basically I'm having trouble singing and playing at the same time. I can sing/play anything where the lyrics and chord notes are the same, but I can't bring myself to sing while playing something different. I either stop singing while I play or vice versa.

is there any way I can train myself out of this? any tricks I can use? help with this would be appreciated and would open a lot for me and my writing.

-Jake

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"I don't care how good you are, how fast you are. You ain't good enough no lessin' you got the soul." -Hubert Sumlin

i aint a master at it, but i just focus more on my singing. that seems to work

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riley

Just keep practicing, don't fall into the trap of giving up because it's hard. Like anything in life, if it's hard it's probably worth doing.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Just do it more often, play some easy Nirvana songs like Lounge Act and Sliver, work out Bob Dylans Mr. Tambourine Man, itll come to you if you just work at it, i promise

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE FOR SURE

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Hi J!

Try singing in your head first as you play.
Then move on to humming.
Go for the singing trying to witness just how the sung phrase accommodates into the rythm structure.

Hope this helps!
Cheers, Mike.

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FIGHT!

It just takes time and practice, but eventually you'll get there. Don't get too worried about it or it will just make you more frustrated.

I've been singing and playing for decades now, but your situation reminds me of when I was first learning to play guitar with good old Mel Bay #1. I was sitting down for months working things out, then all of a sudden I started thinking, holy crap, I can't play standing up! I couldn't stand and play worth crap for a couple of weeks, but I got through it. You will, too!

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

Sound advice here, time and practice. The first stuff I wanted to play when I got my first acoustic was J Prine songs. First I had to try and master the fingerpicking, and than add the singing...a long process. Even though I'd played bass and sang in bands for years doing the sing/play combo with a guitar was a whole new game. Just a new skill to learn.

But I think singing along in your head before trying to sing out loud is a good step too. Good luck!

Just keep practicing. Playing guitar and singing at the same time is kind of like playing the piano with both hands. You're sort of trying to get your brain to do two things at the same time!

Work on the guitar part first and, once you feel comfortable you have it down, try to incorporate the singing. Isolate any sections of the song you have trouble with and practice them over and over again (singing and playing at the same time) until you get them down cold.

It can be tricky, especially if you're doing more with the guitar than just strumming chords while singing. But just keep practicing and your brain will eventually make all the right connections and you'll have it!

All good advice, it just takes practice. I always have trouble with new songs, and I've been playing and singing for over 50 years. get yourself a good song list and concentrate on those alone, until you get them down pat. Then move on. I'ts OK to stop playing and grab hold of the mike for a bit, and concentrate more on your singing. every body dose it.
----Danny,

Or Son Of A Gun

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

I think that it's all about practising. Start with easy songs, or just with songs you know best. I can play and sing at the same time, but my voice is horrible, so I (better for other people's ears) don't sing .

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As far as my solo record, I don't want a gold record or anything, I'm happy to be small and to have the people appreciate the music who really like me for being me.
John Frusciante

Alcohol and members of the opposite sex.

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Rated "M" for meaty.