How many sing while they play? Or only play with no singing?

[tbirdman]

I started playing the guitar about 2.5 years ago. I started my journey with the thought I would just play the guitar, but I wouldn't sing. After about 6 months I started guitar and also singing lessons. I quit the singing lessons as I was frustrated with my lack of knowledge of music theory which made it difficult to understand the instructor. Fast forward another year and with music theory under my belt, I resumed my singing lessons. Ironically both the singing and guitar instructors will point out the same issues with a song.

This semester, I'm taking ear training for musicians. yes, I do both including things with multiple different guitars and the piano.

[rmp]

I secretly double as a solo acoustic performer, sometimes I even get paid!!



For that, singing and playing goes with.

[Inyo]

Originally Posted by Bluenose

Who doesn't like to sing a good murder song? Little Sadie, Ballad of Jesse James, Dire Wolf and Frankie and Johnny come to mind.

With my voice, I'd murder those songs.

Anyhow, when it comes to singing--to resurrect a rather old comment--I only know two tunes: One's Yankee Doodle and the other isn't. I always sing the latter.

[Ceabeceabe]

I love to play the guitar and I love to sing. Consider myself a much better guitar player than singer. But I took 2 and a half years of Singing lessons about 7 years ago, so I got the basics down and am comfortable singing while I play guitar and even when I don’t play guitar. Also play guitar without singing.

[rllink]

Originally Posted by Ceabeceabe

I love to play the guitar and I love to sing. Consider myself a much better guitar player than singer. But I took 2 and a half years of Singing lessons about 7 years ago, so I got the basics down and am comfortable singing while I play guitar and even when I don’t play guitar. Also play guitar without singing.

Exactly. A lot of people spend a whole lot of time learning to play guitar and expect to just start singing without giving it a second thought. Then when they can't sing they just proclaim that they are terrible singers and never sing again. Singing takes practice. One would be surprised what a few months of singing lessons can do to change that

[Misifus]

I learned to play to accompany my singing. That was 58 years ago.

[WFO!]

So many fantastic replies and it appears the vast majority do sing. I would imagine it would certainly be easier for those who don't sing to spend time with other acoustic players in a setting that allowed for encouragement. I am 56 years old and our (wife and I) friends don't play. Never could I imagine picking up my guitar in front of our group and letting loose with a song. Lack of confidence? Absolutely and I am not ashamed to admit it. I still struggle just picking the guitar in front of people I don't know. My shortcomings as a solo couch picker. Truth be told, it is easier for me to play something now in front of people outside of my immediate family. But still far from comfortable. Practice I guess...

[Bridgepin]

At first I just played and didn't sing but found that I wouldn't finish the songs, so to feel more inspired about playing I started to sing and it was freighting but I stuck with it and now I'm not so bad.

Here is a tip play and sing with a metronome because it's easy to change the tempo to fit your voice.

[rllink]

Playing and singing in front of an audience it is very hard for me to get started. But once I've broken through the wall with the first song I'm all over it. Not a shy bone in my body after that. But the first song is I'm just fighting panic. I also find it much easier to sing and play for strangers or people that I don't know well than it is to sing and play for family members and friends. Unless of course, everyone is singing, like at our neighborhood bon fires in the summer.

[Stonehauler]

no one wants to hear me sing...not matter if I am playing or not. The only time they accept me singing is when there is no one else in the neighborhood (including dogs)

The restraining order says so...

[davidbeinct]

Originally Posted by The Watchman

No singing here. A music teacher in high school advised me to learn lip syncing so as not to ruin the choir.

That’s a terrible teacher. Their job was to teach you to do the best with what you have, not to chase you away so as not to mess up their vision. My grammar school music teacher put me off trying to learn an instrument for a long time. Bad teachers are the worst and bad music teachers are the worst of the worst.

[EllenGtrGrl]

I used to sing in glee club in elementary school. I started playing guitar in early 1979 (when I was 15), and I've been singing and playing guitar since 1990, when I started playing in rock bands (the first song I sang and played was "China Grove" by the Doobie Brothers). It was a mess at first, because my phrasing was a mess. I phrased my guitar playing at first, like I was singing or phrased my singing like I was playing guitar - both ways, it sounded weird and just plain bad. What really helps things, is to have the playing down cold, so that it's almost like you're playing on autopilot. That way you can concentrate on your singing. It's one of the reasons why I usually don't sing and play in the church band I'm in nowadays - with the exception of the cantor related songs (which are fixed in the playlist for several weeks), we switch to different songs every week, only giving me enough time to get the songs down to the point where I don't screw up playing them. You want to add to your workload - sing lead vocals, AND play lead guitar!! I've typically done that (along with singing harmony and other background vocals) in the rock bands I've been in.

[Denny B]

Originally Posted by The Watchman

No singing here. A music teacher in high school advised me to learn lip syncing so as not to ruin the choir.

Life's experiences have taught me that sometimes, the most honest person in the room is the one who'll look you in the eye and tell you "Don't quit your Day Job..."

[FrankHudson]

I have a problematic singing voice/skill. Very pitchy for one thing. For a few years around the turn of the century I concentrated on guitar instrumental music, both acoustic and electric. Seven years ago I began to formulate what became my Parlando Project, where I combine original music with various words, mostly other people's poetry that is in the public domain. I did various things to get around singing full voice: spoken word, chanting, talk-singing.

Now some years later I risk singing more, still cautious because of my limitations. I think the "almost singing" has helped my singing voice a little.

[rstaight]

I am Not A Singer. Repeat, Not A Singer.

I went to a jam this past spring and only a few showed up. Well if I didn't take my turn it was going to be a short night. So I gave it a go. No one beat me up afterwards.

I now practice singing about half the time when I practice guitar. Now I take my turn at the jams. And sometimes I get favorable comments. I know they are just being nice.