Why is it so hard to sing and play guitar at the same time?

Question

I can play guitar, and i can sing, but i cant do both at the same time! what are ways to practice doing both at the same time?

Answer 1

Because you sing syllables on different beats than you strum the guitar most of the time. That's why you have to learn to play the song first so you can play it without thinking too much about it, then you can sing over top of it.

Answer 2

From someone who has been singing folk music and playing folk guitar for quite some time all I can say is to practice. Practice one song at a time, then practice two, and move on.

There's this old folk singer, who's a friend of mine. He must be over eighty years old. He's been singing for a living since way before I was born, and he does okay. When I asked this tall, skinny, banjo player how he does it, he told me that I have to practice, and sing with others.

Start with the words in front of you, you know the tune already, you're playing it. Well sing the song with the words in front of you, then sing it with a group of people without the words in front of you. Chances are, that the people that you sing with, know the words too. And don't be afraid to forget the words, or the chords. Just pick it up where you remember. Heck, professionals like my friend, forget words and chords all the time. They are just a bit better at faking it than we are. Not to mention they practice ALL the time!

Answer 3

I had the same problem for a long time with trying to sing and play keyboard. It takes a lot of practice first you have to get the song down on the guitar so you can play it without thinking about the chord changes. Some are just gifted and it comes easy, for some of us it takes a lot of work but after awhile it will get easier with a lot of practice practice practice.

Answer 4

practice,practice,practice-and don't do it with something hard to play,let alone sing along with it. Give yourself time and a lot of patience. Nothing good happens overnight.

As with anything you are learning to do,i.e. both sing and play, it takes time-get a simple song yhou like and do it over and over,almost til you are sick of it-one that,preferably you know the music by heart. Get by yourself somewhere without distractions or interruptions. It will happen.

Answer 5

Sounds like you basically just need a lot more practice (more on playing guitar). It may even take a few years of practicing both before it becomes a natural thing

Answer 6

yes. just practice HEAPS AND HEAPS AND HEAPS. some ppl get it easily, some don't. a tip i use is try learning th guitar part so you can play it without thinking (if its just chords). then think about what your hearing from your guitar (not what your doing to it) and sing to that.

Answer 7

I have the same problem! I think it's because you don't know what to concntrate more on! You have two meldoies, sometimes they differ, and you don't know "when to do what"! I think we'll get better by practicing a little bit more :)

Answer 8

Cris try singing in the shower, see if you can do that maybe you can get the tune up for playing and singing.

Answer 9

a lot of ppl cant do both
maybe becuz ur trying to concentrate on 2 very important tasks: trying to play the right notes and tryong to keep ur voice on key

Answer 10

its just like trying to tap your head and rubbing your belly at the same time, at first its difficult but with practice and perserverance you'll succeed.