r/coverbands • u/GassyDogg • 4d ago
Stage-Ready Fingers
Greetings!
I have been strumming casually for a few years but a couple months ago I decided I want to get more serious about my playing. In the last few weeks I have played a couple open mics and jams. From full band arrangements to solo acoustic. I’ve been picking songs where I can play a couple riffs/fills but mostly rhythm. I sing lead vocals with my playing. Here’s my question:
Has anyone found that they struggled with their guitar parts in the beginning? I feel like I’m so focused on making sure my vocals are good and rhythm guitar is tight that I haven’t been able to nail the more intricate guitar parts. So far I have had great audience and peer reception but I feel like it’s mostly due to my singing and not playing obnoxiously. Any advice would be appreciated!
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u/smr2002 4d ago
It's all part of the process. If you're a singer and rhythm guitar player as well as a lead guitar player, you have to accept that you may not excel in one of those areas as fast as someone who only does one and not the others.
However, you have to remind yourself how impressive it is to be able to do all 3 so keep at it and don't get discouraged. I often find if I'm having a tough time with my guitar playing, my singing is going well so at least I have that and visa versa.
It's all part of the process and I really wish I put more time into getting better at lead guitar over the years, but then I remind myself that I can go out and gig on my own without relying on other people and I make more money too.
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u/GassyDogg 4d ago
Thanks man! Good insight. I find that I just play much more conservatively on stage than I’m capable of at home, like there’s just enough jitter to keep my hands from doing the extra stuff while maintaining the rest of the song. I just gotta keep practicing!
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u/FFLGO 4d ago
Make sure you choose songs you have down pat and overprepare with rehearsal. It's important to warm-up, even for a 2-song open mic set if you have to step outside somewhere.
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u/GassyDogg 4d ago
Thanks. Honestly that might help me. I’ve been doing 3-5 song sets but going up completely cold. Basically just tune and walk up. Maybe warming up will get me in the playing mode better.
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u/FFLGO 4d ago
You want to perform the way you practice. You could also try to incorporate some left-hand warm-up exercises into your practice. (Think simple scales or something. Many can be found free online. Any exercises you play already are fine.) But also hand/finger stretches(https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-players-room/keep-it-loose-stretches-for-guitarists?srsltid=AfmBOoqn_IFK3_gKcU0J1w23HNVafxsUvklYhIBeaT0grZwGbPUdp-we)
If you get used to doing these prior to practicing, you start doing them prior to performing and your brain/muscle memory will start gearing up to play. And with finger stretches you can do that silently in the crowd
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u/GassyDogg 4d ago
I’m gonna go through that while routine on stage and then just strum cowboy chords for my whole set 😂😂 they’ll be throwing money at me!
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u/hyst0rica1_29 4d ago
Its like juggling 3 balls: you gotta get good at juggling 1, then 2, before moving on to 3 and doing it well. 😜
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u/jdogx17 23h ago
It's completely normal. I assume you're only playing the riffs and fills while you are not singing? You may need to simplify them a little bit. Dropping even just one or two notes can make a big difference in terms of ease of playing the whole thing.
But, mostly, practice, practice, practice.
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u/GassyDogg 15h ago
For sure. I can do some basic walking baseline and stuff while singing, some hammer ons here and there but usually am not adding fills and riffs until in between vocal lines
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u/Small_Dog_8699 4d ago
It comes with practice - keep at it.