Singing while playing

[failed_ethics]

Any tips? I've been playing for awhile and want to start singing but I have some major issues with doing both at the same time. I just can't keep the time, which is weird for me 'cause every teacher i've ever had said i'm like a human metronome.

Frustrating.

Thanks,
Jordan

[ibanez_man_sa]

lol your not the only one that has problems with that i cant multitask while playing the guitar if someone asks me to sing ill either sing or play the guitar its frustrating isnt it??? if someone asks me a question ill either answer it or wait till im finished the song then answer it i need help on this too

[failed_ethics]

ya man, lots of people can play, and alot can sing, but if you can do both at the same time...even if you arent great, just decent, people love it. i can talk while i play at the risk of messing up, but singing is more difficult than speaking so i'm SOL.

[Shibby]

know the guitar really really well. know the lyrics/melody really well. then just PRACTICE and put them together.

yeah so just work on it and you'll get better.

[Brentis007]

I sing vocals and play guitar at the same time and I've noticed it is the most dificult when both parts are not totally familiar to me. I would suggest learning the guitar part so well that you could play it in your sleep and then put vocals on top of it so you don't have to concentrate so hard on your playing when you're trying to sing. This is what works best for me.

[Jagstang666]

I would learn the guitar part really well, then while you're playing it, just think the lyrics in your head till you got the timing completely down, then actually try singing it and see how it comes out.

[Soggie Muffin]

if it makes you feel better, B.B. king still hasn't learned too either.

[dmron]

My experience has been that if the vocals and guitar both follow a pretty even pattern, then it's not so bad to do both. But if one or the other is more of an un-even pattern (I'm talking about timing here), then it's really really hard.

Sorry, cant provide any tips to get around it :) Just my experience, and I didnt see anyone else mention this so I thought I would.

[msg80]

yeah, i ran into the same problem in the past and still have trouble with songs that are really complex and intricate in detail. I found a rather odd method that helped me for songs that consist mostly of strumming. I play the song slow and try to find key syllables of lyrics that coincide with a particular strum or pick of that song, kinda highlighting them in my head. I can't explain how, but eventually it became effortless to both at the same time.

[Crayonman]

Well ive only been playing for 1 month and I can sing and play, I guess its just depends on how much multitasking u do...

[supercobra]

Singing and playing is synergenic, that is, it is more than just the sum of singing and playing. You have to give the art its due, which means practicing more than the total time needed just to learn to sing and play as separate activities.

Practice with a PA. Sing and play the songs repeatedly. Eventually you'll get it, and when you do it'll be very satisfying.

[AcousticShred]

try high speed soloing and singing at the same time. Thats what I have to do for my band

[I Be King Bodo]

yea, i have trouble w/ it and i have been playing for aolmost 6 years!
Can u talk and play @ the ame time?
when you can tell your life story and play the guitar @ the same time (like playing stairway 2 heaven or one last breath) then yo kno that it'll be a little bit easier 2 sing n' play @ the same time!

Just know your stuff very well!

Bodo

[supercobra]

Bodo,
I can sing and play pretty well, but I can't talk and play.

[theox]

Just go reeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaal slooooooooooooooow in the beginning. There are both hard and easy songs. Learn easy ones first. If you think they're hard, slow down. When you master it at, let's say, a third of the tempo, gradually speed up from there. Hendrix was amazing at singing while playing complicated rhytms.

Practice, practice, practice.

[elliot smith]

yea i know what you mean i can sing easy stuff like the misfits but, come as you are, by nirvana, is so hard to sing i don't think ill ever be able to play that, any tips

[Asperjames]

"if it makes you feel better, B.B. king still hasn't learned too either."

hahahah that just made my day

[gavb]

I have been playing for over ten years and just started to sing about 6 months ago and can finally do both. If it does not come easily to you just practice. Start with simple songs you like that have a melody that locks nicly to the chords your playing. I really cant hold a conversation when playing though, and it takes a few seconds for my brain register that I have been spoken to and then stop playing.

[Sixstring]

I've noticed it is the most dificult when both parts are not totally familiar to me. I would suggest learning the guitar part so well that you could play it in your sleep and then put vocals on top of it so you don't have to concentrate so hard on your playing when you're trying to sing.

Brentis007 nailed it. The key is for one of the parts (vocals or guitar) to be second nature. When you can do one of the two without thinking about it, you can focus on the other. You have to have at least one of the parts down cold.