[AdamXiah]

I have this problem. I have a barrier that I can't break when I sing and play at the same time. Sure, I can strum; I can also sing. But when I do both, my strumming suddenly follows the beat of the lyrics, which is totally wrong and sounds horrible. Are there any exercises I can do to overcome this? Thanks.

PS. I also have a problem with this when I play the drums. I can do simple beats with the bass, snare, and cymbals but simply that: simple beats. I hope this extra information can help. Thanks.

[Graeme! Yes, Graeme!]

It's a common problem. When just singing or just playing guitar you can concentrate on that one task to make sure you get it right. But when you have two things to do at the same time, often with different rhythms, it's a bit like patting your head and rubbing your belly - your brain has to cope with more tasks and it can go a bit wrong.

What I suggest is trying a very simple song. Something that has very easy chord changes, no complex rhythms in it or anything. Even something like a nursery rhyme or campfire song will do the trick to get you started. Learn to sing the song easily, and learn to play it. Practice it until playing or singing it comes as second nature to you and you don't have to think about it. Now combine the two. Hopefully, because it's such an easy thing for you to do either part, you won't have to concentrate on it too much. In fact, instead of concentrating, try to relax and just let it happen, almost as if you're not paying attention to what you're doing. Keep doing it until you find you can sing and play that song.

It's that initial point that's the hardest, getting your head around the concept of doing both parts at the same time. Once you can do a few simple things, try moving onto more complicated songs. Good songs to practice include Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Greenday, Wonderwal by Oasis, and the vast majority of Bob Dylan songs. Songs that you know well are obviously going to be easier to pick up.

Obviously: practice practice practice.

[AdamXiah]

Hmm, it makes sense! I'll be sure to use your advice. Thanks a plenty!

[Will_Wood]

Try Hurt by Mr. Cash.

That was how I learned to sing and play at the same time.

[RICH.J]

I hear lots of people say hum songs first, before you start trying to sing them.

[dadfad]

Welcome to GTU. It can be difficult at first, especially once you already can play a bit and then try to add singing on later. I always tell beginners if you have any intension of ever singing along (even just back-up vocals, etc) start right off singing as you play. It's much harder to add later on (and the better you get on guitar, the harder it is to add on later because you no longer think in simple strum/beat-type rhythms anymore). Anyway, here's a copy of a PM to someone who asked me the same question awhile back, basically reiterating the things Graeme and Rich said...

Singing As You Play PM

....from xxxxx's PM


First of all, don't worry about bothering me. And believe me, I know all about your problem. When I first started playing and for years afterwards I never bothered to learn to sing along. I never figured I'd be a singer, only a guitarist. But things change.... back-up vocals you need to help with, then a few tunes you actually want to sing lead on, and then if you want to start doing solo gigs it's a must-have. I struggled for a long time to be able to sing and play at the same time. It's dead simple to learn to BOTH play and sing at the same time but MUCH harder to add singing later on. I always tell guys just starting out if they ever have ANY future intentions or possibilities of singing to learn both now as they start out.

This was a real bear for me (and other guys I know who did it the same way have said the same thing). So you aren't alone. I feel your pain!! haha!! Anyway, here are a few things that seemed to help me. Pick a few dead-simple songs. Tunes with simple progressions and simple chords-only that you could play with your eyes closed, and totally know the words to. It doesn't have to be tunes you want to learn to do at a gig or anything. This is purely training exercise, like playing scales or something. So it doesn't matter if it's "Row Row Row Your Boat" or "On Top Of Old Smokey" or whatever. Choose tunes where the rhythm of the singing matches the rythm of the playing very closely. I picked dead-simple 12-bar blues that I knew the simple words to.... like "Rock Me Baby" in the key of E or A. Simple plain chords strummed in time (no shuffle even) 1-2-3-4... 1-2-3-4, singing just the first verse. Over and over (and over and over and over.....) Slowly at first (very slowly! haha!). I found tapping my foot in time seemed to help. I kept at the simplest stuff, slowly and a little faster, until I could do it at a reasonably moderate speed. Then I added the shuffle-rhythm to the plain chords, again slow at first until I got to speed. Then slightly more complex chord changes. Then tunes where the vocal-rhythms were different than the playing-rhythm (this was a little tough to say the least). Eventually I got to where I could do it reasonably well on the vast majority of tunes. I noticed (and still notice) a lot of guys sort of "simplify" their guitar-work when they come to the vocals. Not necessarily a bad-thing, but the best solo performers I know don't miss a beat as they sing, continuing with the same kind of complex chordal-runs or lead work or melody-lines as when it's the instrumental break. That's what I'm going for, and for the most part, have gotten there. Not completely. Some of the really tough things that take a lot of concentration just for the guitar-work are still a bit iffy and so I might simplify a bit, but I'm getting there. I'm to the point where generally speaking that simplification would not be noticeable to anyone but myself.

So I'm STILL working on it. Really, I understand how frustrating and depressing it can be. (Especially if you also have a crap voice like me!haha!!) I'm not familiar with the tune you mentioned. Possibly it can fall within those relatively-simple guidelines as one of your starter-tunes, or maybe not. If not, just back off and work on singing along from the beginning, with less complex tunes until you get to the point to do that tune (and other tunes). Anyway, I hope some of this helps you out. Don't let it fukk with you that you're having a rough time. Like I said, that's how it is for all of us who added vocals to playing later on. If you practice pretty regularly and faithfully, you can probably be doing simple vocals on simple tunes within a couple of weeks, maybe less, and then go on from there. I probably spent a year just getting to the point where I could do most tunes with no problem. Anyway, good luck. Later.

John

[AdamXiah]

Ahh, you guys are quite dedicated to helping the less talented. Thanks a lot! And I'll be sure to try Hurt by Johnny Cash. Thanks for the suggestion.

With the tips you guys gave me, I'm now able to sing and play one of my favorite songs, You and Me by Lifehouse. I can't do it perfectly, but I'll practice. Thanks a bunch guys.

[RICH.J]

Glad you found our tips helpful.

Like everything, it'll just come with time. My real problem is being able to actually let go whilst singing and playing, especially in front of people.

I always learn a strumming song every Sunday, before it's time to go back to work Good Riddance is a real good one to try, I had a go at that the other week, don't know if you like Green Day? Give it a go.

[MakoMako]

The first song I found myself able to sing and play was Sitting, Waiting, Wishing by Jack Johnson. I'm not sure I could suggest it as a practice one, but the guitar isn't exactly complicated, and the lyrics are catchy. But what I've found to be the best songs to learn and do this with are those ones that while you're driving around, a song pops up, and you start singing it without realizing it. If someone with you mentions that you did it, then you know the lyrics as a second nature already, and it'll be twice as easy to jump into.

[guitarstrummin63]

try last kiss by pearl jam

maybe butterfly by weezer

those should be easy to sing and play with, and the pearl jam song's lyrics should be easily recognisable (sp?)

[k1llahd]

Hey I feel for you, I have trouble singing and playing too, especially when im finger pickin. Im actually workin on a few john mayer tunes, and man they are tuff to pick and sing at the same time because the guitar ryhtms do not match the lyrics at all.

For songs with chords, when Im having problems with the progressions I like to sing along and just play each chord once (dont strum it) so that I get a good feel for the progression, then I strum and hum along to the music or try to sing it in my head as I play the chords.

For really hard songs, there are no shortcuts, you just gotta get to a point where you can sing the song and play the song without even thinking about. In other words you gotta practice the crap out of the piece, know how to play and sing by heart. And then you wont think at all, just kind of become unconcious, and it will flow.

[guitex]

I can sing while I strum. But not while y pick or fingerpick. I tried humming first. It helps a lot if you play drums because your coordination gets better. I know this will sound poser and stupid, but try Simple Plan's "Welcome to my life". That's how I started out... simple chords simple lyrics.

[dadfad]

Hey I feel for you, I have trouble singing and playing too, especially when im finger pickin.  Im actually workin on a few john mayer tunes, and man they are tuff to pick and sing at the same time because the guitar ryhtms do not match the lyrics at all.

For songs with chords, when Im having problems with the progressions I like to sing along and just play each chord once (dont strum it) so that I get a good feel for the progression, then I strum and hum along to the music or try to sing it in my head as I play the chords.

For really hard songs, there are no shortcuts, you just gotta get to a point where you can sing the song and play the song without even thinking about.  In other words you gotta practice the crap out of the piece, know how to play and sing by heart.  And then you wont think at all, just kind of become unconcious, and it will flow.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, on more intricate tunes where the rhythm of the played-tune doesn't match the vocal-rhythm or on tunes that are very intricate, it just takes a lot of practice. There's no way around it. Learning to sort of think (and work) in two different rhythms simultaneously has also greatly helped in my rack-harmonica playing too to get me beyond just simple little rhythmic chugs into actually playing lines on the harmonica that are different from the rhythm I'm playing on the guitar.

[fatboy1]

you need to be able to play the music without thinking about it then try singing

[AdamXiah]

Awesome, I'm glad that I don't stand alone. Through my practicing, I've found that closing your eyes while you play REALLY helps. I get lost into my thoughts and when I come around, I realize I'm playing the song trouble-free.

Hope that helps.

[Claptonman]

Wish you were here by floyd is pretty easy.

[robert2000]

i dont know if this has been mentioned yet, i didnt feel like reading everything, but see if you can talk and play the song at the same time. when a friends over or something play the song and see if you can carry a conversation while playing. if you can do that you should be able to sing at the same time.

[k1llahd]

haha thats funny, i hate when a friend is talking to me while im trying to play something especially when im jamming and trying to talk on the phone. Ill be silent for a while, then talk to them in rhytm to the song.

[xXellieXx]

can just about sing and strum now, seems harder when picking though, humming definitely works, try and hum along with the song a few times first, think it becomes easier the more you get to know the song

think my friends would get annoyed if i started playing my guitar everytime they tried to speak to me!

[Mikky04]

I have this problem. I have a barrier that I can't break when I sing and play at the same time. Sure, I can strum; I can also sing. But when I do both, my strumming suddenly follows the beat of the lyrics, which is totally wrong and sounds horrible. Are there any exercises I can do to overcome this? Thanks.

PS. I also have a problem with this when I play the drums. I can do simple beats with the bass, snare, and cymbals but simply that: simple beats. I hope this extra information can help. Thanks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

me too , but I don't care cos I can't sing!