Once again, I require the aid of you musicians out there...

[Unleashed Hell]

Well... my band's current keyboard player and one of the guitarists have left the band today. Now, replacing the keyboard guy wasn't a problem - I already found someone to replace him. The guitarist matter, however, isn't that simple... From earlier experience, it's quite uneasy to find some proper guitar guy from our town...

So, I thought of an alternative, in case we can't find a new guy - I'm the vocalist in the band, and I also play guitar on my free time, and I think I'm actually not bad at that... But problem is, I never was able to sing and play well at the same time...

Anyone can suggest me some good ways to learn to do that as quickly as possible, besides practice doing them both at the same time? (It's a bit of a problem... I live in a small apartment and I can't growl all over the place while people are at home...)

[MentaL]

[Iron Maiden]

Ok. Well first of all, you already know that it's going to take practice, practice, and even more practice. If you're just doing rhythm guitars it shouldn't take you that long to get it down. But, if it's lead. It's going to take awhile. I still can't do it very well. But, I haven't been doing a lot of vocals over the years.

[Avenged]

The way i have learnt to play guitar/bass while singing is to start off with easy riffs to play. I thought that i would go back to when i first started to play but incorperate singing into the learning process. it may take time but its well worth it.

I started with Blink 182 riffs and singing.
then things like Coheed and Cambria, Trivium riffs and singing

[Gabrieth]

I have been singing and playing the guitar in the same time for a while now but metal is definitely not the best style to start practicing on. If I was you I would go for a few rock songs that uses just chords its a lot easyer and it makes you work on your co ordination.
When you get better make you own rifts and sing on them it's always simpler then doing other peoples.
And last of all look for guitar pro tabs that have the voice it help well to know what melody you must sing when your playing certain parts and play along with guitar pro.
And also don't sing the words at first just do the melody then when you got it right start using the real words this makes you need to think less at first and just get use to it.

[DaCheat]

It's just like anything else...Practice practice practice....

First off you have to have the vocals memorized, then you have know what you're playing like the back of your hand... Once you're hands have memorized what to do, you need to put the two together. It doesn't take long to get it down. You'll get it in no time. Although playing lightning fast solos and singing at the same time will never happen.

Now there are some sound tricks you can do to help you out in your weak spots... Say you're vocals are a little on weak side, and your guitar playing is perfect...Just have the mic.s make you sound a little muddy then turn up the guitars a tad. Or if your guitar playing is a little rough and your vocals are good, turn your guitar down, and kick everyone else up...

If one skill is way better then the other, that's what you need to draw your audience to hear. Once you do that, they wont even know your other skill is on the weak side.

[Unleashed Hell]

Well then, guess I'll just have to practice as much as I can.. Thanks guys.

[DaCheat]

Hey another awesome tip.

When you go to sleep at night, run through the song in your head, then visualize you hands playing guitar. That sounds retarded but when you're practicing it'll seem a bit easier to not look down while you're singing. ;)

Down side to that, is it'll take you forever to fall asleep......But as we all know sleep is for the weak, and you can sleep when you're dead. =p

[Unleashed Hell]

Hey another awesome tip.

When you go to sleep at night, run through the song in your head, then visualize you hands playing guitar. That sounds retarded but when you're practicing it'll seem a bit easier to not look down while you're singing. ;)

Down side to that, is it'll take you forever to fall asleep......But as we all know sleep is for the weak, and you can sleep when you're dead. =p

Hmm... I might try that, thanks ;)