Funeral songs and music have an important role in funeral or memorial services. Funeral songs can help sooth grieving guests, and can help you communicate your feelings and emotions. There are literally thousands of funeral songs from several different genres, including religious, gospel, pop, country, jazz, rhythm & blues and more. This wide selection can sometimes make selecting the right funeral songs a daunting task. To help make this task easier, here are some suggestions to help you make the best selections.

Consider the general "tone" of the service

If the funeral is religious-based and held in a church or place of worship, you may want to consider religious or gospel music selections. The church may have a list of standard songs that are suitable for funerals. The church may also offer the use of their choir, pianist or organist to give renditions of funeral music. If the funeral or memorial service is more contemporary, or more of a "celebration of life" service, you may want to consider more upbeat or contemporary music. If you are considering playing secular or contemporary music in a church or chapel, you may want to check with church officials first.

Use favorite songs (or artists) of the deceased

Very often, favorite songs of the deceased are played at funerals and memorial services. Hearing these favorite songs can invokes strong feelings and memories of the deceased, and make the service very special. Consider having a soloist or live singers sing a favorite song, or play the instrumental version to make it even more special. Playing music that was special to your loved one also helps to make the service a much more personal experience.

Consider songs that convey special feelings and meaning.

There are so many songs that can help you express your feelings about the deceased. There are many songs that describe relationships between you and your loved one. There are songs about mothers, fathers, friendships and other relationships. There are also songs that describe traits and characteristics of a person. Songs that describe your loved one's patience, love, dedication, loyalty and zest for life are very appropriate selections for a funeral. There are several Internet websites that you can consult that have funeral songs categorized by relationship and theme that can help you choose the right songs. There are also many religious songs that describe going to heaven or leaving the earth to go to a better place.

Once you have selected your songs, have the family review your selections. Also, take time to listen to the lyrics of the songs that you have chosen to ensure that all the words are appropriate and non-offensive. If you would like your guests to sing along, publish the lyrics in the funeral program, or memorial service bulletin. Also, ensure that the funeral location has an appropriate sound system that you can use. With a little effort, you can select funeral songs that will help make a memorial service very memorable.