whats the best way to learn to sing and play guitar at the same time?

[LastKnight]

is it better to learn the seperate parts first then try and assemble them? or is it better to try and link everything together from the beggining, singing certian lyrics when playing something?

i got the guitar part down and i know the lyrics, i just cant seem to get it to fit together.

any advice would be apprecieated

-LK

[Wat_Tyler]

1. It comes with time.

Happens by osmosis, really.

[bbernardini]

2. What, you put the guitar under your pillow?

:)

[LastKnight]

4. this ive tried...

doesnt make for a good night of sleep and its murder on your neck *yes, bad pun i know*

-LK

[Beware the Beast Man]

3. Practice.

Since I do mostly instrumental stuff, perhaps I'm not the greatest help, but I think it would just take practice. I admit, trying to do two things at once is difficult. Start off simple; maybe try one word per bar to practice, and then work your way up.

[LifeDuringWartime]

5. les claypool

...said in a bass player article about singing+playing that he practices the bass part until he doesn't have to think about it, then adds in vocals. that might be a good approach.

[no name no slogan]

12. That's the best advice I've read

I'm a singer/guitar player in a trio (and an occassional solo singer/guitarist), and that's the best advice I've heard yet.

Get the guitar part down pat, so you can do it in your sleep. Then get the vocal parts down. Add them together, and practice practice practice!

[slutticus]

6. Just pick a song you like..

...learn it well...and jump right in.

At first, you will screw up every other measure, but one day you'll start singing and playing at the same time and you won't even notice...

At first I thought that I would have to go through that process for every song I wanted to learn or write, but after a while it's just something you will be able to do with any song, even one you've never played/sang before.

[Beetwasher]

7. Honestly, It's Really All About Practice

Just do it every day...Then after a while get yourself a harp and a brace and try guitar, singing AND harmonica! That's when it gets really fun!

[asthmaticeog]

8. My solution was to get a singer.

Seriously, there's no hope for me singing and playing at the same time. Not the way I play in my band, anyway. Strummin' some Hank on the porch, I can sing along with, but beyond that, I'm laughable.

[one_true_leroy]

9. Two things....

1: just strum once each chord change, but keep you singing in time. Then do the four to a bar quarter notes (strum down once every beat), then with eigth notes (twice per beat), and finally with syncopated rhythm

2: 'strum' along while listening to music in the car or wherever. Tap a beat on your thigh or strum an air guitar, listening for the rhythm. Any of the unplugged type albums (DMB, Dylan, Willie Nelson, etc, etc) are perfect because the chords are fairly simple and the rhythm is constant.

[Options Remain]

10. I play along with the radio

one trick a lot of bands use is that the part being played by the singer is in time with his/her singing or its very simple a quiet point.

[NMDemDist2]

15. that's how I learn new songs, learn the guitar parts well then when I add

the vocals the first few times, I just strum the chord changes until I am comfortable with the phrasing... as i practice and practice a piece the guitar playing fills out and the vocals get into a "groove" and viola!

[one_true_leroy]

11. More importantly...

since the only reason anyone learns to play guitar is to woo women (or men), work on your 'earnest, sensitive, rock star playing tender guitar' face. always practice in front of a mirror to make sure you've got that 'break out the lighters' look.

[Pepperbelly]

13. just relax and play the song...

You may well be thinking about it too much.

[TrogL]

14. Is this a "walk and chew gum question"?

I'm an organist. I have to play both hands and feet simultaneously (oh and glare at the choir, keep an eye on the priest, scream "page" at the pageturner, get ready for the next piston).

I've tried the methodology of learn each part (left, right, pedal) separately then combine them (in two's then three), but it's never worked for me. At best I've managed to memorize one part and then worry about the other two separately. I'm working on the Widor 5th right now and the only way it's going to work is to have the right hand working automatically. I just can't read the music that fast and the pageturner took one look at the page and went on strike.