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Comment by WILDMAN on December 31, 2009 at 12:38pm

Thanks guys-good advice

Comment by WILDMAN on December 31, 2009 at 12:37pm

Thanks guys- good suggestions, I'm still working-


Thanks guy-mucho good suggestions..


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Comment by Michael Schaefer on December 30, 2009 at 8:57am

Hey Les, that's good advice. I also practice in front of a mirror sometimes. When it looks smooth and easy, you're ready. :)

Comment by Les Allan Coulam on December 30, 2009 at 12:33am

Howdy Doug. I suppose you could call what I do singing, on a good night. I've been asked by other drummers how the %#$& do you sing while playing and my answer is just this. I don't think about the drumming. It sort of happens on autopilot. The singing requires more of my attention and rightly so, since that's the most direct way you are 'speaking' to the audience.
I admit, it's sometimes hard to sing through a 'fill' at the end of a phrase, so I'll play a simplified version to accomodate the singing.
Try this. Play without watching your hands. Play in front of a mirror. Play a song so many times that it starts to sound bad to you, then start singing along with it.
Pat your head with one hand while rubbing circles on your stomach with the other.
If none of this helps......well, then play strictly blues songs that let you sing between riffs and play between verses.
Add me as a friend or I'll come back with more stupid advice.

Comment by Chuck Mayo on December 29, 2009 at 6:23pm

Although not a vocalist, I've watched a boatload of singing guitar players over the years and Michel seems to have it nailed.

The more annoying of the breed simply drop their hands while they're singing through the verses, and play nothing but fills and solos - making me wonder if they actually know any chords, especially since they're usually noodling and playing fills over my solos instead of comping for me.

Very few players seem to have achieved true independence in playing and singing. Most, like Michael said, use the call and response technique he desribes, i.e., sing a phrase while strumming a simple rhythm part, often somewhat syncopated with their vocal phrasing, and play fills between vocal phrases. Seems to work very well.

Too bad Kevin Schermerhorn isn't a Roadhouse member, that cat's level of independence knocks me out... I'm sure he'd have a few pointers for you next time you run into him.

Comment by Michael Schaefer on December 28, 2009 at 2:23pm

Well, since nobody else replied to this, I throw out what I know. But you won't like it. LOL. In my experience, the only thing that helps is practice. Hours and hours and hours of practice. The good news is that a lot of blues tunes have a call-and-response kind of structure that allows you to sing, then play, then sing. But if the tune calls for singing and playing at the same time, try playing rhythm during the singing parts and doing harder stuff in the space between.

I have a very hard time with this myself. But I know I don't practice it near it enough. Good luck.