How to Sing and Play Lead Guitar at the Same Time?
What’s this week’s question? Let’s dive straight in…
Question: hi i need to sing and play lead guitar for mr brightside by the killers im finding it really hard so if any of you have any tips please leave them down bellow
Answer: Well Guitarpicker’s advice is generally a good idea (although guys like Mikael Akerfeldt, Matt Bellamy, and myself would say otherwise), but you’re in luck because the song Mr. Brightside doesn’t have much of a lead part. The part the lead guitarist plays is all very strictly rhythmic and he sings backing vocals anyway. You really should have someone else sing the lead part (you should have a keyboardist to cover this song), but I can see you doing both if you practice the guitar part until you don’t have to think about it. The issue is not the possibility of doing both, because this song is easy and allows for it, but the issue is that I can tell that you do not yet have the talent on guitar to play the song like it’s nothing in order to make room for vocal performance (I don’t think you can even play the opening riff). I can help you onto the right track by telling you that this is how the guitar part is played (since people so often get it wrong): http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/k/killers/mr_brightside_ver5_guitar_pro.htm
Singing while playing accompaniment is one thing, but singing and performing as a lead guitarist is entirely difficult. It may be possible, but I would not attempt to sing while playing as a lead guitar man. More focus must be spent on playing the correct lead progressions in the interlude and may lessen during the sporadic lead fills during the lyrics themselves.
It would be more feasible to begin your singing as you lead into the next set of lyrics by using a riff, but to sing throughout the song and playing the lead could be viewed as unattainable.
I hate to pop your fantasy bubble, but most lead guitar players either PLAY or SING but THEY SELDOM DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.
If they are singing, they just move their hand over the strings without TOUCHING them.. it just LOOKS like they are playing and singing at the same time.. but THEY AREN’T. The ONLY people who don’t realize this are peopel who have never played in a rock band… it’s well known by musicians.
Dude!!!! If you want to learn how to shread on guitar their is only one place to go!