be within the average range of people that same age. As I understand it, it does not mean that if you are exposed to 75 dB-SPL for 5 hours (and hour more than recommended), that you will definitely experience hearing loss. Remember, OSHA is about the work place, not concerts. Temporary threshold shift is another thing altogether.

  • How can you mix at 70-75dB?
    That’s impossible!
    No one has ever attended ANY live performance with SPLs @70-80db.
    A normaly conversation without Sound Reinforcement is @ 70-80dB.
    Stage noise is louder than that.
    So… that’s false.
    This article is perhaps the most useless and inaccurate description of SPL measurement.
    Some many things haven’t been addressed.
    First off. Pocket RTA/SPL meters aren’t accurate or reliable.
    Second, when your using a SPL METER… not an iPhone, you need to calibrate it.
    Thirdly, Setting your meter to the correct weighting , responce and range will change your readings tenfold.
    The person who wrote this article needs to get the facts straight before they miseducate people.

    • Thom Rainer says on

      Dallas –

      I approved your comment, but I don’t approve your tone. Jordan wrote a thoughtful article that has been beneficial to many. You are welcome to disagree, but not in such a bitter tone.

      • I apologise if my “Tone” was off.
        It’s frustrating to read invalid info.
        Worship pastors have no business addressing this topic. That’s the job of Techs/Engineers who actually have pro-technical knowledge/experience.
        This article isn’t helpful at all.
        It contains false information.
        Anyone reading this is being mislead.

      • Dallas, I know this is several months after your post. I hope you get to read this response. Like it or not, running sound in a church is a combination of technology, music and worship. I know of guys who are great with the “tech” aspects of running sound, but are clueless when it comes to the music or worship. You really have to have all three. Hopefully, the worship pastor and the sound techs can communicate with each other on what is needed to satisfy all three and a technically excellent, musically pleasing worship service is accomplished.

  • If the music is so loud that you can’t hear yourself sing (and it is often that loud at my church), it is very difficult to enter into worship.

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