The Best Way to Play Guitar and Sing at the Same Time
Learning how to accompany yourself on guitar (alternatively known as "singing and playing guitar at the same time") is undoubtedly one of the more important goals for a lot of beginner and intermediate guitarists. It's so cool to be able to lounge round with buddies at a party and sing your favourite songs It is also an actual benefit when beginning or playing in a band.
IS A WONDERFUL VOICE REALLY NECESSARY TO PLAY GUITAR AND SING?
The brief answer is "No." Naturally, you need to be able to maintain a tune. But being able to sing like some amazing recording musician vocal celebrity is not required! In actual fact, a number of the biggest singer-songwriters ever, like Elliot Smith or Bob Dylan, haven't got notably awesome voices nor are they particularly amazing guitarists. But, boy do they know the right way to write and sing a song! It doesn't matter whether you would like to just play and sing guitar at social events or you want to write your own songs for the entire world, do not let an ordinary singing voice hold you back. Singing is one thing that speaks from the heart.
Of course, you do need to be able to sing reasonably well, but that's just a matter of training. Enroll in some singing lessons and learn all the fundamentals of how to sing and you will notice your voice expands dramatically. Then, resolve whether you wish to take your singing more seriously or whether or not that is sufficient for just singing at the same time as playing guitar.
SELECT A TRACK AND WORK OUT HOW TO PLAY IT ON THE GUITAR
The normal tendency for most beginners is to try to play guitar and sing simultaneously right from the start. That is undoubtedly not a particularly clever idea. What you might want to do is learn how to play the guitar part first. Only when you've done that, learn to sing the vocal part. And then combine them.
Your first step, then, is to decide on a song you want with relatively simple chord progressions and straight-forward chord changes. It does not matter which song you choose. It really doesn't. There are hundreds of easy songs for beginners. Simply something you'll be able to learn to play the chords to pretty simply, and which you like. Oh, and which does not have monstrously-hard vocal part. Whatever you choose needs to be achievable. You don't want to spend all this time and then not be able to sing the vocals.
As soon as you have chosen your track to give your attention to (and you need to only focus on ONE at a time!), spend as much time as you need and practise till you can play the guitar part back-to-front, up-and-down. Don't simply think about your fretting hand, either. Pay attention to your right hand: the rhythm parts and your strumming technique. Practise, then practise some more but no singing till you have learned how to play the guitar part and formed a type of "muscle memory," meaning you can play the song without looking at every chord change or letting up.
LEARN HOW TO SING YOUR CHOSEN SONG
Next is to progress to learning how to sing it. Your first step right here is to commit the lyrics to memory. Do NOT try to play guitar and sing at the same time just yet! Simply learn the lyrics and note how the singer hits certain notes, holds other notes (and the length), and puts across the feelings of the song.
When you've internalised "the vibe" of the song and you have memorised the lyrics, you will want to record yourself singing along with the music. Yes, the thought of that most likely sends shivers down your spine, but the truth is it's essential understand how your voice sounds and where you need some further focus and assistance if you're ever going to play guitar and sing on the stage.
TIME TO PUT BOTH HALVES TOGETHER!
Okay, now you are ready to sort out combining the two halves, playing and singing. be aware of the weird thing that may occur: You may begin making errors within the chord changes, you'll forget the lyrics, you will trip on simple elements of the song... All of the parts that you had perfectly in your control before, they're going to now seem tough again. Weird. It's going to seem hard at first (and, it's not an easy thing to do), as if your hands and your mouth just won't work together!
Take it easy. This is only a small adjustment and by slowing down and practicing in a very deliberate and careful fashion, only then will you begin to get it pretty quickly. The danger here is that you might become frustrated and bored. Do NOT quit here and start studying a new song. Stick to the plan and sooner than you realise you'll find that you can play guitar and sing at the same time!