The Underappreciated Art of Singing and Playing Guitar at the Same Time

The Underappreciated Art of Singing and Playing Guitar at the Same Time Well, then, How Do You Actually Sing and Play Simultaneously? ChaptersBefore Playing Guitar and Singing at the Same TimeListen Carefully to the Song (Before Playing and Singing)Practice SingingPracticing the GuitarIntroducing RhythmAlternate Between Vocals and GuitarLearning to play the guitar is not necessarily very difficult in itself, but it requires patience, concentration and hours of training to get the correct sound. If you are happy to strum a few guitar chords, and you are happy to do away with music theory, guitar solos, and more advanced guitar skills, you can be playing well in no time.On the other hand, singing is a completely different activity with its own techniques and methods.  Knowing how to play guitar is one thing, but having the dexterity to navigate the fretboard whilst singing away is a little different.Singing and playing the guitar at the same time is not as easy as it sounds.  It's a bit like rubbing your tummy and patting your head, as your mouth and hands are doing different things - different pitches and rhythms - simultaneously.You will have to learn to synchronize the vocals and the guitar, which presupposes that you already have some basis in both areas (and have followed some guitar lessons).You will need substantial vocal ability, and be comfortable covering several octaves.Similarly, to sing while playing the guitar, you have to master the basics of the guitar, to play rhythm chords and be able to hold a rhythm for vocals.If your rhythmic base and your guitar playing are unstable, your singing will be wobbly and the results will not be what you are after. it should be easy to play on guitar (metre: 4/4) and easy to sing along at a normal speed, with an accessible melodic line (the Beatles or Stealers Wheel are excellent example).Do not push yourself too far to begin with, or make things too complicated, because you risk putting yourself off.Of course, playing guitar can be difficult.Your brain and your fingers will need to know the tune by heart.Working on the Guitar and Vocals Separate lyThere is no real method for learning to playing the guitar and singing simultaneously. If we can give any advice, it would be to work on both skills separately before combining them when you feel at ease (maybe after following guitar lessons). Start with your weaker skill; if you're a singer, start with the guitar and vice versa.Google online guitar lessons and start learning.Listen Carefully to the Song (Before Playing and Singing)This seems obvious, but many people neglect this stage.Having listened to a song dozens of times and feeling like you know it does not mean you have really listened to it carefully. Train your ear to spot highlights, toned accents, chord changes, and different tones. Do not hesitate to ask your guitar teacher for help. No guitar teacher? Find one for guitar lessons London or Oxford.Listen before you play!Find out if some phrases are longer than others, which will mean varying the tempo as well as changing the melody.You have to listen to the song as if you were playing it yourself, which will train your ear and give you a new outlook on the piece.Being able to play the guitar and sing at the same time is a  question of listening.Practicing the GuitarThe guitar does not only serve as grounding for your song, you will need to develop your skill so that your chosen piece is the pinnacle of your musical achievement.Always choose a simple rhythm to begin with and play the chords in rhythm focusing on your guitar.How to sing while playing the guitar?Do not try to simplify your playing by strumming using the back and forth technique as it will lessen the interest of the piece.Progression MethodIf you want a more gradual approach to playing guitar, this is how it’s done: take the rhythm of the piece in its simplest form and repeat this exercise until its final form.Understanding the rhythm on your guitar is essential if you want to be able to sing along while you play your instrument. The greater your command of the rhythm, the easier i t will be for you to play and sing in time without having to stop and think about it later on.Once you have the guitar part down, start singing in your head without making a sound. You should already notice a slight difference in the level of concentration required to continue playing at the right rhythm.Continue this exercise until everything becomes natural.Being able to remain focused is vital to being able to play and sing at the same time.Introducing RhythmRhythm is the main issue faced when playing and singing simultaneously. You need to learn to play the guitar quickly.  If you are not in rhythm you will fall out of time and your song will fall apart, it’s that simple.Breaking Down SyllablesOnce you have got the rhythm of the guitar and the rhythm of the song, you will need to combine them so that they synchronize.  This is the first step covered in guitar lessons.  Break down the lyrics by syllables and work out which note or stroke they correspond to.This method is academ ic, but it works very well to help you understand each step of the piece, and to memorize the different phases of the song and the score.Using InstinctAnother method would be to pick out the important syllables, those that coincide with the main chords on the guitar.As soon as you hit a more accentuated note, find out what syllable it corresponds to, and use this as a method to keep time.This method gives you reliable benchmarks without adopting a strict, analytical methodology.Both this latter method or the former, more academic one, are phases you will have to work through as you learn your piece.The more you play the better and more natural your guitar and vocal skills will become. Eventually you can learn to improvise on the guitar.Alternate Between Vocals and GuitarGetting your priorities straight is an important concern when you want to play the guitar and sing at the same time: you may have a better grasp on the guitar part or the vocals, to the detriment of the other.  If yo u misplay a note it may impact the way you sing.The aim is to keep the intensity of your voice and your playing in tune to form a harmonious and coherent whole.Practice to Develop Coherent Singing and PlayingOnce you have mastered the vocal and guitar parts separately, try playing the guitar and singing with the same intensity, almost monotonously.Overtime, playing and singing becomes second nature.Repeat the same thing singing and playing more intensely, and then again slowly.Finally, try varying intensities progressively: play and sing softly then go crescendo playing and singing at maximum intensity.  Repeat this exercise in the opposite direction until playing and singing almost at a whisper.  By performing these little exercises, you get a feel for the different phrases and nuances of the piece.You can also mix it up by singing softly while playing hard and vice versa.  You will discover new effects that will enrich both your guitar playing and your song.Now learn all you need to know about buying a quality, low-price guitar...