I get asked several questions all the time.
1). Why do I never post original music?
2). I talk a lot about playing guitar but I never show it. Can I really play?
3). Can I give an example of me playing guitar and singing something difficult?
4). Is it harder to sing when playing guitar at the same time?
I figured I would knock out all four questions in one video
1) This is an original song of mine called Holdin’ On. Since this is a channel that teaches singing and not songwriting most people won’t click on an original song and the goal is to show how well my singing method stacks up to some of the greatest pieces of music ever recorded.
2) I think this should settle the question of whether or not I can really play guitar 🙂
3) I think this gives an adequate example of me singing and playing guitar at the same time (and particularly something difficult).
4) I would like to elaborate on this last question.
It’s one thing to sing something easy and play a few easy chords on acoustic. (and even that can be a challenge and I’ll explain in a second).
It’s another thing to sing something very challenging and play a few easy chords on guitar and I’ll explain that in a second.
It’s quite yet another thing to sing something very difficult and play something very difficult simultaneously.
This is true whether it’s guitar or any other instrument and particularly drums.
When we sing something difficult, often times it’s all we can do to just barely keep up with pacing ourselves to finish a difficult piece.
So we will need to rehearse this piece vocally over and over and over again (with good technique) to where it becomes so second nature so that we don’t have to “think” about it and we have built up plenty of body strength to where our minds are not constantly preoccupied with the technical abilities and physical strength to pull it off.
But there’s more.
When we combine this with playing an instrument, often times our body becomes very tense and the first thing that happens is we forget to breathe.
This is extremely critical and essential even for the most simple pieces.
Anyone that plays guitar (or I like to use the example of drums) understands that you need to stay “loose” while playing, or different extremities will get bound up and become stiff and not able to perform relaxed and with ease.
Drummers often times have a certain “pacing of the breath” depending on the piece that they are playing. If they’re playing something fast and difficult their breathing will be very different than a slower ballad for example.
When you combine this with the breath that is required to sing, it becomes very intricate and needs a lot of technical attention.
This is also the case with playing guitar but since drums is more physically demanding I wanted to give you a picture of what I am talking about.
So the obvious thing is, the first thing we do is we learn the piece on our chosen instrument so well and so “second nature”, that we literally don’t have to “think” about it (or think a little about it).
In a song like “Holding On” the intensity is such that you have to spend many hours in your bedroom practicing this sucka to make this a possibility.
Once that level of excellence is achieved then you start the process of integrating the voice.
You start playing and singing the verse over and over and over until you’ve mastered the breath and the strength for the very first part of the song.
Then you move onto the chorus and so on.
Then you practice this song 10 times back to back to where all of the parts are working together in unison to make this a reality.
We need to somewhat go on autopilot for the “singer” inside of you, and the “singer” inside of you needs to somewhat go on autopilot for the “instrumentalist” inside of you.
Kind of like two people joining together as one person.
I hope this makes sense and I hope this video was as fun for you to watch as it was for me to make.
Ken Tamplin Vocal Academy Where The PROOF Is In The Singing And The Playing!
Holdin’ On – By Ken Tamplin
Shatter the dark
With the might in His word
There’s power and mercy, well haven’t you heard?
Don’t be a fool, they’re playin’ for keeps – Lies and confusion are out to deceive
Oh there’s no disguise
I’m keepin’ my eyes on the prize
Gettin’ ready lookin’ up to the skies
Hold on, holdin’ on, it’s now or never
Hold on, holdin’ on, well it’s forever
Hold on, holdin on, ain’t gonna bend
Well I’m holdin’ on, until the end
I’ve seen it before, I know what’s at stake
Life is too short for an eternal mistake
No time to waste, and no room for guess
Every knee shall bow, and tongue confess
Oh there’s no disguise
I’m keepin’ my eye on the prize
Gettin’ ready lookin’ up to the skies
Hold on, holdin’ on, it’s now or never
Hold on, holdin’ on, well it’s forever
