Play the Guitar and Sing at the Same Time

Singing and playing guitar can be tricky for a beginner but it is not impossible. A sense of good timing, rhythm and ability to combine two actions at once will come with practice and dedication.

Steps

Using a Metronome

  1. Learn how to play guitar. You can start with basic chords, or find a song and look up the tabs. Find something you think you can sing to
  2. Learn the words of the song. Practice your singing technique.
  3. Learn how to play while tapping your pinky in 4/4 time. It would sound like 1 2 3 4 if you don't know how to count 4/4 time. A metronome can help you to keep time and is available inexpensively at most music stores.(There are also many online metronomes that are free)
  4. Start counting out loud "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and" while playing.(Make sure you say the AND every single time it'll keep tempo the best.)
  5. Once you feel comfortable enough with the rhythm, no longer count aloud, just tap along.
  6. Start adding in words.
  7. Its also very important to remember sometimes guitarists go months to years without keeping a steady tempo; using a metronome will help a lot.

Playing Along with a Record

  1. Pick a cool song, learn how to play it, and also learn how to sing it.
  2. Play the song with the record and try to at least hum the lyrics.
  3. Keep practicing the song until you can play it without the record and with your eyes closed.
    • Your brain uses alpha waves and beta waves (conscious/sub-conscious). You use alpha waves when you concentrate and focus on something and use beta waves when you can just "do it" without "thinking about it". Once you have the song down to this point, you're ready for the final step.
  4. Play the song, but DO NOT think about the chords, fingerings, or anything else; just play. Now sing the song and let the playing fall to the background. Your conscious will be concentrating on the singing, but your sub-conscious will be playing the song. This can feel a little like an out of body experience where half your brain is actually playing the guitar and the singer in you is using the other half. It's weird at first, but very exciting and fun once you got it down.
    • Finally, you will be able, with practice, to change roles back and forth (did I hit that chord right? yes, OK the next vocal line goes like...).
    • Note: it is quite rare for guitar solos and singing parts to occur at the same time (that is by design) don't try to change that when you go to write a song(easier on you anyway).
  5. Well, practice this and have fun!

Training Your Brain to Multitask

  1. Once you have the basics of guitar playing, try to come up with a few runs or chord progressions (or just use them from other songs if you're only going to play covers.)
  2. Practice these until you can play them easily.
  3. Now sit in front of the TV and watch it whilst playing them (It's important not to stop playing)
  4. After a while, you should notice that you are playing fine but also managing to follow what's going on on TV. This is the first step in developing independence.
  5. Next, try reading something whilst playing (try reading off a computer screen if you can't hold a book open.) This will keep your mind more active than watching TV and playing.
  6. Try reading out loud in a droning voice (A common problem is only being able to sing the notes you're playing)
  7. Keep doing this and eventually you should be able to sing and play almost completely different things.

Learning the Lyrics First

  1. Pick a song you want to play,and learn the lyrics
  2. Now play the recording of the song back to you and sing along. If you want, you may hum or sing in your head, just so that you can get the song in your head). Repeat until you have mastered the song and you can play the song back in your head.
  3. Now pick up the guitar and play along with the recording, but only guitar.
  4. Once you master the song and you can play it without looking, start humming, or singing out loud while playing.

Associating Chords with Words

  1. Try to play chords that go with each other, (ex. E, D, G).
  2. Next, think of a word to use as your "sample word". Use a sample word for each of your chords.
  3. Take for example, if my sample word for E were game, then I would play E but say game at the same time. If D was free, than I would play D at the same time as free was being said. Try to make your words rhyme, because it will train you to distinguish word from word when playing.
  4. Use this method with an actual song. This method is useful because it trains you to give each word a note, and this eventually leads to word-guitar-sync.

Playing While Reading

  1. Once you are fine with playing the song just try playing while reading a book.
  2. Practice until you are able to read the book. Once you are able to do this, read aloud in any particular rhythm of your choice.
  3. Once you are able to do this, singing songs will be easy.



Tips

  • Practice on acoustic songs, especially ones where you strum repetitive chords.
  • Focus on one song that you already know the lyrics like you had written them, start with a 3-chord song and play it without singing a few times and if you already know the words you'll eventually find yourself comfortable enough to sing certain words on clue (if all of them even better!) best of luck! It's definitely worth it!
  • Keep practicing.
  • Having someone play a simple rock beat on drums, along with the song will help you keep your rhythm and allow you to sing easier.
  • Try jamming, play a steady chord--a random chord--and start talking. You will develop the singing/playing at the same time ability.
  • Keep in mind that many guitarists can't even talk at the same time as they play, much less sing. You'll discover that with only a little practice, the brain cramps that you get trying to do both at the same time go away rather quickly. Much of the work in developing independence (to do two things at once) is realizing that it's possible and to just keep trying.

Some Song Ideas

There are many songs which can be extremely helpful in succeeding in your task.

  • The Black Keys

This 2-piece band's Guitarist is also the singer. He uses power chords and pauses in order to help him sing. Use the song "Your Touch" to start with, and move onto songs such as "Goodbye Babylon" and "I Got Mine".

  • Nirvana

The band's lead guitarist, Kurt Cobain, let some of his notes ring in his songs, giving him chances to sing while keeping listeners entertained. Use "Smells Like Teen Spirit" to test this method.

  • Foo Fighters

Dave Grohl, the band's guitarist, is a prime example of playing and singing simultaneously. Songs such as "Everlong" will help you to play chords while singing.

  • The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Jimi Hendrix is possibly the most well-known guitarist ever. If you are an experienced guitarist, "Purple Haze" and "Voodoo Chile" are good songs to learn as they use complicated riffs and licks which are good for guitar veterans to learn.

  • Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson is very good at this, being able to sing, and talk whilst playing. His song "Rodeo Clowns" should be an easy on to learn once you begin to get good. (Look for the version with G. Love and Special Sauce.)

  • Black Sabbath

Black has some great songs to help you attempt this, such as "Paranoid" and "Iron Man". The riffs are relatively easy while singing.

Things You'll Need

  • Guitar
  • Metronome
  • Music
  • Pick

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