How to Play the Guitar and Sing at the Same Time
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If you go to see your favorite band in concert, you’ll probably notice that a lot of the musicians are playing guitar or bass and singing at the same time. While they make it look like a piece of cake, there is a pretty good chance, as a beginner, you’re struggling to do the same. It’ll take time, but with a few tips and a lot of practice, you’ll be able to play the guitar and sing at the same time with ease.
How to Play the Guitar and Sing at the Same Time
Think of Them as the Same Thing
While, yes, you are doing two things at the same time, you have to approach playing the guitar and singing at the same time the same way drummers approach playing using all four of their limbs. Once you mentally stop seeing these actions as separate things and melt them together, you’ll be in a better spot.
Know Your Basics
You can’t focus on the song lyrics if you’re trying to remember how to finger a B7 chord. Make sure you have your basic guitar skills down to the point where you don’t even have to think about how a chord is played. And make sure you choose a song within your skillset so you’ll have an easier time trying to play the guitar and sing at the same time.
Perfect the Guitar Part First
Practice the song on your guitar until you have it completely memorized — at least in terms of what chords to play when. A good way to test if you have the song down pat is by playing it while watching TV or reading a book aloud.
Learn the Lyrics
If you have the guitar part ready to go, but still find it hard to sing the words, it may be because you don’t have the song fully memorized. Stumbling over the lyrics can make you forget the guitar part too, so take time to memorize the lyrics themselves.
Take Your Time
It’s better to slowly master playing the guitar and singing at the same time than to go full speed and make a ton of mistakes. Hum the song first, take your time strumming, and repeat sections you don’t have perfect yet.
No matter what instrument you’re interested in learning, Grace Music School can provide you with the best music education on Long Island. We offer music lessons and vocal lessons using fun and innovative methods tailored to meet the needs of each student. For more information or to schedule a lesson, call us at 631-239-6169 (Fort Salonga) or 631-470-9705 (Melville).
