The TOP Reason Guitarists Struggle to Sing While Playing

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’ve been a Buckethead fan for years, but i gotta say I’m pretty impressed with Baghead too…

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.

I find a single strum per chord while singing is good to get you started you internalise where the chords change in relation to the lyrics

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.

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Always struggled with this. So much respect for Alexi Laiho and his singing and playing ability.

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

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.

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.

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.

I don't have any trouble singing while playing. But my singing is awful! 😂

i think you doing fine. thats how i learned.and your honest

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.

My problem is that i can't sing without playing!

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.

The third part occurs when the vocals and guitar are rhythmically complex.

@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 🥳

Thx for the advice i'll try

Thank yu Joe Duplantier!