Singing and Using your Six string at the Time

by Jean Welles
Even when I first started teaching the guitar lessons, it was easy to see that some of the students had an immediate ability to sing and play songs at the same time. Other students had a horrible time trying to match their singing to their playing. Here are a few tips to help you sing and play at the same time.

Practice playing the guitar first. If you are struggling to change the chords, it will be impossible to match the singing and playing. Professional musicians have one tool in common, a metronome.

The next step is to work on the song. If you are not sure of the melody, get help. A teacher can be very helpful here. It's going to be easiest for you if you start with a song you know and one that is not too difficult to play. After you can master easier songs, then try songs with fuller chords and fancier guitar arrangements.

Next, try to put the singing and playing together at the same time. It helps to try the song at a slow tempo. In our Christian Guitar Course there is a slow practice session for each lesson that helps students learn each song. You may want to hum the song first, and then try the words.

One more suggestion has to do with your mental and spiritual expectations. Imagine that you can already sing and play the guitar with ease. I believe in a personal God and always suggest beginning with prayer.

Would you like to try praying? Just look around us, you can see there has to be a Creator that made this world. There is no way that the animal kingdom was randomly created by accident.

Everything in nature points to a Designer. Is it possible to actually get guidance through prayer? That is correct It may even be a means to help you with playing and singing with your guitar.

Remember to start with an easy song. Work on playing the guitar chords first. Learn to sing it in tune with good rhythm. After you are good on the guitar and singing it should be easy to do them together.

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