First, I do not have a good singing voice. That aside, does anyone else have an issue when trying to sing while playing? I’m still really new at playing guitar but it’s like patting my head and rubbing my belly at the same time!
Does it get easier over time?
Yes, almost everyone I’d guess. It’s much harder than most people would imagine.
Think of singing, strumming and changing chord shapes as being 3 separate processes (not to mention keeping everything in sync with each other). Despite what people claim, the human brain can only really do one thing that requires real thought at a time. You need to get to a point where tasks such as changing chord shapes happens automatically, with zero thought, the fingers move to position with no thought from the brain. It’s one thing knowing how to play a D chord for example but in the early days it’s still using CPU time in the brain. We all think we know the words to our favourite songs but often we don’t. Take the vocals away and we struggle. So you also need to know the words inside and out and where they fit over the chords
It will get easier but it might take a while. I’ve been playing a year and can’t sing and play
Agreed!
I for sure find it hard to do.
I’m right there with ya. I don’t sing so good I don’t think. I try, but ‘I’ think I suck singing. Worse yet. I really don’t like to sing which makes singing even harder.
I don’t know if it gets easier either. I’ve been trying for quite a while and I still think I suck.
I have much trouble finding the right note to sing and if I find it, singing it in pitch I find hard to do. Then there’s timing. Seems like much music has the melody (singing) not always following the music on my guitar. This for me, makes it harder yet.
So, I’m with ya Evin. Singing is hard for me too. Don’t feel lonely.
fwiw, I do keep trying though. I’m assuming it’s like anything. Practice and repetition I’m hoping will make it easier in the end. But man, I sure feel like it’s taking a real long time for me to achieve this goal.
Hope ya have better success than I’m having.
Good luck and imho, keep trying. Surely it’ll get easier and more natural for both of us with time and practice.
Hi Evin,
In the top right corner you will see a search window, if you enter your topic title there you will get many good answers to your question…
Maybe this helps?
There are 2 videos with tips from Justin in the first one
Greetings,Rogier
Hi Evin! It IS much harder that people think. It takes lots of practice!! You’ve gott great input from Jim @HappyCat and @roger_holland so not much I can add here for the time being. I love singing and playing together, but it ALWAYS takes me much longer to get a song down than I think it will.
I think the key is to have the playing part automatic and so you don’t have to think about that. . .Justin talks a lot about that in the lesson he has on it. . .as Rogier recommended, do search and you’ll find a lesson on this topic!!
Don’t give up, it takes time but it’s lots of FUN!!
J
Hi Evin
It definitely does get easier, with practice (and I’m not a natural singer, I’ve really had to work at it)
I practice the singing and playing separately first, then put them together slowly
It can also help to practice them separately along with a track of the song if you have it, to get the vocal pitch changes and guitar in sync.
Totally agree! 
It’s lots of fun and so worth it! 
My one tip. Know the lyrics off by heart. If you’re trying to read them off a sheet, strumming and thinking about what chord is coming next becomes very difficult. Too much for the brain to cope with.
Then learn the chord progression off by heart.
Lyrics and chords.
After that you can put all your energy into the groove and rhythm, embellishments etc.
Singing is required if you want to play a song – songs are sung by definition. Anything else is an instrumental of some kind.
Hint: Singing will help you become a better guitarist.
Yep, Its hard. But keep at it. Dont worry about how your voice is, dont be shy, try and project it from the diaphram, you may be suprised to find out your voice is just fine.
One of the reasons I like singing is because then I can control the tempo and thats important for me as a beginning guitarist. Also I get to decide how I want the song to be presented.
Yes, it gets easier. Like everything, it takes practice. Some people prefer learning the chords and melody/lyrics separately. Personally I like to learn them together, but at first you might need to slow everything down (perhaps even painfully slow).
Stick with it Evin, it is definitely rewarding (if that is what you’re aiming for). I would say make sure that they are songs you are familiar with, ie: can think through the tempo and rhythm in your head and being familiar with the lyrics helps even if you you don’t know it off by heart.