Singing while playing ..help

Gaz

Hello all

About 3 or 4 months ago i decided to start teaching myself guitar and after much practice and some good advice from my fellow boardsters , i am making some good progress.

I have a fair few chords/scales under my belt and a few barre chords and some different playing styles.

Now, Ive been playing some songs , getting the rythem, strumming etc right and this all goes fine. Then i try and sing the lyrics along with my playing ........

This is where it all goes to sh/t ... is it just me or is doing these two tasks at once extremly difficult , i totally screw up the strumming pattern , forget to change chord or change chord way to late ... or in reverse i sing the song all messed up.

Anybody got any tips for me ? Will this pass with more practice or is it something you either have or dont have ???? Driving me nuts !

nadir

Yea i know exactly what you mean, doing the two together is like so hard, I still cant do it, I did find though that playing the drums helped out my rhythm alot, and strangely enough my singing a little, but im still along way off. But Sorry I got no real advice

markisevil

It takes practice, but you'll get it. You might try simplifying the playing when you're singing and playing with more ornamentation when you don't. I have to practice the instrument part first, and then start to sing with that as early on as I can manage. It's a pain in the arse, but you'll get it!

fitz

The problem is that you haven't been playing guitar long enough to play without having to concentrate on your strumming/chords/rhythm/etc.
So when you try and sing, you're hands aren't able to just do what you want them to do without thinking about it. There really is nothing for this but practice.
Try practicing one song without singing...when you think you can play it without thinking so hard about it that you're sweating, then tryin playing it and singing.

Playing drums does help rhythm.
You should try playing drums and singing...now that's fun

If you get a chance, listen to So Much To Say by Dave Matthews Band.
The main acoustic part is played by Dave himself, as he sings.
I got their Central Park Concert dvd last week, and seeing him play it will be an inspiration, trust me.

Either that or it will completely demoralize you.:p

Practice practice practice!

seamus

Back ages ago when I was first learning to play I got a led of an Oasis guitar book :rolleyes: from a mate. Basically it had the words of the song, with each chord change marked above the word where it took place. Nice and simple, no tabs, nothing else.

Basically, it eliminated two things - having to remember what chord was coming up and what words were coming up, which I would think is the major stumbling block. It's almost like having to keep two entirely separate trains of thought running. 2 months later, I was playing songs not in the book and without the book. Helped me no end.

I'm sure you can download similar from the web, or you can also buy the books for the likes of Metallica and them. They're small white books called "Learn to play" or something.

NeMiSiS

Practice, practice , practice.. failing that.. some kinda Voodoo ritual.

Tom

Quatre Mains

- U could start by singing and just strumming once each time there's a chord change.
Also, stick to simple stuff that you are VERY familiar with and that is well below your playing limits. They don't have to be your fav songs

wiped

Sell your soul to the devil

musician.ie

We're not very good at that sort of multitasking, it's like trying to whistle and chew gum. You need to be able to perform one task, pretty much without thinking about it. The vocals are the most important part of the song, so it's best for the guitar to be your subconscious task. For it to be subconscious, it will need to be very familiar to you. Strum away while watching telly. You don't completely forget what you're playing, it's just that instead of giving it your full attention, you check your progress occasionally. Check your timing ( metronome helps ), check your chords.

BaZmO*

Yeah I had the same problem when I first started to play guitar a few years ago. I got so disillusioned by it all to be honest. I'd be there playing the intro to the song all nice and precise and then as soon as I'd start to sing I'd end up sounding like a one-man-band falling down the stairs screaming for help.
I got to the stage were I thought I'd never be able to do it!!
The thing is though, you do actually get the hang of it with time, and as was said already, it really is a sub-concious thing when it comes to playing.......and lots of practice also!
I've found that there are quite a few songs where the rythym of the singing matches the rythym of the guitar playing, if that makes sense? Check out some examples and sure you'll be on the pig's back in no time!!

B.

I am MAN

You just gotta play the riff until your blue in the face then it just comes natural just this week I can play and sing Nirvana - polly and seven nation army quite successfully.

feylya

I find playing and humming the rhythm(sp?) of the singing helps greatly. I don't know which is better, playing the riff on it's own first, or singing and playing the riff while learning the riff (yeah, that makes sense!). Bottom line is, Just Practice. Do it someone where no one will see you so you don't feel self concious.

Zoton

Simple songs are the best to begin with, for example About a girl. Just repeat 'em over and over.
However i find i cant sing a quite a few songs while playing. Metallica are a prime example, Hero of the day is just impossible, as are many of their others.

adonis

its easy enough to do,
i never understood where the complication came from..
i have played guitar for a number of years and am able to sing, i started playing piano recently and am also able to sing while playing piano..
i dont think its much to do with the practice thing..
must be sometihng to do with that soul i sold