this might sound a little dim witted, but can anyone have any advice about how to improve in this?...when i start to sing i tend to loose rhythm with guitar...i guess im have trouble keeping the action seperate

You're not alone, many of us experienced what you describe...

Here's what I did a few years ago so I could at least do harmony vocals... play simple 3 chords songs or pattern and move on from there to harder stuff...

Only time and practice make this work for those of us who don't have this ability naturally...

I'm not a singer or anything but this is teh only thing I've managed that did improve my ability.

Anyone else got pointers here? Would like to learn them also!

It was also hard for me (still is sometimes ).
All I can say is that you have to practice a lot (just like Glorbz said). The only other pointer I can add is to not think too much. After you've practiced, just do it without thinking. This may sound strange, but thinking about it can get in the way of doing it right. Practice a lot and then just do it.

guys thanks for the feedbackive been using some Bush songs, and they seem to be what im able to do decently for right now...thanks for the input

I've noticed many 'singers' can pick up a guitar and, alone, perform a song beautifully. On the other hand, many guys who think of themselves as guitarists (and play amazing solos, etc.) will sound like amatures in the same situation. I think this is so for a few reasons. One reason is that the guitarist is focused on his playing - and tries to fit his singing to what he's playing. I believe if you focus on your singing and try to fit what your playing on guitar as a rythmic and tonal foundation for that, you'll improve. While you're playing, concentrate on your singing, while at the same time LISTENING to your total sound (voice plus guitar) and adjusting your guitar accordingly. Try to get to a point (through repetition) where you can put the guitar part on "auto-pilot". (like another post said about not thinking)
The great lead guitarists/singers are, of course, able to concentrate on both simultaneously, or easily shift focus back and forth, or maybe see the two as a seamless whole. Nothing wrong with goin' for that, either.

I've gotten to the point where I'm pretty good at doing guitar and harmony vocals at the same time...depends on the parts though.

For the difficult ones, try practicing as slowly as required...this way you see how different syllables and guitar parts fit together. Remember, starting slowly is often the key to doing anything on guitar which doesn't at first come easily. Once you can do it slowly, it's WAY easier to do it at the proper speed.

Mike K

I've always found that songs written or sung by the guitarist are generally phrased in such a way that it's easier to manage, as opposed to bands with a singer who just sings, then the vocal parts tend to be less "connected" to the guitar part and frequently more difficult.

Just as an aside, I just watched Hendrix in "Rainbow Bridge" (horrendous film, GREAT concert footage, including the only time I've ever seen Jimi play a Flying V, sounds great too) Anyway I am always blown away by the fluid way he switches back and forth from rhythm to lead to vocals all at the same time - study the master!

I tended to sing the rhythm of the song while
playing guitar. So what I did and still do is strap on the guitar and just walk around the house singing and strumming the tune, and don't even think about the guitar. I also get in about 3 miles of walking this way. ha!

Two things i would suggest.

1. count 1 2 3 4, etc. as you play. not 1&2&3&4&.

2. count 1 2 3 4 as you read music. make sure you are reading more than quarter notes.

I've been teaching and coaching vocalists for about 20 years now (man, I'm old). What your having dificulty with is pretty consistent with instrumentalists that I've worked with. What I recommend to them is that you practice each part individually. Get so you don't have to think about your guitar part. Get so you don't have to think about your vocal part(s). This takes some time, especially if it's a new thing for you. Then bring the two together. My approach is that practice is when you do the thinking, performing is when you do it from the heart & soul.
Hope this helps,
Phil

DMT, Phil and and PAUL D, You have all nailed it. Jimi was a FREAK of the human gene pool, and STILL haven't watched one person who could do what he did at his young age.... blows me aways. Seeminly in free time, because his fluid vocals, rhythm/ riff interchange was so natural. However, the engineer of Voodoo Lounge has proved otherwise.
For the rest of us, we all need to get SETH RIGGS' singing with the stars, quite smoking so much and drinking too much, practice everyday to really learn to mix our 2 bridges. Then get reasonable on a guitar, maybe lesson or study your own like I did. Learn both parts seperately BANG ON, then practice them together without too much thought or worry with a metronome or with the song. If it is too fast, buy slowgold ( real pitch) and practice it slower.
peace

For starters make sure you know both the guitar and the vocal parts well so you don't have to think about it. It basically is something that just takes practice. Start out with tunes that the singing and guitar rhythm are similar.

As mentioned several times above, muscle memory is important for your riffs.

I'm the lead singer/guitarist in a power trio. I play some not-so-easy parts to sing over. One trick I use is counting actual strokes I'm hitting the strings with. So if one part is giving me problems, I will get it in my head, "Oh, I hit the A string 3 times before moving to the next note/chord."

It may sound like it mucks things up even more in your head, but it works for me

Above all...PRACTICE!!!

open chords, because that way you can just keep strumming with your right hand. or of course something similair, if you keep the right hand simple it'll work for me

I do a little back up here and there, and really it comes down to being able to get to the point of having to not think about what you are playing. End up using all of my brain to sing in key =>

I have never been good with counting if I try and do that I will mess it up, but if I can get it down by feel I am set. YMMV for sure =>

What Raoul said about getting to the point of not thinking to me is making it 'one move'. It's like trying to get your right hand and right foot rotating in opposite direction, most people can't do it, but if you make it one move to think about it just comes easy: so if you know what to play and it's just a move you can repeat over and over and you've got the vocals down in your head perfectly, just think that singing some word and playing a certain piece is one move as a whole. It's hard to explain, but it works for me.

it's still easier than trying to play the drums