Learning to sing/play

Bahamut · #1 09-16-2007, 09:15 PM

Can anyone suggest any really simple songs to try? I've been playing guitar for ages, but I've never really felt inclined to try to sing before, and I'm pretty self-concious about it.

I've been screwing around with some old Cat Stevens, and some Dave Matthews. I'm really at a loss for what else to try..

So far I suck, but I'm working on it!

Thanks

Davey · #2 09-17-2007, 05:53 AM

Come on fellas, help him out

I absolutely suck at playing and singing so I guess it wouldn't just be him you're helping

Wolfram · #3 09-17-2007, 07:29 AM

I would continue to go in the direction that you are going. Ballads are a good place to start and also Nirvana and some beatles stuff if you want a real challenge. It is always best to learn the music you like. What/who are some of your influences?

-Wolfram

richard1973 · #4 09-17-2007, 07:58 AM

i could never do both at same time, my hand starts going at the same time as my voice, i cant even talk and play at the same time. Though subjecting people to my singing as well would be too cruel

kennydoe · #5 09-17-2007, 08:31 AM

dave matthews is NOT a good place to start. HIs melodies and playing are so rhythmically focused and complex that you'll drive yourself crazy trying.

Go with basic classic rock stuff. Sweet Home Alabama, Taking Care of Business, 3 chord 60s stuff - beatles, stones, etc.

It's really not hard - go with songs that you know well that you don't really have to think about.

When i learned to rollerblade, i learned to play hockey at the same time - focusing on the hockey part made it MUCH easier to learn to skate - you don't realize you're doing it because of the distraction.

So play guitar and sing while you're playing hockey on rollerblades. that's my advice

~K

Mike239 · #6 09-17-2007, 08:36 AM

Try some really easy songs that have simple chord progressions so you don't have to think about the guitar part then just sing the lyrics whilst your doing your chord progressions. Easier said then done!
Its a pain its just like everything it takes time and hard work.

ibaraki_gaijin · #7 09-17-2007, 08:41 AM

I go through phases of wanting to be able to do this then realise that whilst guitar wise i can do it reasonably well my voice is still awful.. oh well sometimes it's still fun..
I always found Neil Young and The Eels to have some nice simple stuff that is an easy starting place

Bahamut · #8 09-17-2007, 08:51 AM

I think the main problem I run into is, most of the stuff I like/listen to on a regular basis doesn't really fit into this context.

I'm big on guitar players of course, Vai, Satch, Gilbert, Friedman etc....

I also listen to a lot of electronic stuff, NIN, Gary Numan...

Theres already some great suggestions in this thread though, thanks!

Wild_Child · #9 09-17-2007, 08:56 AM

If stuff is to intricate or rhythmically complex for you to play and sing, it helps to break the song down into its basic chord structure and just sing along that way.

It will also allow you to take songs and make them your own once you get more confident with it. Everyone seems to have their own relationship with rhythms and singing, so it's always hard to mimic someone else's. If you're playing to an audience, they'll probably enjoy it more than if you have everything perfect and exactly like the original anyway.

Hikey Mikey · #10 09-17-2007, 01:37 PM

How about some simple yet classic singer-songwriter material? That's how I'm learning. Neil Young's "Unknown Legend" is a great song, and you can do the whole thing with C and G.

Another technique you can use is to strum the chord just once at each changeover and let it ring out and diminish as you sing. Then when you get smooth with that, bump it up to two beats, a downstroke followed by an upstroke, and build up until you're strumming uninterrupted. Baby steps, ya know?

Good luck!

Tom Gilroy · #11 09-17-2007, 03:57 PM

I've been trying to do the same for a while now. Not really coming all that naturally to me. The first song I tried to sing and play at the same time was Past the Point of Rescue by Hal Ketchum.

Trying to get used to singing and playing Comfortably Numb at the minute.

Davey · #12 09-17-2007, 04:06 PM

It makes things worse when you've got a voice like mine, like chewbacca giving birth

kennydoe · #13 09-17-2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Gilroy

I've been trying to do the same for a while now. Not really coming all that naturally to me. The first song I tried to sing and play at the same time was Past the Point of Rescue by Hal Ketchum.

Trying to get used to singing and playing Comfortably Numb at the minute.

Funny story...i was at a gig yesterday and CN was on the Bride & Groom's request list (i liked them

)

I accidentally had the 'loop' set on my sequencer from measures 23-26. I had to stop the sequence and play the chords on the keys whilst playing the guitar solo at the same time.

It wasn't fun.

~K

LonePhantom · #14 09-17-2007, 07:31 PM

The thing I found that made it easiest was write my own songs to sing. I think most people who sing and play guitar usually have their own natural rhythm, as soon as you get in touch with your natural rhythm it's easier to take it out of the box and sing other peoples songs. I've song backing vocals, and lead vocals in a few bands, it's a matter of just knowing that you can use your natural rhythm to play the guitar in time and in tune while you concentrate on singing.