As an aspiring self taught guitarist, I am enjoying the incremental skill increase that I have developed.
However, to be able to make any money doing it, I will have to keep up the vocal part of the deal. Now, in the beginning I had trouble trying to sing and play at the same time - it felt so foreign and felt like I'd never get there. I'd either forget lyrics or forget chords/ screw up the rhythm when trying to concentrate on either one....
Well, I've gotten to a point where I can pretty much "strum" chords and sing at the same time with little issue...however, I still seem to have trouble adding the little fills/ or songs with arpeggios and leads when also trying to sing. For you experienced players out there, does this get easier?? Any advice/ tips?
Well, I'm not the best person to answer this, as I don't sing at all, but I do play keyboard a bit, and the same issue arises between the left and right hands. It's about muscle memory, and typically that's applied to the harmony. In the case of playing guitar and singing, you want to play the chord progression until it becomes second nature, leaving room for you to concentrate on the melody (singing). I don't have any real tips for achieving that, other than repetition.
I agree with JagsFan. The guitar playing needs to become a distant secondary focus behind the singing. Just keep playing, it will come to you. Do you play to a metronome or drum track? I'd do that too.
BTW, I still forget the lyrics to my own songs.
I do not know 1 actual guitar player.
Quote:I do not know 1 actual guitar player.
Thanks for sharing.
I've run into similar problems while trying to sing Little Brown Jug while playing my kazoo. Everyone says I sound like a fast food drive-thru speaker.
(sigh) Fame eludes me.
i'm about a year in and still probably six months away from playing and singing at the same time. Best advice is to just pick the thing up everyday a few minutes at a time. I do a run through of just about everything i know how to play then try and learn a couple more things, then put it back down when i get frustrated.
Quote:i'm about a year in and still probably six months away from playing and singing at the same time. Best advice is to just pick the thing up everyday a few minutes at a time. I do a run through of just about everything i know how to play then try and learn a couple more things, then put it back down when i get frustrated.
WHat frustrates me the most is when I make repeat mistakes on chords. To me, that shouldn't happen. Once I play it right, I shouldn't make that same mistake ever again. But alas, I do sometimes and it makes me want to smash the guitar into bits.
Quote:But alas, I do sometimes and it makes me want to smash the guitar into bits.
You have to go to youtube and search the angry guitar player. I won't link to it due to language, but I'm sure you'll find it funny.
I suggest you make a video of you playing the guitar and singing, then post it on Youtube. That way we can have something upon which to base our suggestions.
Please do this.
Please.
Quote:I suggest you make a video of you playing the guitar and singing, then post it on Youtube. That way we can have something upon which to base our suggestions.
Please do this.
Please.
Actually not a bad suggestion minus the Youtube part. Listening to playback of yourself gives you a great perspective of your playing.
Quote:WHat frustrates me the most is when I make repeat mistakes on chords. To me, that shouldn't happen. Once I play it right, I shouldn't make that same mistake ever again. But alas, I do sometimes and it makes me want to smash the guitar into bits.
Actually smashing your guitar is the first step...then you have to eat it and absorb it's power. It's the only way you'll become a great guitarist.
Quote:Actually not a bad suggestion minus the Youtube part. Listening to playback of yourself gives you a great perspective of your playing.
Leaving out the Youtube part would spoil it for me. This is all about me. Try to keep up.
Well as has been said a couple of times, muscle memory is the key. Play long enough and certain changes become subconscious. Improvising lead and singing is another matter, I've never personally been able to do that with much success personally although there are people who can. If you're just strumming along or playing a particular progression, just practice it over and over and before you know it you'll be able to sing without even thinking about the changes. Good luck.
Quote:I do not know 1 actual guitar player.
Really? Not even someone that plays guitar?
As for the op the more you play the more natural it gets I played for almost 12 years and than put it down for about 6 years and it's still natural to pick it back up. It's rusty but still natural.
I'm just glad I finally understand your avatar TMD :thumbsup:
Quote:Really? Not even someone that plays guitar?
As for the op the more you play the more natural it gets I played for almost 12 years and than put it down for about 6 years and it's still natural to pick it back up. It's rusty but still natural.
It doesn't surprise me that neither Tommy nor anyone he knows plays guitar....
Kids his age don't and won't like rock music because none of their friends like it, so none of them dare deviate from the same ol crap that they constantly listen to....and furthermore, learning the guitar is difficult and takes a lot of time and effort...thats something most kids also won't deal with.
Quote:It doesn't surprise me that neither Tommy nor anyone he knows plays guitar....
Kids his age don't and won't like rock music because none of their friends like it, so none of them dare deviate from the same ol crap that they constantly listen to....and furthermore, learning the guitar is difficult and takes a lot of time and effort...thats something most kids also won't deal with.
I'm not much older than Tommy I know plenty of people his age that play the Guitar and Bass. I guess that's why it's kind of shocking to me he doesn't know anyone that plays Guitar.
Quote:I'm not much older than Tommy I know plenty of people his age that play the Guitar and Bass. I guess that's why it's kind of shocking to me he doesn't know anyone that plays Guitar.
I think most of the music he listens to considers scratching a record back and forth as musical talent.
Quote:I think most of the music he listens to considers scratching a record back and forth as musical talent.
I know he's into rap, and probably electronic type music but even in my rap days
yes in my early 20's I went through the rap phase, I at least knew people that played guitar.
I mean it's not like where talking about the Cello it's a freaking guitar that it's one of the top 3 most played instruments.