How to play the guitar and sing at the same time?
Kay08 asked:
So, I am trying to learn how to play guitar and sing at the same time. I can play the guitar. I can sing. I just can’t put the two together. Like my brain will only coordinate with one or the other separately. Is it best to write the song and sing it first then add the guitar later to it? What is your advice?
So, I am trying to learn how to play guitar and sing at the same time. I can play the guitar. I can sing. I just can’t put the two together. Like my brain will only coordinate with one or the other separately. Is it best to write the song and sing it first then add the guitar later to it? What is your advice?
Write however you do it that works for you. As far as playing them at the same time, practice practice practice! Get the guitar so you’re playing on autopilot, then you can focus on your voice - or vice versa. Eventually you’ll get it.
You have to be doing one consciously while the other unconsciously.
Everyone may look at it differently, I dissagree with the comment about doing one conscience and the other not. Practice is key man. When you finally do it right you will notice that you are not concentrating on playing guitar or singing. You will be hearing the combination of both as one final product and you just do adjustments to one or the other to make it fit. If you concentrate on singing your guitar will come out of rhythm a bit. But that is the big word , rhythm. Get that right with your strumming hand and you won’t screw it up. Start with an easy song. Pick one that the rhythm is playing the same on all the chords of the song. And like that other guy said “get your guitar on autopilot” great analogy. Also try to humm with your guitar before you start singing. Notice the way your voice should change with the change of chords.
Practice practice. you will get it.
A lot of people don’t recognize this, but singing and playing guitar relies on rhythm.
You have to have a common base that correlates between the two instruments.
The key is to tap your foot, that way your body is on a metronome. Tap your foot to every quarter beat, always.
It doesn’t seem like it would help you sing and play guitar better at the same time, because now your adding in an extra thing. But that is the way to sing and play guitar well.
What it does, is help you rely on the rhythm of the song and the natural reaction of your body to play the song, and you don’t have to mentally think about each instrument.
As for writing songs. Just remember that the guitar will influence the melody. So if you write a melody first, then the guitar must be made to fit it. If you write the guitar first, then you’re melody already has limitations.
after 13 years of playing the guitar, I know that singing along with what you are playing means that you have to be able to play the guitar without really thinking about it.
if you think about singing too much, you’ll drift off on your playing…if you think about playing too much, you’ll screw up on singing.
you have to be able to play your song “naturally” without thought