How do you even begin to learn to fingerpick and sing at the same time?

[dreadnut]

Start with a simple 2 chord song, like "Tom Dooley."

 

[Nokomite]

Yes, the Philips bio is great indeed, have it! Point I was trying to make about neither of those esteemed gentlemen being guitar players is that their observations about guitar players might not always be exact.

Except they weren't observations, but for mine. They were told this by the source. I'm not critiquing King's soloing chops or his rhythm ability, just that he's stated to multiple people over the years that he can't play and sing at the same time. Which is related to the original poster's question. Nothing he's done or said subsequently that i know of shows that he can do both simultaneously.

Silly thing to argue about, IMO.

He wrote an autobiography, I will look at the Kindle version and see what he says himself.

 

[dreadnut]

This really has nothing to do with BB King because he's not a fingerpicker.

 

[Nokomite]

This really has nothing to do with BB King because he's not a fingerpicker.

Hahaha! My point for bringing it up in the first place was that even BBKing had problems doing it, so don't feel bad.

 

[Default]

You people should stop putting your skills down, and focus on what's important.

Torturing the audience.

 

[dreadnut]

For me, my thumb sets the rhythm and my vocal timing is based on the thumb.

 

[bluesypicky]

focus on what's important.
Torturing the audience.

For me, my thumb sets the rhythm and my vocal timing is based on the thumb.

So how does the audience respond?

 

[Default]

So how does the audience respond?

They tip heavily. It's the only way to get me to unlock the exits.

 

[Rambozo96]

I personally aspire to the mediocrity of Tommy Chongs rose bush killing solos.

 

[guitarlover]

I know this is not a BB King topic but the book Nokomite is quoting from does not seem to be very accurate about his chord knowledge.
He really could play lines that imply or use "sophisticated" chords . In fact his ability to play or use chords was good enough to make a lesson series about his "chords and phrasing" (youtube link). So let us also take the claim that he cannot play and sing at once- even if he really said that once-with a grain of salt.
Like Walter said : why should he play rhythm with his band behind him.

On topic : practice makes perfect. Also important : practice the guitar part (very) slowly in the beginning so that you can avoid making mistakes and be conscious about what you are playing. Gradually speed things up and when you can play it at speed...check if you can still play it slowly again. In my opinion that is the way to program yourself. Once you know the guitar part, add the vocal part that you also practiced separately first.
(And now I start to sound as if I am a truly skilled guitar player, so I better end my message )

 

[walrus]

For me, my thumb sets the rhythm and my vocal timing is based on the thumb.

Over the years, I've been told that I am all thumbs!

walrus

 

[bobouz]

We’re all wired differently, so certain things may come easily, and others not so much. When I started playing guitar, a friend showed me a Travis-style picking pattern & I bought a Gordon Lightfoot songbook. Almost immediately, I was fingerpicking & singing many of his tunes. To be quite honest, it seemed easy. To this day, I fingerpick almost exclusively (mostly my own instrumentals). But put a lousy flatpick in my hand, and not a darn thing happens!

 

[dreadnut]

Me too, I have the Gordon Lightfoot songbooks, and a Jim Croce complete songbook, both of which have helped me do fingerpicking!

 

[Rich Cohen]

+1 on muscle memory. You have to play the song until you don't have to think about it, and then the words will be easier to sing. And of course, it helps to know the lyrics by heart. It has to be almost "unconscious" behavior. For me, only repetition will achieve that.

walrus

Walrus is right, at least as far as my experience is concerned.

 

[MLBob]

“Knowing the lyrics” can be huge - even while strumming.… especially when attempting to coordinate timing on some lyric heavy stuff like Dylan. Tangled up in Blue has become a recent addition to my open mic set- list and it’s a “mouthful.”

 

[Rambozo96]

“Knowing the lyrics” can be huge - even while strumming.… especially when attempting to coordinate timing on some lyric heavy stuff like Dylan. Tangled up in Blue has become a recent addition to my open mic set- list and it’s a “mouthful.”

I liked that one. I always played the more mellow version of the song that I found on YouTube years ago

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

I find it nearly impossible to sing while playing leads.

Same situation of playing bass and singing!

 

[adorshki]

So how does the audience respond?

 

[dreadnut]

Probably 10 years ago I got on the Jim Croce website and left a message for Ingrid expressing how much I miss Jim and how much he and Maury inspired me to fingerpick. To my surprise, she wrote me back and invited me to her Italian restaurant in LA. Unfortunately I have not been able to do this and I think her restaurant is closed now.

 

[bluesypicky]

Hmmmm..... doesn't look too much like torture to me, I was expecting something more like: