Singing and Strumming

[i_finlayson37]

I'm having a problem playing and maybe other people are the same or maybe I'm just a freak.

When I play the guitar I can't sing with it. I have a reasonably good voice and I'm reasonably good at playing the guitar but I can't combine them. If I'm playing the chords of a song then when I try to sing I end up just strumming once for each syllable I sing and completely lose the rythm.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can improve this cause I'd like to be able to sing and play the guitar at the same time?

[Crash]

lots and lots of practice

Other than that make sure you know both the lyrics and the guitar to the point that you don't have to think about either, it should just come naturally you shouldn't have to think. Other than that maybe try to find emphasis points in the singing and strumming to match up to help keep the parts in time with each other. Mostly it's just practice, also I find it alot easier to try singing while I play if I have the whole band with me, that way I have a lot more cues and I spend alot less time thinking about what I'm playing, so I can spend more time thinking about singing.

but mostly lots of practice, it's not a skill you learn overnight, start with easier songs where the guitar and vocals are pretty close together so it's easier on you once you can do that move to a song with more differences between guitar and vocals. Take your time and practice.

EDIT: A fairly easy song to start with would be "I Alone" by Live, it's not overly difficult to sing with while you play and is a place to get started.

[i_finlayson37]

Thank you for the advice but do you know any other songs I could practice with because I'm not really familiar with the one you mentioned?

[loudneighbor]

hey,

i'm very lucky and was able to pick up the guitar, play and sing from the get go. in fact, i used to think that it was not a skill you could learn. if you didn't have it, you couldn't do it.

i don't feel that way anymore. i told that to a buddy, and he got pissed enough to work at it until he got it. open mouth, insert foot.

the point is, yes, practice can get you there.

start with simple songs, like one or two chords. just play the chords over and over until the rythym is second nature. then try to sing without thinking of the chords or the strumming.

"i alone" is a good one. if you don't know that, try some easier beatles tunes like "can't buy me love" or "eight days a week".

hope this helps... good luck.

[jonjonbolt80]

i was watching this jazz channel and BB king was on. he said he still can't sing and play at the same time. i think alot of people can't do that. i always could but i don't have a good voice so go figure. my suggestion to you is try any Bob Dylan song very good stuff and not too complicated.

[i_finlayson37]

Thanks for the advice on songs. I think I'll start on some Beatles songs then move onto something more complicated. Hopefully I can get to Radiohead at the end.

[3v3+Z]

Originally posted by i_finlayson37
Thanks for the advice on songs. I think I'll start on some Beatles songs then move onto something more complicated. Hopefully I can get to Radiohead at the end.
A-HAAA! I thought that might be where the problem is. Does Thom Yorke even play the guitar? I'm trying to remember clips I've seen, and I THINK he's instrument-less. I think he plays keyboard instruments, but I don't know about live. Anyway, the point is, they have two other guitarists. Some songs just don't lend themselves to simultaneously strumming and singing. I've tried to play certain Led Zeppelin or Van Halen songs (DLR days, of course). It didn't work very well. We're talking about unconventional guitar parts and vocalists who aren't playing them. Don't let me discourage you, though. If you can get to a point where you can play all the guitar parts in any given Radiohead song, and sing them at the same time, you will be a god. Coincidentally, I was just listening to O.K. Computer today for the first time in a while. An absolute masterpiece.

Anyway, yeah start with The Beatles. Start with someone you know is actually singing and playing at the same time.

By the way, B.B. King doesn't generally even play CHORDS! That's why he doesn't play & sing at the same time. It's all solos. In "Rattle and Hum", Edge was trying to show him the chords for that song they did together. I can't remember the exact quote, but it was something to the effect of "I don't do chords".

[Matt]

I can sing and strum on some songs but on others I'm like jfinlayson and end up losing the tune completely...

[i_finlayson37]

Thom Yorke plays the guitar in lots of songs. As you just listened to OK Computer you'll know he's playing guitar in Exit Music, Karma Police and a couple more. I think he plays the guitar on every album apart from Amnesiac. In addition most of the acoustic versions of Radiohead Songs ie Creep, Fake Plastic Trees etc are just Thom alone with a Guitar.

[loudneighbor]

i should have figured radiohead was what you were after...

try stuff off of pablo honey and the bends... after that it gets more tricky...

perhaps "thinking about you..."

[3v3+Z]

Originally posted by i_finlayson37
Thom Yorke plays the guitar in lots of songs. As you just listened to OK Computer you'll know he's playing guitar in Exit Music, Karma Police and a couple more. I think he plays the guitar on every album apart from Amnesiac. In addition most of the acoustic versions of Radiohead Songs ie Creep, Fake Plastic Trees etc are just Thom alone with a Guitar.
My mistake. I just figured that, even if that was the case, they have two other guitarists and that you might be trying to do too much. Sorry.

[i_finlayson37]

loudmember, I've tried some songs from The Bends like Fake Plastic Tree's and High and Dry but I just can't get the strumming right on Thinking About You.

3v3+Z, I only really play the songs which are Acoustic heavy and these are normally the ones with Thom playing.

[loudneighbor]

i_finlayson37:

other than radiohead, what do you listen to?

[i_finlayson37]

Other than Radiohead it's mostly bands with a lead singer not playing the guitar like The Doors, Oasis, Stone Roses, Smiths.