The challenge continues ...

justinthyme · #1 January 11th, 2006

There is a thread elsewhere in this forum about singing and playing the guitar at the same time ... a huge hurdle in itself, as attested to here and elsewhere. This is a somewhat different take ...

Yesterday my coach, who has been teaching me <name of song deleted due to paranoia> as an intro to fingerstyle, decided that it was time I played along to a MIDI backing track he'd created. Piece of cake, I think - I have this number down to a fine art! He puts it on at reduced speed just so I can keep up. I am completely ready, the music counts in and the open bars ring out ... and my brain goes dead ... completely! This piece I thought I knew so well just flies out the window.

I spent the entire lesson just trying to get it right, and still didn't fully succeed. Now, my teacher had warned me this might happen, but his words had kind of gone in one ear and out the other.

The brain has now to concentrate not only on reproducing the guitar piece, but keeping proper time with the band and being distracted by other parts of the song which aren't exactly like the one you are playing (namely, all of them). The singing (on the track) made things ten times worse! I was genuinely floored by all of this - it was quite a profound effect and really unexpected.

Has anyone else experienced this?

It seems the challenges just keep coming - which is a good thing, of course.

One other thing - my admiration for professional musos who make it all look so effortless just keeps growing in leaps and bounds. I wanted to say that here, too - as a kind of 'silent tribute' to them all.

Alfcarguy · #2 January 11th, 2006

At least you didn't learn the wrong chords for the song. I've been there done it.

Lcjones · #3 January 12th, 2006

lets get zen....

singing and playing. when you become one with the song, you are the song. you no longer "think" about the song or the music. it just comes naturally. of course, it does require practice to the nth degree of that song.

ohmmmmmm

les

RockaBilly · #4 January 17th, 2006

I'm not a singer but I was able to sing "I feel fine" by the Beatles and play lead and rhythm but not on "I got this thing on a move" by Grand Funk because I needed to keep my mind on the guitar. I guess timing makes a difference because you don't have time to make mistakes on your guitar. I'll bet the backing track's what put you on the spot because it's not going to slow down or stop for you.

neither will the band.

Andy S · #5 January 17th, 2006

OK, Been there, done that...sort of. About 30 years ago I had been in this particular band for about a year. We were doing were doing quite well, locally. Nice following, good crowds, played the nicer clubs in town, etc, etc.

We were learing a new song called Jackie Blue, by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (at least I think it was them). I sang LEAD on this song. I sang lead on about four others, but we had a "lead" singer for most of the others. He insisted we do the song one night. I told him I wasn't comfortable with the chord changes AND singing it, yet. I wanted one more day to practice.

But NOoooo! He insisted. The other guys gave in. We start the song. The intro goes by, I start to sing and hit the WRONG CHORD!!!

Instant Panic attack!!

But I kept my cool and quickly started faking singin! Moving my lips but no sound. I looked like my microphone had died. I even pretended to tap on it and no sound came out.

We asked for a minute, played with the mic cord. it "started working again" and we went on to the next song. He tried it again the next set. I got it right that time!

Of course , that was after taking my guitar back into the dressing room and practicing the start of it over and over for 20 minutes!

So, moral of the story... no sweat! I does happen to people who do this regularly. Just a mental blank once in a while.

Same band, a few months later.....we had 50 songs on our list. Just before going back on stage after a break some girl asked me how I remembered all the songs.
I said,"geez, I don't know, I just do." First song out of the chute, I start the singing. My brain takes a break,

I start to think "WHAT ARE THE FIRST WORDS!!??", I just stood back from the mic (much to the worry of the other guys in the band. They thought something was wrong) I tried to make my mind a blank and not think about anything. I step back up to the mic and open my mouth...out come the words.

Like LCjones said "when you become one with the song, you are the song. you no longer "think" about the song or the music. it just comes naturally"

Keep practicing, it will all start coming together in little time and will be natural to you.
Just enjoy what you're doing, that's the key!

chammon · #6 January 18th, 2006

I've combined singing while playing the guitar for over fifty years now and I still don't feel like I do either one well enough to cover up for how bad I am at the other.

But folks keep asking for it, so I let em have it.

Kirk Lorange · #7 January 18th, 2006

Like Andy says ... you've just got to do it and do it and do it.

Good job it's fun!

jimbo · #8 January 18th, 2006

what a great question, there is so much to playing the guitar how does it ever get boring? also the reply from Andrew is such an interesting story!. my point is everytime I look in this site I find it interesting. thank you.

Str8Axe · #9 January 18th, 2006

I have a really tough time trying to sing and play only certain songs. Some songs I can sing and play guitar through flawlesley, however, there are even more songs I can only do one or the other no matter how much I practice.

RockaBilly · #10 January 19th, 2006

I'm glad to know I'm not alone.

WernHalen · #11 January 19th, 2006

Singing the sang while playing is not my biggest problem... I cant sing into a mic while playing the guitar... When I step up to the mic I want to look at my hands, not that I do that too much when playing without the mic...

Practice thats all you need I think. it all comes down to coordination. Its like playing the drums some have it naturally and some have to practice a lot to get tehir members moving individually... (I still have to parctice)

justinthyme · #12 January 19th, 2006

Wern - I'm fine singing and playing the guitar by myself, on some songs not others (seems to be a common problem). The original observation was about playing along with other band members - even if they are recorded band members. Someone commented about having to keep time - ie the 'band' isn't going to stop and wait for you to place your fingers just ....*so*; while that's certainly part of it, it was an anticipated hurdle. What took me completely off-guard was the effect that listening to others playing and singing had on my ability to play something I knew fairly well. I've burned some slowed-down tracks to CD, and playing along is already getting easier - as expected.

On another matter, Wern - I see you hail from my old country. I'll be in SA next month for a while - if you live anywhere near Hartbeespoort Dam perhaps we could meet and have a Castle and a jam?

WernHalen · #13 January 20th, 2006

We can do that... I am in the Rustenburg area... So yeh we might just do that... How about you come and listen to Obedience while you are here. A couple of friends of mine are in a band, called Obedience and they are pretty good. Top the Tukkies FM and UJ FM charts for a couple of weeks. They play a type of old school rock influenced heavily by Zeppelin, metallica etc. Their music is very melodious and the vocals arent hidden in a snarl like most hard rock bands do nowadays.

Hopefully I will be playing for them in a while... I just need to get my rhytm on track. I can keep rhytm but muting the strings while playing faster and more intricate rhytms are my nemeses... Ill PM you...

justinthyme · #14 January 20th, 2006

great, Wern - look forward to it! I have some wonderful memories of the Rustenberg area!