There are multiple forms of worship, but as Christians, we tend to dwell solely on the spoken, prayer-like method. However, singing praises and rejoicing through song is another emotionally-driven way to connect with God. The word "sing" is even used in the KJV of the Bible over 115 times.

The idea that all Christian music can be categorized as either Gospel or Christian rock is a myth. There are plenty of Christian music bands out there, spanning across nearly every musical genre. Use this list to find new Christian bands to enjoy, no matter your taste in music.

Praise & Worship

Praise & Worship is also known as contemporary worship music (CWM). This type of music is often heard in churches that focus on a Holy Spirit-led, personal, experience-based relationship with God.

It often incorporates a guitarist or pianist leading the band into a worship or praise-like song. You might hear this type of music in Protestant, Pentecostal, Roman Catholic, and other Western churches.

1a.m.

Aaron Keyes

All Sons & Daughters

Allan Scott

Alvin Slaughter

Bellarive

Charles Billingsley

Chris Clayton

Chris McClarney

Chris Tomlin

Christy Nockels

City Harmonic, The

Crowder

Dana Jorgensen

Deidra Hughes

Don Moen

Elevation Worship

Elisha's Request

Gareth Paul Taylor

Gungor

Gwen Smith

Hillsong

Jadon Lavik

Jason Bare

Jason Upton

Jeff Deyo

Jon Thurlow

Jordan Feliz

Kari Jobe

Katinas, The

Kristin Schweain

Lashanda McCadney

Laura Story

Lauren Daigle

Matt Gilman

Matt Maher

Matt McCoy

Matt Redman

Paul Baloche

Rend Collective

Robbie Seay Band

Russell & Kristi

Selah

SONICFLOOd

Soulfire Revolution

Steve and Sandi

Steven Ybarra

Stuart Townend

Tim Timmons

Travis Cottrell

United Pursuit

Gospel

Gospel music began as hymns in the early 17th century. It's characterized by dominant vocals and whole body involvement, like clapping and stomping. This type of music was much different than other church music at the time because it had much more energy.

Southern Gospel music is sometimes constructed as quartet music with four men and a piano. The type of music played under the Southern gospel genre may vary regionally, but as with all Christian music, the lyrics portray Biblical teachings.

Beyond The Ashes

Bill Gaither

Booth Brothers

Brothers Forever

Buddy Greene

Charlotte Ritchie

Dixie Melody Boys

Donnie McClurkin

Dove Brothers

Eighth Day

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

Faithful Crossings

Gaither Vocal Band

Greater Vision

Hope's Call

Jason Crabb

Karen Peck & New River

Kenna Turner West

Kingsmen Quartet

Kirk Franklin

Mandisa

Marvin Winans

Mary Mary

Mercy's Well

Mike Allen

Natalie Grant

Paid in Full

Pathfinders, The

Pfeifers, The

Praise Incorporated

Reba Praise

Rod Burton

Russ Taff

Sharron Kay King

Smokie Norful

Southern Plainsmen

Sunday Edition

Tamela Mann

The Akins

The Browns

The Crabb Family

The Freemans

The Gibbons Family

The Glovers

The Goulds

The Hoppers

The Hoskins Family

The Kingsmen Quartet

The Lesters

The Martins

The Nelons

The Perrys

The Promise

The Sneed Family

The Talley Trio

The Walkers

The Watkins Family

Wayne Haun

Country

Country music is a wildly popular genre, but there are other sub-genres that could exist beneath it, such as Christian country music (CCM). CCM, sometimes called country gospel or inspirational country, blends the style of country with biblical lyrics. Like country music itself, it is an expansive genre, and no two CCM artists will sound exactly alike.

Drums, guitar, and banjo are a few components often seen with country music.

33 Miles

Christian Davis

Del Way

Gayla Earline

Gordon Mote

Highway 101

Jade Sholty

JD Allen

Jeff & Sheri Easter

Josh Turner

Kellye Cash

Mark Wayne Glasmire

Oak Ridge Boys, The

Randy Travis

Red Roots

Russ Taff

Steve Richard

The Martins

The Sneed Family

The Statler Brothers

Ty Herndon

Victoria Griffith

Modern Rock

Modern Rock closely resembles Christian Rock. You'll notice that with some of the bands that perform this type of music, the lyrics may not speak directly about God or even Biblical ideas at all. Instead, the lyrics may contain implicit Biblical messages or may imply broader Christian teachings to other subjects. This makes Modern Rock music very popular with Christians and non-Christians alike. The songs can be heard widely on non-Christian radio stations across the country.

Anberlin

Bobby Bishop

Bread of Stone

Citizen Way

Colton Dixon

Daniel's Window

Dustin Kensrue

Echoing Angels

Eisley

Everyday Sunday

Falling Up

Family Force 5

Hearts of Saints

John Michael Talbot

John Schlitt

Kathleen Carnali

Kole

Krystal Meyers

Kutless

Larry Norman

Manic Drive

Me in Motion

NEEDTOBREATHE

Newworldson

Phil Joel

Randy Stonehill

Remedy Drive

Revive Band

Rocket Summer, The

Runaway City

Satellites and Sirens

Seven Places

Seventh Day Slumber

Shaun Groves

Silers Bald

Stars Go Dim

Superchic[k]

The Fallen

The Sonflowerz

The Violet Burning

Terry Boch

VOTA (formerly known as Casting Pearls)

Contemporary/Pop

The bands below have used modern-style music to praise God in a new way, incorporating styles from pop, blues, country, and more.

Contemporary music is often performed with acoustic instruments like guitars and pianos.

2 or More

4HIM

Acapella

Amy Grant

Anthem Lights

Ashley Gatta

Barry Russo

Bebo Norman

Bethany Dillon

Betsy Walker

Blanca

Brandon Heath

Brian Doerksen

Britt Nicole

Bryan Duncan

Burlap to Cashmere

Carman

Casting Crowns

Charmaine

Chasen

Chelsie Boyd

Cheri Keaggy

Chris August

Chris Rice

Chris Sligh

Circleslide

Cloverton

Coffey Anderson

Danny Gokey

Dara Maclean

Dave Barnes

Everfound

Fernando Ortega

Fiction Family

for KING & COUNTRY

Graceful Closure

Group 1 Crew

Hollyn

Jason Castro

Jason Eaton Band

Jennifer Knapp

Jessa Anderson

Jim Murphy

Jonny Diaz

Jordan's Crossing

Justin Unger

Karyn Williams

Kelly Minter

Kristian Stanfill

Kyle Sherman

Lanae' Hale

Lexi Elisha

Mandisa

Margaret Becker

Marie Miller

Mark Schultz

Mat Kearney

Matthew West

Melissa Greene

MercyMe

Meredith Andrews

Michael W Smith

Mylon Le Fevre

Natalie Grant

Newsboys

OBB

Peter Furler

Phil Wickham

Plumb

Rachel Chan

Ray Boltz

Relient K

Revive Band

Rhett Walker Band

Royal Tailor

Rush of Fools

Russ Lee

Ryan Stevenson

Samestate

Sarah Kelly

Satellites and Sirens

Shane and Shane

Shine Bright Baby

Sidewalk Prophets

Solveig Leithaug

Stacie Orrico

Stellar Kart

Steven Curtis Chapman

True Vibe

Unspoken

Warren Barfield

We Are Messengers

Yancy

Yellow Cavalier

Alternative Rock

This type of Christian music closely resembles standard rock music. Songs by the bands are typically more up-tempo than normal gospel and country Christian songs. Alternative Christian rock bands set themselves apart from other alternative rock groups with songs are clearly centered around salvation through Christ.

Daniel's Window

FONO

Hearts of Saints

Kole

Krystal Meyers

Larry Norman

Manic Drive

Me in Motion

NEEDTOBREATHE

Newsboys

Newworldson

Phil Joel

Randy Stonehill

Remedy Drive

Rocket Summer, The

Runaway City

Seven Places

Seventh Day Slumber

Silers Bald

Stars Go Dim

Superchic[k]

The Fallen

The Sonflowerz

The Violet Burning

Indie Rock

Whoever said Christian artists are mainstream? Indie (independent) rock is a type of alternative rock music that better describes DIY bands or artists that have a relatively small budget to produce their songs.

Firefalldown

Fue

Hard Rock/Metal

Hard rock or metal is a type of rock music that has its roots in psychedelic rock, acid rock, and blues-rock. While most Christian music is generally more soft-spoken, the heart of Christian music is in the lyrics, which can easily be combined with louder and more up-tempo styles like hard rock and metal.

Christian metal is loud and often characterized by amplified distortion sounds and long guitar solos. Sometimes, it might take a kick in your ears to hear the important lyrics behind these Godly bands.

12 Stones

About A Mile

August Burns Red

Classic Petra

Disciple

Emery

Eowyn

Fireflight

HarvestBloom

Icon For Hire

Light Up The Darknews

Ilia

Norma Jean

P.O.D

Project 86

Random Hero

RED

Road to Revelation

Scarlet White

Seven System

Skillet

Spoken

Stryper

The Letter Black

The Protest

Thousand Foot Krutch

Underoath

Wolves at the Gate

Folk

Folk songs are often passed through an oral tradition. Often, they are very old songs or songs that come from around the world.

Folk music often historical and personal events into account and Christian folk is no different. Many Christian folk songs describe Jesus and his followers through a historical lens.

Burlap to Cashmere

Chris Rice

Fiction Family

Jennifer Knapp

Jazz

The word "jazz" itself comes from the 19th-century slang term "jasm," meaning energy. This time of music is often understood as highly expressive, which is a perfect medium for showing the intense emotions involved with Christianity.

The jazz music genre includes music that was developed from blues and ragtime, and first made popular by African-Americans artists.

Jonathon Butler

Beach

Beach music is also known as Carolina beach music or beach pop. It spawned from similar pop and rock music in the 1950s and 1960s. All it takes to make a Christian beach song is the incorporation of Christian values into the lyrics.

Bill Mallia

Hip-Hop

Hip-hop is some of the best music to get your body moving, which is why it's so great for listening to Christian music.

Group 1 Crew

Lecrae

Sean Johnson

Inspirational

The bands and artists in the inspirational genre encompass other similar genres like metal, pop, rap, rock, gospel, praise and worship, and others. As the name would suggest, this type of music is great for lifting your spirits.

Since these artists sing about Christian morals and beliefs, they're perfect if you need some God-centered inspiration.

Abigail Miller

Andy Flan

Brian Littrell

David Phelps

FFH

Josh Wilson

Kathy Troccoli

Lara Landon

Larnelle Harris

Laura Kaczor

Mandie Pinto

Michael Card

Phillips, Craig & Dean

Scott Krippayne

Steve Green

Twila Paris

Zechariah's Song

Instrumental

Instrumental Christian music takes the melodies of church hymns and plays them on instruments like piano or guitar.

These types of Christian songs are great for praying or reading the Bible. The absence of lyrics makes these songs perfect for moments when you need to really concentrate.

David Klinkenberg

Dino

Eduard Klassen

Greg Howlett

Greg Vail

Jeff Bjorck

Jimmy Roberts

Keith Andrew Grim

Laura Stincer

Maurice Sklar

Paul Aaron

Roberto Stuart

Ruth Fazal

The Kenny MacKenzie Trio

Bluegrass

This type of Christian music has its roots in Irish and Scottish music, so the style is a bit different than most of the other genres in this list.

However, it makes for some really soothing listening. With Christian lyrics added in, these bluegrass bands will definitely get your soul reaching for something larger than yourself.

Canaan's Crossing

Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad

Jeff & Sheri Easter

Ricky Skaggs

The Balos Family

The Chigger Hill Boys & Terri

The Easter Brothers

The Isaacs

The Lewis Family

The Roys

Blues

Blues is another style of music that was formed by African-Americans in the Deep South around the late 1800s. It's related to spiritual and folk music.

Christian blues music is slower than rock music and isn't heard on the radio as often as other popular genres. However, it's definitely a genre worth looking into.

Blud Bros

Jimmie Bratcher

Jonathon Butler

Mike Farris

Reverand Blues Band

Russ Taff

Terry Boch

Celtic

The harp and pipes are common instruments used in Celtic music, which are often seen as the old, traditional way for Christian music to be played.

Ceili Rain

Crossing, The

Eve and the Garden

Moya Brennan

Ric Blair

Children and Youth

The bands below incorporate messages about God and morals to children through an easy and accessible voice and sound. They incorporate Christian messages in a way that children of all ages can understand.

For instance, some of these bands might play songs about school or childhood games, but still keep all of it in the context of Christianity.