8 Steps for Singing and Playing At the Same Time

Why Should you Sing and Play at the Same Time?

There are several reasons you might want to play and sing at the same time.

• There is no one else to help you do one task or the other- therefore, you need to do both yourself
• You would like to increase your skillset by either playing better, singing better or both
• It would be ideal if you could contribute more (to a band, church choir, videos, etc) by doing both

Whether or not you are doing this with a piano, guitar, or drums, it will require a lot of practice and a basic repetition of the learning sequence. Keep reading for some tips on making this happen seamlessly.

Why Singing and Playing at the Same Time Might Be Beneficial

• As a vocalist and/or an instrumentalist, you can see and hear both sides of the story.
• You know how to fix a vocal mix-up and also create an easier accompanying experience
• When you are in a bind missing a vocalist or player during a performance, you can step in and do both!

Steps for Singing and Playing Simultaneously

step 1: Learn all the lyrics and melody of the song first

If you know the song by heart, it will be much harder to mess up the song once you add accompaniment to it.

step 2: Once you can sing the song a cappella, then you can learn the accompanying music, whether you are playing guitar, piano, or another stringed instrument

Wait until you are very confident in the song and can sing it without any assistance from a track or otherwise. This will help you make sure the accompaniment is on the right track, so to speak.

step 3: Hum the tune of the song while playing in order to get the breaks, breathing marks, and changes correct

Since you have taken the lyrics and melody to heart, you will be able to know when the accompaniment is not quite right and adjust accordingly.

step 4: Once the accompaniment feels natural and smooth with your song, you can start adding in the words

Smooth out all of the funny things, like chord transitions in the song and how long to play a certain note. This is especially true for playing chords on a guitar or chording with the piano.

step 5: Master the verses first, since you will normally only sing them once during the song

The verses are not as familiar to us, so making them the priority when learning how to sing and play at the same time will help in the long run.

step 6: Master the chorus second, since you sing it several times and memorizing it will come much easier to you

Everyone knows that learning a chorus can be done very fast, so this part will make the rest of the learning seem easy.

step 7: Practice the singing and playing all together several times to get the feel of it, and to smooth out any problems that may come up

Here is where you can master the skill of singing and playing at the same time, and make it ready for performance or public scrutiny.

step 8: if you are singing with someone else or a choir, make sure that you practice with them so they can be on the same page as you

Keep in mind that how you think and play may not be the way someone else would, so practicing is very important with all persons involved.

Additional Notes

Most people recommend learning to play the song before singing it. If that works better for you, then do the steps in the opposite order. I know that if I can sing the song a capella and have it memorized that way, it is much easier to accompany myself than if I learned the chords and progression wrong before I know the lyrics and melody to a certain song.

However, my primary instrument is my voice, so it is more comfortable to commit the song to memory before attempting to accompany it on the piano or guitar.

The Skill of Singing and Playing At The Same Time

It is a desirable skill to have, and one that takes time to master. Be patient with yourself while learning this skill and do one step at a time. 

Remember, learn the song first, and then slowly introduce the accompaniment to the song. This way, you can at least be sure that you have your notes and lyrics correct. And don’t forget to practice with any others who are singing along with you (or playing).

What is your best tip for singing and playing at the same time? Comment below. 

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