Piano Cover of "Holy Is Our God"

"Holy Is Our God" by Mahalia Buchanan is contemporary Black gospel worship. Slow, reverent, hymnal in feel. Sits perfectly in C.

1. The key: C major

C major. Scale: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim.

2. The chord shape

Verse: 1 to 3m to 4 to 5, ascending. Chorus: 4 to 1 to 5 to 6m to 4 to 5 to 1. The 3m (Em) is the emotional pivot. The Mahalia recording shows the reverent pacing.

3. The Sunday-ready play

• Right hand: Cmaj7 and Em7 voicings. Never bare triads.
• Left hand: whole notes, sustained.
• One move to add: a Gsus4 held for two beats before every resolution to the 1. Reverent cadence.

4. When the leader calls a different key

Contemporary gospel travels wide. Numbers hold. Gig Mode.

Next step

Play Koinonia next. Same C, similar reverent register.