Hi and welcome @pjbedard !
The Live Club @Prof_Thunder was referring to is:
Live Club #27: Singing With or Without a Guitar
https://www.justinguitar.com/live-events/180
Hi and welcome @pjbedard !
The Live Club @Prof_Thunder was referring to is:
Live Club #27: Singing With or Without a Guitar
https://www.justinguitar.com/live-events/180
Patricia, felicitations, you are at the right place. I am a late bloomer as well. Just stick to Justin’s program, do what he recommends and you will be amazed at what you will be able to do! Take your time, remember, it’s all about the journey!
Super helpful video that gave me a good framework for the future when my guitar playing is sufficiently automated that I can start to split my focus with something else (singing). It seems a long way off, but it’s inspiring to see a map of the journey, thanks!
Hi Patricia, welcome to the community. My advice on playing for singing is to focus on the guitar and getting the chord changes automatic at first. Pick simple songs at first with very simple chord changes. When I sing while playing from a song chord chart I am focused on singing and just look to see what chord i am playing next. I don’t think about how to play the chord. I see D chord and play D chord without even thinking. When your playing chords get to that level then singing while playing will be easier to do. Have fun playing along with songs and sing along to the songs without playing. ‘Eventually you will be able to do both. Before then you will get calluses and your fingers will not be hurting. Have patience and have fun.
Hello Patricia & Welcome!!!
Learning to play guitar feels a bit overwhelming at first but it’s so rewarding as you start to achieve your goals & set new ones!!!
Lots of advice on singing while you play here in the Community - the search function does a fairly good job of pulling up topics related to what you’re looking for! There’s usually a lot of various opinions & points of view so it’s not too hard to find some advice that works for you!
Couple of other suggestions:
Get a stand or wall hanger for your guitar. Having it handy to just pick up when you only have a few minutes will help you progress. I like to play while the coffee’s
brewing in the morning!
Secondly, keep things FUN!!! As long as it’s lots & lots of Fun, you’ll never quit!!!
Third & probably most important, be consistent with following Justin’s method & with practice. Before you know it, you’ll be playing songs, then singing along & eventually you’ll be able to figure out things like song structure, strumming patterns etc to music you hear on the radio!
Good luck & have Fun!!!
Tod from New Mexico USA
P.S. One of my favorite acoustic guitars is a Seagull Artist guitar. It was hand made in La Patrie, Quebec & it’s a wonderful sounding, easy playing piece of Art. You may wish to check them out online!!!
Great advice. My guitar is a bit out of the way right now, I think I’ll move it in the middle of my living space. ![]()
I advise this from experience… when trying to learn years ago, my guitar went into it’s case & then in a closet… I never spontaneously picked it up & many times didn’t play at all for days or weeks. With it out & available, I play every day… even have a wall hanger & a stand in my office at work to play when I take a break!!!
Tod
Hi Patricia,
I’m only couple of 100 km west of you!
I have no specific advice on learning to sing and play at the same time. I would just write my own song and then nobody can call you out on it ![]()
Hi Patricia
Nice to meet you ![]()
You’re in a great place for learning guitar, Justin is an amazing teacher! As well as grade lessons there is also so much other information on the website with hints, tips and advice.
This community is very friendly, helpful, supportive and encouraging too. ![]()
When I’m learning a new song I learn / practice the guitar and the singing separately and then start putting it together slowly
I don’t know if you’ve seen this one yet, Justin aslo has some tips on minimising finger pain
https://youtu.be/V0Q0buwLvVA
You sound determined though, stick with it. It’s so worth it
![]()
Welcome