I sing R&B music and just bought a guitar in hopes of learning to play and sing at the same time. Help please!

Question

How hard will it be to learn how to play songs such by artists who sing along to acoustic guitar solos such as Donnel Jones and Anthony Hamilton? Is it just basic chords that I need to learn or is it very complicated? Also is it necessary to take private lessons in order to learn how to play the guitar? Because I was hoping to teach myself with video tapes and online lessons or maybe if I have to take guitar classes at my college.

Answer 1

I love playing the Blues and it takes certain dexterity and finger movement to do it. Yet it begins with the simple chord progressions in the keys of E, A, and D. Rhythm and Blues is not defined, however, by the key it is played in, but by the feelings expressed in the song itself and getting them projected.

I am unfamiliar with the two artists you mentioned, but I routinely play in the old styles of Lightnin' Hopkins, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and others.

You begin with simple chords as mentioned, emphasizing the bass note structures. It would be best to take lessons on chord formations, runs and riffs, and music theory. Sometimes, self-taught guitarists form bad habits hard to break. That is why the importance of learning correctly the first time is paramount to excelling at the art.

Hire a guitar teacher for several months. You won't go wrong in doing so. Just remember that you won't be playing immediately--it takes strong will and determination to get past the hurdle of sore fingertips. After the calluses come so, too, will the levels of expertise.

Answer 2

I had some trouble with that too, and I find a good remedy is to practice just the guitar part over, and over, and over, until you can play it without even thinking about it, and without even having to look at you're hands. that way, when you throw your voice in the mix, you'll know the guitar part so well, you will be playing it automatically, and will be able to focus all you're attention on you're singing. As far as scales, the blues pentatonic is probably the most popular. other than that, just get some chord charts and learn some good chords, like c,g,d,Amin, f, etc. Also, maybe consider taking a songwriting class at a community college and read some articles on the internet about it. I took a songwriting class in Last year in High school, and that helped my playing/singing synchronization a lot. best of luck.