Easy Method to Play Guitar and Sing at the Same Time Part 1

Many Cigar Box Guitar builders and players will find this article interesting. It fits well with How to Make a Cigar Box Guitar.

Author: Leslie de Winter

How to Play a Cigar Box Guitar and Sing

Learning how to accompany yourself on guitar (alternatively referred to as "singing and playing guitar at the same time") is certainly among the main aims for many newbie and intermediate guitarists. There's nothing quite like sitting with pals at a celebration and having a sing-along! It's also an actual advantage when beginning or trying out for a band.

Do You Have to Have a Wonderful Voice to Sing and Play Cigar Box Guitar?

The brief response is "No." Of course, you want to be able to maintain a tune. But being able to sing like some incredibly talented recording musician vocal superstar is just not required! In fact, a number of the most popular singer-songwriters ever, like Bob Dylan or Elliot Smith, haven't got particularly great voices nor are they especially eye-popping guitarists. But, boy do they know the way to write and perform a tune! It doesn't matter whether or not you would like to just play and sing cigar box guitar at social events or you writing your own songs for the entire world, do not let a less than brilliant singing voice prevent you. Singing is one of those rare things that is based on heart-felt emotion.

Now, of course, you do have to be able to sing reasonably effectively, but that is only a matter of training. Take some singing lessons and be taught all the basics of how to sing and you will notice your voice picks up dramatically. Then, resolve whether you need to take your singing more seriously or whether that's enough for just singing at the same time as playing cigar box guitar.

How to Take the Tune You've Chosen and Learn to Play It on Your Cigar Box Guitar

The natural inclination for most novices is to try and play cigar box guitar and sing simultaneously before they're ready. That is definitely not a very good idea. What you have to do is learn how to play the guitar part first. And then learn to sing the vocal line. After that, put them together.

Your first step, then, is to decide on a tune you want with comparatively easy chord progressions and straight-forward chord changes. It doesn't matter which song you choose. There are plenty of simple songs for beginners. Simply something you can learn the chords to reasonably simply, and which you enjoy. Oh, and which does not have a super-hard vocalpart. Whatever you choose must be achievable. You do not want to spend all this time and not actually be able to sing the vocal line.

Stay tuned for Part 2 next week which will put it altogether and show you How to Make it work on a Cigar Box Guitar!