Play Guitar & Sing at the Same Time (in 3 Easy Steps)

Use these tips to play and sing any song!
Take the 5 Day Guitar Challenge: tonypolecastro.com/guitar-work...

[@Quetzal_]

5:00 PM: "how to sing while playing guitar" 5:05 PM: "how to sing"

[@ilhamburger8288]

I just realised how terrible my voice is while singing alone, lol

[@shane-vh3lo]

literally

[@saki7596]

MOOD

[@chezkanovora1224]

Im just starting to use this ukelele and I just know how to play guitar I don't know how to sing while strumming because I focus to much in strumming

[@ronitdas266]

It's legit 5pm for me here

[@russianraccoon7401]

This is literally like learning how to use rasengan

[@sylviasalvatore3884]

HAHAHAHAHAAA

[@tashikrtv6878]

😂😂😂😏

[@abcrx32j]

Now you know it, just make a shadow clone to play for you while you sing

[@suryanarayanan5158]

🤣🤣

[@Sidguru101]

Exactly if you don't know how to create it how can you even use it

[@te_b_12_ojasdhopate87]

5:54 the tattoo on his right arm perfectly lines up with the border of the guitar

[@pillow4391]

Yeah at 5:55

[@monke12355]

Part of the master plan

[@OrnateOwl]

Good eye!

[@92000]

haha you're right! ...Oddly satisfying! xD

[@crimsonvixen7061]

maybe it was intentional

[@willdykema]

I’m having a tough time with songs whose words don’t fall on strum beats

[@moisauce657]

William Dykema saaaame

[@lilgarbage3796]

I'm struggling with Jane says, just because of the vocals

[@Goblin_Ghost39]

I have that same issue. This is why I have a simple strumming pattern that I default for every song so that the beat lines up. But I'd like to change up my strumming a bit.

[@marronbongaitan9410]

Hey, i also had that struggle with that thing but it will be solved by months or years of practice. lol

[@glorioskiola]

That will improve with practice.

[@zacgibb172]

Before i watched this video i couldnt sing while blaying at all. After taking your advice, a week later i can sing and play through 6 songs

[@diegogomez7240]

next step: work on your spelling

[@popeyespizza330]

That's awesome congrats!!!! ❤❤❤

[@zacgibb172]

@gRainger_bread I miss typed "playing" lol. He's all good. Just making himself feel better haha

[@zacgibb172]

@gRainger_bread not bad, Getting into pub gigs

[@rohitsh4638]

When you said its very tough.. It gave my soul some peace.. Really man I see everyone playing and singing and I'm fed up with my left and right brain dispute

[@Cup42069]

when i played a good guitar , my voice goes WhEin YUoR LeGs DoNt WoRk LiKE tHeY UsED ToE BeFoAR

[@paranoir]

Same lol

[@celestosky4556]

😂

[@hahihuheho3766]

i relate to this in a spiritual level

[@tingtinglala]

Omg yes😂

[@ademolaomooba4852]

🤣

[@claudeoliver9437]

Singing while playing is like relationship. They need to work and process.

[@30smsuperstrat]

Could you do a video on what to do if your beard gets caught in your strings and you howl like the fireman on the Polar Express?

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Wow, that goes back a bit! :)

[@owendavis1620]

It stopped the elk dead in there spot

[@surferdude6954]

XD don't be mean

[@chkapoor]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂wow damn

[@ellaeselle]

What the heck was that 😂😂😂

[@ballzack57]

This has given me a breakthrough that I didn't think would ever come. You changed the way I was thinking about it. I was trying to fully play and incorporate fully singing. This flipped that into fully singing and slowly incorporating playing. BAM! Breakthrough. Thank you so much. p.s. I hope that made sense.

[@joshfaye3300]

ballzack57 you're exactly right!! Congrats!

[@alexnelson8]

That’s why chicks who sing can play and sing so quickly. Gotta learn to sing first.

[@Bludflecked]

My god it worked almost immediately when I thought of it like this

[@alpharigel5777]

BAM a breakthrough 😂😂...nice sound effects dude !

[@BoBedrosian]

Oh man I can't wait to get home and try this now because its been rough doing it the opposite way like a dummy

[@patrickwillis1346]

Step 0 have a singing voice

[@asherorigami1308]

True.

[@adityyuh]

Done

[@elvin8196]

Aditya Singh lmao ur humble arent u

[@adityyuh]

elvin not much

[@killslay]

Bob Dylan, the pixies and hendrix didn't let that stop them

[@mei-jw4hy]

I can sing while strumming and playing chords, but singing and playing fingerstyles is a whole new leVEL

[@louisancheta199]

acco lol the exact opposite for me. I sing in fingerstyle fine but can’t keep the strum pattern the same when singing.

[@n-gag3430]

I feel that

[@mei-jw4hy]

update - i can do it now, and have been able to for a while! hope this motivates some people who are struggling with singing+playing

[@DolleHengst]

Same here. Maybe i should've picked something easier than "Street Spirit". Playing the guitar part is super easy. Picking three chords. Singing is easy too. Singing while strumming the chords, no problem. But picking and singing = nightmare. I only manage the first verse, then it all goes wrong

[@dominikcobb1355]

@@louisancheta199 yeah same. I can play and sing Street spirit (Radiohead) and Come as you are (Nirvana), but I still haven’t figured out Where’s my mind (pixies). It’s silly.

[@wesleyalan9179]

First, you must grow a "Tone Beard"

[@triggereddiobrando]

im a girl help

[@lamestudiosinc418]

@@triggereddiobrando You thought it was a girl, but was I, DIO!

[@347nish]

Dio😂

[@danfors1333]

I just learned mortal kombat theme but always lose my rythm while yelling "MORTAL KOMBAT!" Your video is very helpful, thanx.

[@ronitagar]

This video was an absolute revelation for me. I found myself being able to play the down strums in time with the beat and sing. However, I couldn't play the complex strumming pattern and sing at the same time. The eureka moment was when I started to consider the complex strumming pattern as an extension of the down strums;.I started to emphasise those down strums (or lack of sometimes) in the complex pattern in my head and then I was able to sing at the same time!

[@MarkPermann]

ronitagar I *super* appreciate your comment because that’s exactly where I was when I came back to this video. For me (but I suspect many others), the difficulty isn’t the changes or the beat. It’s chunking the melodic (singing) rhythm with the harmonic (strumming) rhythm that’s challenging, because they won’t be the same in any interesting song. I’ve applied what you said re: emphasizing the downbeat while complicating the strum, and it does help! Tony helps a lot here, but you’ve stood on his shoulders and added just the little bit more I needed :)

[@achillesgabales2279]

Bruhhh i literally cant pronounce a single word while the guitar 😭

[@courtneylove9563]

Me too

[@maximumphlegm]

progress? :)

[@angee_p]

I just realized this today and I had to look it up Cuz I can't do it myself

[@user-wf4xe2ki6k]

Can't believe how incredibly well it works. I've been struggling with this for weeks and after this video in less than 20 min I was able to combine singing with strumming. You just made my day!

[@roccomiller2647]

thank you! I've been playing for 15 years and I literally can't strum consistently when I sing at the same time. its annoying because I can sing and play very well... but not together.

[@tonymelendez2548]

just started playing a bit ago and this was a life changer now i can play and sing everlong acoustic

[@jaynazario]

You are a natural teacher, amigo. Thank you for making it easier for all of us!!!!!!!!

[@bradstarkey7369]

Thank you brother this helps learning a old new song last three day . I had suffered a sever head injury haven't been able to even listen to music let along play my Guitar in 28 years in the dark. Due to a CFS leak and sever Migraines 24/7 March 29 it lessened some and Im singing again Im back baby just Rocked a song like no one has heard remember my name. Im going to post it when its perfect or close as i can get. I just impressed some folks and myself today singing again after 28 years.

[@alexnelson8]

brad starkey nice work dude. Keep having fun.

[@TheCandycanedp99]

Damn man that's awesome! Any updates?

[@bigc2nyce]

I struggled with this at one point. I actually learned the same way ( through trial and error) that you are teaching. The key for me, like you said, was nailing those chord changes. Once you get that, everything else starts to fall into place. Great video. Its sort of ironic (for me) to see this explained this way, because although I learned this way, I've never really consciously thought about it.

[@dooby6400]

Focused Features same here👍

[@energycantbedestroyeditcan7671]

I've been playing guitar since I was 14. Sang in the choir in school. Took violin in the 7th and 8th grades. Took up guitar at 14, playing in bands at 16. Been playing every since. I'm 62.

[@emersonsrandomvideos248]

Still, the beard never ceases to amazed me... i think your beard is the main reason why you played the guitar so well. Great tutorials! I'm learning.

[@erikrusso9808]

I never knew this was a issue so many people had, cool tips!

[@sb9686]

This is a very good lesson...

[@jackster1212]

Second video of yours I've watched. I've watched many guitar videos, lots of which are very good. But you have an especially good talent for explaining without getting lost.

[@lcpiii27porchia80]

thank you. I started playing about 7 yrs ago. I have learned more from you,in a month, than I have learn this hold time.

[@BrianGay57]

Great tips! Break it down into easy chunks and focus on the placement of the changes. I also used to edit the tab so that the chord changes and lyrics synced up better. I rarely found tabs online that worked well for me without editing. Lately I’ve been working on singing backing vocals and playing lead together and that is a bit harder for me because I am so used to tying the vocals to the chord changes. Songs with vocal melodies are always easier for me to play than instrumental pieces. I use them to know where I am in the song. With originals I also tend to build my solo ideas off of the vocal melody. Without one I am forced to come up with my own musical ideas from scratch. No one wants to hear that! 😜

[@shaynes.9773]

This has always been a challenge for me. That is why I usually just take the role of guitarist and have a dedicated lead vocalist in the bands I have been part of. Backing vocals I've been able to coordinate my guitar playing with singing, if my strumming is complimentary with the rhythm of the vocal part. But doing lead vocals while singing is usually a train wreck. I'm starting over without a band, so all singing and instruments are up to me. With the current pandemic, there is no way to audition vocalists or even rehearse with other musicians. So, I am determined to finally figure out how to coordinate my singing and guitar playing. This video was a great help. I'll follow your instruction steps and keep practicing. Thank you, and Happy New Year.

[@grahamrennie598]

I’ve just come across these videos and they are a massive help!!!

[@lolinc4813]

damn, didnt expect such a clear answer, this is all good advice, hope this stays top page for other searchers. Thanks for sharing it.

[@lonjuan9737]

Dammit Tony, you are changing my life one video at a time. Thanks for this introduction to a skill I've never been able to accomplish despite many frustrating attempts. Definitely hitting the link, CHEERS!

[@danielhamilton6958]

Thanks for the video! This can be tough. Like anything else, it comes down to practice!

[@scottperry8162]

That's an awesome lesson as usual Tony!!

[@Bb_ko6969]

Thank you guitar Rasputin. Now i can sing in front of my crush

[@msannthrope_2049]

😁

[@ualtahr]

#smallwin I am 41 years old, brazilian, married, 2 daughters, hard working man. Since my young age I love music, played the electric bass for a few years, percussion too but my long lasting love was the guitar (don't even know why I have never started. work, daughters, boose, marriage?). Well, I just got an old Yamaha APX 4A from my friend and started playing. Having a blast, enjoing every chord of it. Thanks for all the lessons, I am surely improving faster because of your videos, growing a beard too. Cheers (Or as we say in Brazil "SAÚDE") with a glass of good Bourbon. Sorry for the bad english.

[@daykbd]

Oh, so we have another brazilian who watches this channel lol we're literally everywhere

[@markolukin4331]

If you know anyone who wants to improve their playing but are hitting a wall then turn them onto this.The information you get is varied and that helps keep the frustration level down because he is teaching you to become a performer and writer.The delivery is positive but alwsys stresses practicing these lessons but moving on when you get frustrated.I teach very similarly.Amazing how much easier it is after you move on and come back to it later.

[@ualtahr]

Olá Dayane, você tem canal no youtube?

[@inUR2teeth]

Marko Lukin Very true... i would add to always finish your "guitar sessions" on a positive note.... Another trick I've learned through the years is to stop immediately a lick or whatever is giving a hard time to learn at the moment, play something fun & completely different for at least 5 to 10 min. And then go back to learning the lick or the progression.. It works every time👍

[@dawtesla]

Brother, stay away from the booze. It will put the demon in you. No joke.

[@scottstubbs9913]

Another great lesson Thanks. Been trying to play and sing and randomly going about it in this manner, but I'm going to practice this way now.

[@davevillaflor3267]

Tony Polecastro you Farken Legend!!!! I can sing and strum basic rhythms without stuffin up. Thank you my Brother! 😃🙌🏾

[@indicatoker420]

Wow man, you're a musicianologist. Thanks a lot for the tips.

[@nickysantoro314]

This was incredibly helpful. I have been playing guitar for a long time and only now actually attempting to sing while playing. This really made the process vastly more simple. I mean...I'm still working on it, but this was an excellent starting point. Thanks!

[@MattBradyrules]

This was so helpful thanks so much man my playing is getting better already

[@Xrater96]

this is how you learn anything in life. no skipping. great video man, you have great and calm explenation tehniques that stick.

[@dusty0608]

Really good and very simple tutorial. Thank you mate, i have been playing for decades and never been able to sing at the same time. Not that I have great voice but always wanted to be able to. This approach has really helped me. Not that i will be posting in the near future, my singing still sucks. However proving useful when i want to really punish my family 😆

[@rmzzz76]

Great lesson! This is one so many people want but are afraid to ask for... As usual the metronome or rhythm machine is your friend to help bring the timing home. I use a Beat Buddy when practicing and it does wonders to help my timing.

[@gailrooney2776]

Awesome going to try this as soon as I get to the library and print one out

[@vaderfloyd6926]

Tony, awesome video. It was a total complete lightbulb moment. Thanks again man!

[@jackconorria4033]

Step 1: be James Hetfield

[@jonsnow2363]

Can't believe someone actually mentioned his name....God! What a legend

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Playing thrash is easier. Stop putting people on pedestals and realise if you just try you will do it, just stick at it. Hetfield started with Purple and Maiden covers, he's had 40 years practice!

[@JohnMiller-sr7dk]

so true

[@CrOosBiE]

EXACTLY WHY I CLICKED ON THIS VIDEO

[@josevaldez5429]

@Daniel Rodriguez WHILE ONLY DOWNPICKING LIKE WTFFFF

[@colormegeeky]

One tip I will tell people is it's okay to simplify some songs using 3 to 4 chords. Not every song but try to experiment until you are ready to play the exact notes in the song. Playing in front of people, you don't have to use overly complex finger playing while your singing if you don't want to. Keep it simple so singing and keeping rhythm will be good. Thank you for this video. Baby steps is important. 🎸🤘🎼🤘🎸

[@forrestwheeler916]

Singing and playing guitar is a art.this artistic knows the beginning problems we struggle with and sets a pattern of teaching that beginners can connect with and learn from,thank you.Forrest wheeler

[@lambchop3916]

this is very helpful! thank you so much. going to apply these tips to the ukelele

[@johnboyle3884]

that is one nice sounding guitar

[@danielkoerner7127]

Light bulb moments here! Thanks Tony!

[@albertknecht7160]

Thanks man I loved the video so much! you helped me out a lot! :) keep on the good work

[@belladoll9245]

Great tips! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@midnightraiin4035]

hot dam !!, that was powerfully simple

[@BuckFu]

Learning to sing and play those first songs were like climbing a brick wall. I remember sitting in my room with a print out of “elderly woman behind a counter in a small town”, trying to figure out the strumming patterns. You’re completely right to take it in steps. Great vid. Made me remember how great it was when I learned to sing and play at once.

[@jeff7764]

Buck Fu even with it printed out and in front of me. The second I attempt to sing everything goes to shit 😂😂

[@MarkFrancis99]

Mate, you are a legend. Thanks for breaking it down to simple steps.

[@brianstacy3273]

I literally printed out the sheets of chords/lyrics and did what you said and I can comfortably say that doing what you said helps. I sound 100x better than I did before this video after about 45 minutes of practice

[@dimapesh9115]

отличный урок!

[@nvdawahyaify]

i was playing for nine years before i was comfortable enough with the guitar to start singing along. but then again i didnt have people giving me these tips

[@Dreycoo]

That's a lot of time 😵

[@juliodefreitas157]

Absolutely awesome ❤️

[@ginagidaro]

This is giving me hope. Thanks!

[@bigmac1371]

Great video, I'm a beginner and realize it takes practice,patience and dedication and lots of it to achieve your goal. Thanks.

[@jodyfree953]

Thanks Tony! Never would have guessed how difficult singing & playing, at the same time, could be!

[@jimo1294]

Sounds like great advice! Thanks for publishing this video!

[@SharonMerlier]

Thank you - this was wonderful!!!

[@tedr.]

Thank you Tony for once again sharing the valuable info!! It always moves me a bit closer to my acoustic life goals.

[@jonkartman9166]

I've been struggling with singing and playing at the same time for over a year (since I first began playing the guitar). This is really a lightbulb suggestion. Thank you. I'm going to try this. I think it's going to work.

[@tanner3285]

You have a beautiful voice brother. You rock!

[@irvinw5810]

Amazing tips!! Thank you!!!

[@guitarsnstrings4things677]

I'd like to thank you for the video! Singing and playing has always been such a huge issue - just breaking it down to the changes seems like a massive step forwards

[@tris4478]

Thank you so much for this Tony! I'm currently struggling trying to sing and play at the same time, I know one needs to be automatic eventually (the playing pref), but you have explained a great simple way to start out. Though I am trying to read chords, read words and sing and play at the same time, so I guess there's quite a lot going on there that needs practice.

[@nursultonnurbekov5533]

The way you teaching is easy and comfortable to understand thank you so much for giving easy tips to understand, through what do we need start first thank you 😊

[@intense_vibration]

Came to hear you sing. It’s beautiful 😍

[@stephenrichie4646]

This was helpful, thanks. A few years ago I determined to sing for my wife at our 50th anniversary dinner. It came off okay but damn it was hard to put it together! This approach would have made it easier!

[@lucascrass4531]

Whenever I start palm muting while singing, my strumming hand just feels weird and I get out of tempo, help ?

[@ernst-filipmichel9744]

Play slower..

[@MrMetalHead1990]

Thanks for the advice, I love your instructional videos. I struggle the hardest, when playing a song and trying to sing. I tend to strum faster, while I'm singing.

[@sergiorivera9650]

awesome tips ! i will put them in practice, thanks !

[@stresslee]

Playing and singing is my new goal. I’ve always wanted to learn and made excuses because I didn’t want to take it slow really is what it is Thanks for the tips, I’m definitely going to sit there for days working on it

[@benhaskett1926]

is this ashton kutcher with a beard ?

[@HaydenBrownn]

Richard Haskett hahahaha

[@jarofpixies]

Didn’t realize till you said something 😂

[@siavashparkhideh4082]

Super thorough. this is awesome

[@lucycarlos4923]

That is a good approach for beginners! Thank you!

[@PrinceWesterburg]

I can rip round the fretboard with plectrum while talking to someone and never looking at the guitar, I can sing and do classical or country fingerpicking but strum and sing? Nope! Totally throws my syllabic rhythm out so I will try this very peaceful 1960s folk song style for sure! :o)

[@zayan6284]

Prince Westerburg weird. To me it's the exact opposite. Strum and sing, easy! Play a song fingerstyle/classical NOPE

[@marvinorias8250]

I can also do a fingerstyle with some of the rythm without looking at. I can also strum the way it supposed to sound. But when it comes to strumming and singing I really find it hard because it loses my strumming pattern and this is why I stick to playing fingerstyle songs. Hope this tutorial will help me through!

[@PrinceWesterburg]

So how do we learn the Vulcan Mind-Meld?!? :D

[@alansouthall8221]

Prince Westerburg

[@JKRowl]

singing & playing together honestly sounds impossible for me at the moment...

[@forrestwheeler916]

Thank you for the great tips on guitar and singing

[@kpag3030]

Good advice. That was definitely a hard trick fro me to learn when I first started trying to accompany myself. I did a similar method while trying to figure it out. Then I came to Dave Matthews songs... another level of singing and playing. Lol. The off beat lyrics were a true challenge. I learned incubus- Drive by doing this similar method, but that is another tough one. Still I find hard ones to sing and play all the time. It’s a constant journey. Again, great advice!

[@dragon123456650]

Thank you very much, you're really really good at teaching you're my favorite guitar teacher on the youtube. Thanks for all the effort you put into these quality videos.

[@AntonioKowatsch]

Well, I'm having a really hard time playing and singing Sufjan Steven's Casimir Pulaski Day because of all the weird folk ornamentations that are going on in the song.

[@garrettorpin6584]

Damn you for the reminder of past times, and yet, thank you for the reminder. of past times. Amazing song.

[@NotUpTillNoonGaming]

mind blown man, I just practiced it once and it was like a lock just opened in my brain, can't wait to see how it goes after a week of practice

[@raymichaels123]

Thank you so much for a another great lesson. It really helped.

[@veerendra1997]

Does it work once after you have practice or do I have to repeat the process with every song I learn?

[@markyoung1826]

This is a sound approach to use for any song you want to play and sing. Even if you've been playing and singing for a while. It's always good to know where the chord changes are and get the singing rhythm and basic guitar rhythm down before you get fancy with strumming and fills and .... So if I were you I'd keep applying this process.

[@veerendra1997]

Thanks guys.. 👍 Cheers

[@veerendra1997]

Mark Young I agree more with your tip because every song is different, speed of chord changes are different, and then there are fills and lead lines etc etc! Thanks

[@Brucaleeffo]

Once you unlock the skill it "almost" becomes immediate for simple songs

[@paulroberts6820]

Nothing is just learn it once. You’re always learning. This, as Tony clearly and candidly states over and over, requires baby steps, which in English means practice, patience and tenacity. When you’ve built up skills it will get way quicker.

[@boazbaruchin9085]

You look like Smooth McGroove but with glasses

[@fidaysoday313]

Thank you so much for sharing this to us 🙌

[@Kicknstick]

This helped me immensely! Thank you

[@phantomlord8870]

Yeah but what about singing while playing a complex riff like the verse riff of creeping death?

[@pickerdad8402]

When you've really got the song down, it won't be a problem. You'll still key off the chord changes, but you'll hear them in your head while playing the solo. The biggest trick is to know the words cold. You already know some songs well enough that you can sing along to the radio, even if you're doing something else, like driving. In your head, one word triggers the next on a subconscious level. You don't think about "this is the second chorus and the verb tense changes here", each word leads to the next and you sing on autopilot. Once you can play the chord changes and hear them coming, you don't actually think about the words consciously. Your subconscious knows what it feels like when you get to "face" "place" "met" "girl" "world" "met" "Da", and knows what it always does when it feels like that and just plays the same chord it always does at that point. If you have to read the words or decide what verse you're in or what follows logically in the sentence, you'll never be able to do anything else that requires conscious thought, like the solo you want to play, at the same time. One brain. You can train it to do any number of things subconsciously, but you only get one conscious train of thought. When you can sing the song while doing a Rubik's Cube or driving, or some such activity, you're ready. It's not hard; you can already do that with the core songs you love; just make it one of those.

[@farinbean11]

The only step is to make playing like second nature so you don't even have to think about playing then you focus on singing 👌🏻

[@joshfaye3300]

Sethakis Farina nope I can play everything on guitar but could not sing while playing until like a year ago.. I've been playing guitar for 6 years. It's your mind. It's not like that

[@dustins9611]

Great tips Tony, thanks!

[@anmolmahajan4678]

These tips are very helpful. Thank you so much.

[@dharma1666]

He looks like Ashton Kutcher with wizard’s beard