Playing and Singing

Hello all,

Anyone here at GT have a good remedy for playing and singing at the same time? I can actually sing a little and I can play a little, just can't do them both at the same time... go figure? Any help will be greatly appreciated.


Thanks All

Duck

Playing along with the song often helps me. YouTube to the rescue!

Originally Posted by: john of MTPlaying along with the song often helps me. YouTube to the rescue!

Your advice to learn how to play and sing at the same time.....is to just play along with the song? :confused:

I strongly believe slowing it down does the trick. It worked for me with Wild World and most recently Rock-n-roll Hoochie Koo. I will play the song at a snails pace and sing. The tempo will come to you. This worked very well for me with Rock-n-Roll Hoochie Koo. Last night I was doingt he riff to Rebel Rebel and started to do the vocal no problem. That would have been almost impossible for me before. I could strum and sing ( Working Class Hero etc) but never a riff or notes and sing. Now I am getting it. If you need to start strumming chords and singing fine. Pick a Beatles song and just strum slowly and sing. Even if it's sung with a riff just play the implied rhythm chords and sing, It will come to you.

Try humming if lyrics are a bit difficult

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29w4RyBjugo

Best lesson/method I've seen on this subject. This has worked for me for sure!

Originally Posted by: JJ90http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29w4RyBjugo

Best lesson/method I've seen on this subject. This has worked for me for sure!

Justinguitar has a lot of good videos. I'll have to set aside some time and practice through this one.

Originally Posted by: hunter1801Your advice to learn how to play and sing at the same time.....is to just play along with the song? :confused:

It's a version of "Practice, practice practice."

The OP indicates Duck knows how to play (a song) and knows how to sing the same. Which are a couple of the early steps listed in Justin's video. The video also calls for repeated listening to a recording. Such practice teaches the timing, i.e., what chord changes happen on what lyrics. Practice, as you know, smooths it all out.

So yeah, 'just play along with the song'...but Justin says it better.

Justinguitar.com is a favorite site...he's got a great on-screen presence and the site has a wealth of free material. It's also on my list of end-of-year donations, something else I recommend... ;)

john

I found that talking with someone as you play will tax your brain in the same way as singing. I would go back to a easy song, a song you know down pat. If you can hold a conversation and play the song the same as if you were just playing you got it.

See Lisa's response to a similar question in, Guitar Basics - Strumming question - post #5