Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I can't talk and play at the same time either unless I do it in time, ahaha!

Nah, I'm not saying that at ALL!

But really, what is "RIGHT," anyway?

...or "pretty," for that matter...?

...or "women"...?

Ah, well, TALKING and playing is a different story. I can communicate with "Yeah" or "right" or "cool" or "look..." (with a gesture towards that one blue-eyed redhead in the corner) but that's about it.

I also play drums, and used to sing lead and play drums, with no problem at all. Reason being, at least to me, is that all you are doing is keeping a beat. You are not playing one melody line and singing another. The beat is usually in your head anyway, and it seemed very easy to play it and sing.

Jeff...can you rub your stomach in a circular motion & pat your head at the same time?

Yes, but I never could juggle!

I play strictly with my fingers and I only sing 1 song our band does. It's Magic Carpet Ride - which is fairly easy - DCG while I'm singing. However, much beyond that, and I'm totaly lost

I'm in a three piece band so all of us are at any one time singing backup or lead. The way that works for me is to learn the bass first without being concerned for the vocals at all. Then I work on the vocals, quite often in my car whilst driving(ya, that's me rocking out next to you at the light). Next, I practice at home, concentrating on the playing first while adding the vocals till they fit. Think of each like two halves of a zipper that,as you work it out, you slowly zip up. Anyway, that's what works for me.

You're definitely not alone.

When I try to sing and play at the same time, I'm very conscious of my mind keeping track of 2 distinct things: what I'm playing, and what I'm singing. I never was very successful at combining the two.

It's like seeing people driving while on a cell phone - some can drive fine on the phone, the others end up on the freeway doing 45 swerving in and out of the lane

Funnily enough, Alan, that redhead did have blue eyes...

"Think of each like two halves of a zipper that,as you work it out, you slowly zip up." - Excellent metaphor! I'll use that - I can sing and play guitar for my own songs, but not for anyone elses. And I find bass and singing impossible. I love complex rhythms and scale runs that don't allow much 'overlap'.

I sing a lot while playing, but it has taken years to get to that point. It's easier for me to sing and play than it is to talk and play. I allways love when one of the guitarists asks "what key is that?" By the time I find a spot I can talk, we are 3 notes beyond. And why do 5 out of 7 notes have to rhyme? You know,,,"what note is that?"..E!.."C?"..E!.."G?"..E!!.."B?".....

you can always try MI, DO, SOL, SI..

While I lived in Peru I had to learn the Spanish names for notes and chords etc, and was amazed to hear do re mi fa etc. mi bemol= E flat. Trying to remember that and say it while playing was just about impossible.

I don't know why, but I always find it easier to sing harmony and play bass rather than lead vocal (even though I do both at times.) Even with finding the harmony pitches, it just see,s easier.