Singing While Playing

[hcole]

Recently, I have made my first attempts at singing while playing and so far it's not good.  I guess I just have to take it slow but man it's frustrating.

[unclrob]

It's like chewin gum and walking for some people.You'll get it just take your time.

[HangFire]

Recently, I have made my first attempts at singing while playing and so far it's not good.

LOL :lol:

It takes time and practice,  I've been trying for years... still hit and miss.  Keep trying, you can only get better!

[slim]

I can't do it either, so I have resorted to humming along.  Some of us have to crawl and chew gum before even trying to walk.

[hcole]

I can't do it either, so I have resorted to humming along.  Some of us have to crawl and chew gum before even trying to walk.

I tried the humming along approach and it wasn't happening either.  I think it's just gonna take some time, to get used to doing to things at the same time in rhythm.  

[HangFire]

If you want to hear a really good example of playing and singing at the same time listen to Jimi Hendrix's "Castles Made of Sand" on his "Axis: Bold as Love" cd. :blink:  

[kwakatak]

It's definitely something that takes work at first, but if you put effort into it and get over the initial self-confidence you will do better in time. Don't worry about how you think other people are going to judge you - just sing with genuine feeling and don't hold back. Then you're gonna realize that the real hard part is remembering all the words!  

[dbirchett]

Singing?

Isn't that what people do to waste time between guitar breaks?  B)

Don

[MJG]

I have a very percussive and syncopated right hand technique and when I first started to sing I always wanted to follow my right hand.  In time I was naturally able to divorse my voice from my playing.  Like other said, keep going for it and it will come.  Sing out with confidence.  The more you hold back,the more tentative you sounds.  Let it rip.

[Randy_R]

I find that trying to sing from the bottom of my lungs keeps me from having a shallow voice that otherwise tends to become overly nasal. This technique also enforces deep breaths which you want.  

[hcole]

I have a very percussive and syncopated right hand technique and when I first started to sing I always wanted to follow my right hand.

This is my problem too(except it's my left hand), my singing wants to follow the rhythm of my strumming or my strumming wants to follow the rhythm of my singing.  Sometimes it's one sometimes it's the other, but always it's bad.  I am sure with time I'll get it.

[fitness1]

I have been doing it for so long that I can actually listen to conversations people are having while I am doing it.....sometimes there will be a table full of people not too far away and I will hear them talking about a certain song......I will break into it without a word.....it's funny to see the look on their faces.
 There is a guy in my area that played for many years from the 50's on up....word on the street is that he could play chess between guitar solo's while maintaining the rhythm.....never seen it myself, but I suppose it's possible :lol:
 Find tunes that you are very comfortable with, that you have been listening to for years and know the words perfectly....concentrate on them until you get the hang of it, then slowly progress to ones a little less inviting...you'll get it, trust me <_<
Also, always stand up.....it doesn't compress your diaphragm and makes it easier.  Use a capo to change keys so you are perfectly in your range...this may be the most important point! :P  

[sawdustdave]

Guess this is one of those things I never even considered. I grew up playing piano and singing along with myself, it was natural to do the same on guitar. But, I can see how it could take some getting used to...

One flaw folks have when singing is using too much air. Air supports the tone, causes the vocal folds to vibrate. The sound is amplified by the head - all that empty space! My voice teacher tells me to use a burning candle, sing with it a few inches from my mouth. The flame shouldn't move. You'd be surprised as to the volume you can achieve w/o using a lot of air!

Dave

[HangFire]

Thanks for the tip sawdust, I'll have to give that a try!

[unclrob]

But my beard might catch fire :unsure:  

[HangFire]

But my beard might catch fire :unsure:

I'd pay to see that show! LOL  :lol:


Of course I'm joking;-)

[rockstar_not]

As with singing along playing keyboards,

Start your playing with something rhythmically simple, strums on the 1/4 notes in 4/4 for example.  Get to the point where that right hand motion is like clockwork, and the left hand shapes are happening without thinking.  The key is to get to the point where you are no longer thinking about either hand - they just do what they are supposed to do for the song.  This will happen with enough practice; playing along with a recording of the song, etc.

Then sing on top of that.

Once you get that down, start adding in some mods to the rhythm and left hand passing movement.

That's what worked for me.

Now, it's much easier for me to sing while playing my guitar than with piano.  

-Scott

[MH3]

I find that trying to sing from the bottom of my lungs keeps me from having a shallow voice that otherwise tends to become overly nasal. This technique also enforces deep breaths which you want.

Yeah, and especially important is to remember to breathe at all!  I play and sing all the time, but every now and then I still catch myself holding my breath somewhat, and this makes it very difficult to sing.  It's very important to me to just relax.

[booinec]

Play to your singing, not sing to your playing.

Start by singing your song and adding such chords as you feel comfortable with. The rest will follow.

Boo

[HangFire]

Here's one for you... Man of Constant Sorrow by the Soggy Bottom Boys.

Man this one is tough, I worked all of the guitar parts out that I could then lay the singing right over the top.

Pretty cool little tune, I'm using an open "D" on my parlor. ;)