so i want to sing....

[Jay]

but i can't for the life of me get my hands to play along with it. as soon as i open my mouth everyhting goes to shit.

i'm wondering if there are some tips that anyone has, and also, what are the easiest possible songs to start with? i can kindof do christmas song, but even when that one gets to the chorus, it gets pretty rough. it's to the point now where it's not fun to try, it's just frustrating.

i know i'll wake up one morning (i hope) and be able to do it, but for now, i need some help...

thanks.

[jkanter]

but i can't for the life of me get my hands to play along with it. as soon as i open my mouth everyhting goes to shit.

i'm wondering if there are some tips that anyone has, and also, what are the easiest possible songs to start with? i can kindof do christmas song, but even when that one gets to the chorus, it gets pretty rough. it's to the point now where it's not fun to try, it's just frustrating.

i know i'll wake up one morning (i hope) and be able to do it, but for now, i need some help...

thanks.

Try and figure out the specific words you have chord changes on. That seems to be the best way. With Christmas song, on the chorus, whenever you say Love...change to next chord. I know it isn't the easiest thing but that's probably the best way. Also remember to get the song down so you can play it without thinking. I can have a fairly competent conversation while playing Stone and I don't think singing along to it is that hard at all. Now, I'm not bragging, I'm just making a point that it helps to be able to do it without even thinking. Hope that helps, do a search also, this has been asked many times before....peace

[Jay]

thanks...

are there specific songs i should start with?

[Levi]

Some of the easier ones:

Christmas Song
Jimi Thing (I was able to sing along with that one as soon I learned how to play it)
#41
Crash
Bartender
Don't Drink the Water
Warehouse (The chorus is pretty easy, the verse can be really tricky though)
Crush

Those were the first ones that I could do, like jk said, you have to be able to just play without thinking and match up words with finger changes.

[Xoosh]

damn, i stil have a hard time singing to jimi thing =(

[elderemery]

I am new to playing DMB style, and it is indeed pretty difficult, but earlier in my playing when I was learning to finger pick I found that once I picked up a section of a tune it helped to play it over and over while I watched the tube. That allowed me to slowly take my mind off of my fingers, and once I could pay attention to the TV without affecting my playing, singing while playing was a breeze.

For what it's worth, it works for me, and reduces my frustration level.

[Chumpnet]

I agree with jkanter's method of figuring out the words that fall on chord changes. That's what I do when I first integrate the two. A word will not always fall directly on a chord change but shift it a bit so that it does. Then gradually fill in the rest of the lyrics. When your mind starts to get tied up, keep the guitar going and sacrifice the lyrics (with humming or something) but make sure to still sing those key words.

Ultimately you have to practise enough that you can play the guitar mostly by muscle memory and free up your mind to focus on lyrics.

After that, you can think about "loosening" up the lyrics so it sounds smoother and less "forced".

Right now I'm learning What you are which has lyrics that matches quite nicely to the rhythm.

[Jay]

thanks for all your help guys.

i'm wondering...is Fool to Think impossible to sing? for some reason i always play that song when i am just sitting around...

[michaelb14]

A good singing challenge is So Much to Say and What Would You Say.
They have unusual non melodic rythms and singing patterns.

[gravedigger]

thanks for all your help guys.

i'm wondering...is Fool to Think impossible to sing? for some reason i always play that song when i am just sitting around...

hehe, I've developed a habit of playing it too, when just sittin' around. It's not very challenging vocally, but I'm very far from putting the two together. but, I'd like to eventually get it.

[jpittman]

A good singing challenge is So Much to Say and What Would You Say.
They have unusual non melodic rythms and singing patterns.

Heh ... I can do SMTS no problem whatsoever, but WWYS? haha, it's a trainwreck if I try and sing at the same time.

Y'all ever heard that IEM of the Dreams of our Fathers soundcheck? It's worse than that.

[gravedigger]

A good singing challenge is So Much to Say and What Would You Say.
They have unusual non melodic rythms and singing patterns.

Heh ... I can do SMTS no problem whatsoever, but WWYS? haha, it's a trainwreck if I try and sing at the same time.

Y'all ever heard that IEM of the Dreams of our Fathers soundcheck? It's worse than that.

I second that. SMTS is not a problem but I still can't weave the singing in to WWYS - its just damn tricky. I've never even attempted DOOF, and I probably never will,

peace

[TrippinBilly05]

I had the hardest time with crash at first, cuz the rythm is tricky to get down when you sing and play at the same time...but I finally got the hang of it.

[mbgreen]

I know its frusturating, but just keep playing the songs. It really does all just click one day. It is good practice as stated earlier to focus on the tv or a conversation while you play. It helps get the muscle memory going. Anyway, PLAY PLAY PLAY. Thats all there is to it.

[slapman24]

i find that learning songs with just chords are great to begin singing along too... #41 and all along the watchtower are great for starting off.. christmas song is tricky though because of the finger picking.. i still have trouble singling along to songs i have to pick