Two reasons and the one MOST likely causing difficulty in singing while playing is easy to overlook. It can be a big hurdle for beginners and songwriters - so here's a simple explanation and way to check
I was a professional rock guitarist in the '80s (albeit in cover bands) and always had problems singing and playing on stage unless the guitar part I was playing was absolutely basic and straightforward. If the vocals didn't follow the groove, I was all over the place. Decades later I stumbled on the solution and that was singer-songwriting. Apparently when the brain has a say in creating both the vocal melody and the rhythmic and chordal structure of a song, it miraculously works things out. Added bonus: cover songs aren't a problem for me anymore.
I tell people I can sing OR play guitar. I can not sing AND play guitar unless the songs are just kid sing along songs. Row Row Row Your Boat... Lol. One chord song. 😂
@@marypatton1122I'm getting much better at it right now in my progress actually. For me the struggle is when the timing of the words doesn't match the strumming pattern. It's like working a polyrhythm on steroids
A big reason I've seen people get hung up while trying to sing while playing is that the part they're playing doesn't match what they hear on the radio. They know how its supposed to go, but if they're not playing the licks and such that usually signal where the voice should come in, they get lost. An easy way to fix this is to record yourself playing the chords all the way through, then listen to that to sing along first and train yourself to sing off of the way you play. The second big reason is that although the person can play they song, they can't play it in time. They rush or slow down and that messes up where they think they should be singing, snagging them along the way. Using a metronome while playing and singing, independently, at the same tempo can help this. Then when they put the two together the two parts should literally "Click" together.
When I write a song I'm humming the melody along with the guitar parts. They are both fixed in my mind together, so it's easier to remember the vocals when I play the guitar.
No kidding. I think the Cicadas and Dragon Flies are the only ones happy about it. I'm probably gonna pack it up and move to Hokkaido by next summer. The nature there is killer.
I didn't know why I couldn't for years. Humming is what worked for me. Once you have the strumming pattern and chords mastered it's easier. It also helps if you have song vocals memorized. Just start humming and eventually replace with lyrics.
I learned to sing and play after many years of guitar practice and self doubt vocally. I remember just using less of my brain power to do it. I simplified the psychological anatomy of singing and playing by telling myself it had to be done and many people do it, so i thought it shoudnt be hard if i put in some practice. But in more simplified words...it just came to me.
The great thing I like about RU-vid is that just about Everything is on it. I'm going to try the blindfold method with trying to play the chord progression with the actual song. I'm going to be practicing Let it Be with this. Thanks for the advice. I'm glad you do this on the side, it's more genuine and relaxed.
Hey! I also live in Japan :)) thank you though, I just started out with guitar and found that certain parts of a song are difficult to sing. I’ll try it out!
My biggest problem is I always end up strumming to the articulation of the lyrics. if the strumming pattern matches the articulation (or syllables?) i do fine
That usually gets me too. On some songs I’ve ended up tweaking the strumming slightly to better fit with how I need to sing it. I’ve also tried to prioritize getting the vocals right, because that’s what most listeners are focused on. If I have to simplify the guitar part slightly or maybe play it a bit softer during the vocal parts, I can live with that, as long as I still nail the vocal. Tempo is a big issue for me too. When it’s just guitar, my rhythm is pretty rock solid, but as soon as I have to throw vocals into the equation also, things start to get rough
My favorite singer/guitar player combos, J Mascis and Kurt Cobain, are absolute masters at being able to sing great and play chords/lead that don’t necessarily follow the vocal melody. I feel those 2 guys are really underrated in that aspect.
I play guitar and sing and play the guitar and harmonica at the same time. I do both with ease. I can't imagine not being able to do it. I am watching to see if I can get better. I guessing that if it doesn't come easy, its probably not going to be your thing.
Cool! - You're looking good, glad to see you made your way out of the frozen sea. Can't wait to hear the new song.- I hope you include a translation 4 us, I always dig your lyrics and poetry.
My biggest challenge is variances in timing, ie; if I strum fast, I tend to rush the vocals. I need to figure out how to disconnect the two tasks. It's like when I try to play the drums; if my hands go fast, my legs want to go fast.
My Covid project was to learn to sing and play at the same time. I basically took your approach. I'm terrible at remembering lyrics, so that's my hang up. So I get the guitar part down cold first and read the lyrics and play until they sink in. Strangely it's often easier, for me, to sing along with a lot of chords than if a song is simple The rhythm always gets me. Next step. Write songs! I'll be checking out your other vids. :) Former Seoul expat here btw.
I have no problem playing even without looking at the guitar and can sing while just playing the chords, but when I try to strum I can't seem to divide my attention and either my singing or playing falls apart, I think it's because I've never thought about strumming patterns ever since I started playing I just naturally figured them out and never really thought like ''down down up down up'' or anything like that, so when I try to do it while singing I can't really do it automatically
Every song feels a bit like skipping rope to me. To find the right cadence in tough ones, i suggest reading the lyrics as you play, and sing the words that you can plant in the right spot. Then with repetition, your voice just slowly seems to finds all of the rest of them.
I learned it by somehow pulling back in my mind. So im like watching over how I sing and play. But both happen almost automatically. I just follow then both at this mastermind position. It's like walking or driving bicycle and watching it. Hey im doing it. But I think in all of these are possible because your subconsious can do those automatically and your own mind is free to follow it.
Actually I have to say this video was a big help, by zoning out and almost disassociating I let my body just operate and I managed a complete if kind of shitty sounding run through of Sweet Jane although I mostly miss out the b minor as that's just asking for trouble, instead I do an occasional note bend on the 3rd fret of the b string before the A and it sort of works lol
I often find it difficult to simultaneously play guitar and sing songs that were originally sung by the bass guitarist... e.g... Sting, Thin Lizzy, Rush
Most of the cover songs I play I can also sing, the 1 song I can never sing and play is Come as You Are by Nirvana 😂 sometimes I can get a few words in but never on time, the chorus is simple but the verses are impossible for some reason.
i can strum and sing but can't pick and sing. maybe it's the same concept though, just have to practice picking the song more. I'll have try it, thanks for the video.
For me its because my brain cant handle two things at once. When i start playing guitar its finr but as soon as i start singing its like brain forgets what to do and my fingers stop moving but as soon as i stop singing i can play again. Although iv only been learning guitar for around 8 months but yeah.
I had the same problem but just practice. You’ll get. I’m still working on it but it’s coming along. I dont play as much as i uses to tho. Pick one sone you know very well and practice with that to start. Good luck
You got it. My guitar teacher says I dont know the guitar part good enough. I am the only guy that spent 4 lessons learning to sign Margaritville while playing. I block it for some reason. Thanks
I am trying to play and sing whilst riding a uni-cycle, Its super difficult, strange feeling splitting your brain off in so many areas, balance hazards,off balance ,crushed nuts guitar strum, holding guitar chords sing and timing, I will get it eventually
It depends on the song, when the vocal line doesn't fit with the rhythm of the chord changes I can't do it. Sweet Jane is one I find impossible. If there's like I set word in the phrasing where the chord changes happen I'm fine.
@hendriksevecke761 vor 0 Sekunden One neglected point more: If you strumm or pick your guitar not with your rhythmic hand, because that hand is wasting pure energy with holding Chords , you got to change the way to hold the guitar. Experts explained: the difference between activ Hand and assisting hand. The active hand is responsible for movement, what includes rhythm. If you play the rhythmic pattern not with your rhythmic hand (for instance a left hand person play guitar as an right hand) your natural rhythm pass to the holding, not moving (in fact assisting) hand. You need very much energy to control the genuine assisting Hand, or be lost. If your genuine rhythmic hand stays responsible for your rhythmic pattern, there wouldn’t be any efforts anymore. If you one of the many who need to shake your head like an insane dude, or tip the rhythm with your left foot (while strumming with the right) you are most probably a congenital lefty. A self test can work like that: Clap a beat on your thigh with one of your hands, while singing to that beat, and see which one is more comfortable, after changing hands from time to time. Next step: make a rhythm with alternate clapping on your thighs , (Bodypercussion)feel the beat in one or the other side, and sing to it. Which side was possibly or felt more comfortable. Or musically! Previous example is also a good way to practice for innocence. If you’ve been honest to your self (only fewest are) and found your congenital side practice like this: Play an always repeated rhythmic pattern (guitar or legs both) and start singing one of the claps, then… up to all. Start with the one then 3 then 4and then the 2. Then the offbeat, one after another up to all. Then believe me, you got it for all. If you want to sing triplets or other polyrhythms and Syncopated, follow the same way. And strumming or pick hand will stay steady in rhythm and keep the time. Have fun after been honest to your self 🥳
My problem is when I start to sing my hand will start following my vocals I can’t stop it it’s so natural for me to do this. Do you have any tips to stop this?
HI, I only play covers, and usually am able to play and sing songs without any probs. Occasionally I come accross a song that throws me when I start singing and I loose all rhythm in my playing and mess it up. Often in the same spot every time. I have found that humming the song first helps a lot, but its weird that some songs still mess with me like that.
I don't think rock music is dying. Its going underground. It will never go away. I think it might have stagnated, but we will eventually see a resurgence in popularity when a musician comes along that brings something new to the genre.
In my experience as a grumpy 45 yr old metalhead, the people who claim "x genre is dying" ACTUALLY mean "x genre is changing and I'm no longer comfortable with the new stuff." It happens every generation, and almost every decade. Yet when we stop and look back in ten years time, we'll realise nothing was dying after all, it just evolved into different sub-genres that we weren't used to.
See my problem isnt playing the peices and singing, i CAN do it with enough practice for simple songs bc i routinely play in a pitch black room, my problems begin when the singing starts at a wierd part in the song, like during the changes, been trying to play "need 2" and sing it by pinegrove and its EXTREMELY simple chords and rhythm but he starts singing right on the changes and my brain just cant do both at the same time while keeping proper rhythm i will always either forget which lyric im on or stop/bunk the rythm while singing
First master rhythm and speaking at the same time. Take a moderately complex strum pattern with ghost strum on some downbeats, it's hard to play it and just say 1,2,3,4. If you can't say 1,2,3,4 while you strum it, how are you ever going to sing lyrics? Start with using your voice over strumming patterns in simple ways. I don't think this has anything to do with the guitar part being hard. It is a strange coordination thing to use your voice while playing.
I can sing while playing, but not when the chords/riff bear zero relationship to the melody. It's like trying to pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time. E.g. Playing the AC/DC TNT riff while trying sing a differernt melody over it.
The reason is no one learns to sing the song first, nor properly. Most people don't know (how to sing) the song as well as they think they do. Learn to sing it first ... properly, as if you are going to perform it (solo, no instruments), when you have that sorted out, bring the guitar to the song. Most do it the other (wrong) way around.
Mmm, I'm a vocalist and know the lyrics well enough, but adding an instrument on top degrades the quality I can put into the vocals because now my attention is split. I do play a number of instruments and found its an entirely different part of the brain that handles the instrument than the vocals. Having ADHD also makes certain kinds of simultaneous executive function thinking very tough. My best performances happen when I'm focused on either vocals or an instrument but not both.
Duuude I’ve missed your music tutorial videos! Interesting to hear that you live in Japan too - how is life there? I live in Italy and it’s really hot here too 🤣. I’m sorry you’ve had some difficult times lately; I hope things improve for you soon. Looking forward to your next video!
If you can't sing when you're playing you don't know how to play well enough, you shouldn't need to think your hands should just move (as you demonstrate by being blindfolded) and your brain is free to think about singing