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

[Railroad Bum]

I appreciate the kind words. I am a very primitive singer and player, and I just do it for fun. My only point in the thread is that no matter how bad you think you sound singing, if you keep doing it, you will get a lot better.

[Railroad Bum]

Originally Posted by Joe Beamish

It’s interesting how many excellent guitarists are also great singers. I would include Clapton and Doc Watson in that group easily.

Vince Gill, Jerry Garcia, Glenn Campbell, Tony Rice, David Gilmour, Warren Haynes, Steve Wariner, and Dickey Betts, to name a few.

[Coler]

I was once a strummer and a singer. I tried to push myself to learn to play some instrumental pieces. In particular I wanted to be able to lead some tunes at a trad (Irish) session.

I have managed that and the very nice knock on benefit is my playing has in general improved so much from where it was (which is coming off a very low bass) and, most importantly, I have a sense of where I need to go with my playing to take the next steps, all of which enhances my enjoyment of my music so much.

So, for example, here’s a song I love that I used to strum along with, and now I’m happy to see I can take a stab at the fingerpicking, and I have found that in the process of getting to that point, my singing got a lot better (ok I think so and so does my mum you may have your own views…)

[CharlieBman]

Been singing and playing ever since I picked up my first guitar about 59 years ago. Well, maybe a couple of months after I picked up that guitar as I had to learn to play it well enough first.

[Mayfair]

Originally Posted by Joe Beamish

It’s interesting how many excellent guitarists are also great singers. I would include Clapton and Doc Watson in that group easily.

He's definitely a master of blending the two.

[Arapaho G]

I find singing over fingerpicking to be quite difficult. My guitar interest at present is in fingerpicking only so consequently don't sing. Strumming and singing is different (for me anyway) and I did a lot of that when I was a young man. Don't have much of a singing voice left anyway. Performing for the grandkids would be my only motivation at this point, but that could reduce the time spent with them

[WFO!]

Originally Posted by kbraker

I will sing to myself in order to keep my place in song, never next to someone ( don’t want to throw them off) or in a mic for fear of being heard….

Me <raises hand>

[Silly Moustache]

I've probably already answered on this long running thread, but at the risk of repeating myself.

I took up guitar in the mid '60s because I wanted to sing songs, and playing seemed like the only way to do that.

I often play without singing, for my own amusement, but rarely play an instrumental when playing to an audience.

I know very fine players who NEVER sing, and some who sing but cannot play very well.

I have all aspects come to my club.

[datzus1]

I do both, and have since ‘63. Not great at either, but I figure I don’t have to be great to have fun.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Interesting. I do both, but as an English prof I've always been more interested in lyrics. I rarely listen to instrumental music.

However, with the recent passing of Jeff Beck, I was looking at some of his performances. He was amazing, such a good player that he didn't NEED words. It helped me understand why he is viewed at such a genius.

scott memmer

[jwwvabeach]

I play to sing along with. Love taking some tunes that grab me when I hear them and figuring out my version, usually leaving out the solos etc.. as I am not good at that.

I don't have a great voice, and I'm just a little more than an open chord strummer, but I have a great time unwinding with a nice glass of bourbon and a play list of songs to sing and strum through.

I'm just good enough that if my friends have had a few bourbons they'll think I'm not bad.