As a Lead Singer Should I Know How to Play the Guitar?
What’s this week’s lead guitar question? Let’s dive straight in…
Question: Hey everyone, I’m a lead singer for a band who is actually starting to become somewhat famous in our city and state. But the thing is, I can’t play the guitar lol. I’m really good at singing, but I was just wondering if that’s normal for a lead singer to not even know how to play a guitar, when is genre his rock. I’ve been trying to find time to learn how to play the guitar, but our chords are pretty complicated, so I don’t know. What do you guys think in your opinion, should I learn to play the guitar? Or is it all right to not know how to play one as a lead singer? Ty.
Answer: It would be advantageous for you to play guitar, since you’d be able to participate more in the songwriting process. Most lead singers can at least play basic chords on guitar for that purpose. That way, they’re able to come up with basic ideas for songs and allow other band members to elaborate on them. And if you find yourself looking to join a band in the future, you’ll probably have trouble if you can’t play some guitar, since most musicians are reluctant to work with singers who don’t play instruments. Most singers who haven’t put in the effort to learn an instrument are more interested in being the center of attention than making music, so musicians are wary of them. And since there’s no shortage of singers who can also play guitar, bands don’t usually bother auditioning singers they don’t think will be able to contribute anything but lyrics to songs.
Except in the cases of prodigies, it’s always a little tough learning guitar at first. But if you stick with it, you’ll reach a point where things magically fall into place. Since you don’t have to play guitar in your band, concentrate on basic chords rather than variations your guitarists use. That will still enable you to write, but will free you from the pressure to master your band’s songs. Good luck!
if you have a good guitarist and bass player you should be good but normally lead singers in a rock band play guitar. its really your choice.
and yes guitar does take a while to get the hang of so i would suggest you start learning pronto, took me 3 years to get really good at it =P
but in my opinion i think you should play guitar
dont give up on it, we cant all be jimi hendrix haha
I’m a lead singer as well.
It kind of looks better and you’ll be respected as an artist more if you learn how to play guitar or a different instrument.
If you’re having problems learning then take a lesson or start off small. You could always try to learn by ear but that’s quite difficult.
Good luck
Look at Led Zep, The Answer, Thin Lizzy (bass-singer)
It isn’t necessary at all as long as you have a solid guitarist & bassist, depending on your sound you don’t want to muddle too much into it. Why nto play another instrument & whack up your sound eg Flea from RHCP (funk/alt rock) plays trumpet.
This may seem like a redundant question, but it’s not.. YOu would be AMAZED at how many lead singers in rock band CAN’T PLAY A GUITAR…. They will HAVE a guitar and they will APPEAR to strum it but their fingers never touch the strings…. HEY… that’s SHOW BIZ.