Singing and playing guitar

[Everta semper]

I'm having an extremely hard time doing both at the same time.
I've been playing guitar for 5+ years, singing since I was able to talk.
but I struggle with doing both, I either mess up the riff or chords, or completely stop singing.

Any tips the could help me with this?

[They call me Five]

Don't feel like you have to constantly look at the crowd. You can look down at your hands every once in awhile.

[Richter Belmont X]

I can relate, I can't do both at the same time either. I can get the chords, but I ******** up the rhythm and the timing of the riffs and/or the vocal melody. I guess it just takes alot of practice to finally get down.

[antaine]

You must first of all know the song in question inside out. Get to a stage where you can play it while focussing your attention on something else (TV, conversation etc.)
Then I would start slowly introducing your voice to it, don't be worried if you have to drop out a few times and come back in later, just keep the instrumental part going as best you can. Try not to worry too much about getting the lyrics right, resort to humming or speaking giberrish as a space filler if your memory fails you on the words.
Once you can do this comfortably you can worry about getting the lyrics spot on. If you take everything slow and, most importantly, don't worry about it, you'll be sure to get it eventually.

[Everta semper]

They call me Five

Don't feel like you have to constantly look at the crowd. You can look down at your hands every once in awhile.

its not just when I'm on a stage,
even when I'm completely by myself
I just can't seem to do both things at once.

[Everta semper]

antaine

You must first of all know the song in question inside out. Get to a stage where you can play it while focussing your attention on something else (TV, conversation etc.)
Then I would start slowly introducing your voice to it, don't be worried if you have to drop out a few times and come back in later, just keep the instrumental part going as best you can. Try not to worry too much about getting the lyrics right, resort to humming or speaking giberrish as a space filler if your memory fails you on the words.
Once you can do this comfortably you can worry about getting the lyrics spot on. If you take everything slow and, most importantly, don't worry about it, you'll be sure to get it eventually.

thank you.
I'll definitely try it this way.

[Hect]

Try having a conversation with someone while playing the chord progression/strum pattern. You can also just try reading something aloud while doing it. I found that it was a good intermediate step before actually being able to sing.

[Everta semper]

Hect

Try having a conversation with someone while playing the chord progression/strum pattern. You can also just try reading something aloud while doing it. I found that it was a good intermediate step before actually being able to sing.

I've tried the conversation thing,
my brain sizzles when I do ._.

[Hect]

Then just really focus on nailing the chord progression and strum pattern. Drill it into your head until you don't make ANY mistakes.

[Pax_Veniaque]

what really helped me was to try to play and sing along with a recording of the song. I would play along first, and then sing along but move my fingers like I was playing, and then I would try to do them both at once. I hope this helps, it is really hard to do but I believe in you!

[Everta semper]

Hect : I shall,
and hopefully wont kill off anymore braincells trying, lord knows I've got a limited number of those left...

Pax: that sounds like a good idea, I'll give it a shot. thanks.

[Deathsensation]

I am a guitarist before a singer, so I can play complex solo's or strange riffs in my sleep but can't even think while trying to sing on key, in the right octave, or even remember the words.

What helps me is to just practice the piece over again, starting with the one you are having a hard time with, then adding the other. When I can sing it correctly and on tune, I start to play guitar to it. I normally freeze up while I try to sing the right words, or when I hold out a note trying to get on tune, etc. but it works I guess.

[punxchick69]

show me ur titz show me ur titz show me ur titz show me ur titz show me ur titz show me ur titz show me ur titz show me ur titz

[Everta semper]

punxchick69

show me ur titz show me ur titz show me ur titz show me ur titz show me ur titz show me ur titz show me ur titz show me ur titz

wtf? no.

Deathsensation: I sound so...crappy when trying to do both at once. it's frustrating, and I know I'm not crappy at guitar, or singing, just trying to mash them together results in a fail.
I guess practice makes perfect though.

[WowItsJustRob]

Everta semper

I'm having an extremely hard time doing both at the same time.
I've been playing guitar for 5+ years, singing since I was able to talk.
but I struggle with doing both, I either mess up the riff or chords, or completely stop singing.

Any tips the could help me with this?

Start out with covering easy songs. The way I started was by playing and singing along to Green Day, or other like bands. Another method is trying to hum, while you tap with your fingers or hands, while keeping tempo. Try making your own songs, and sing and play slowly until you get the hang of it.