Learning the best way to accompany yourself on guitar (alternatively known as "singing and playing guitar at the same time") is certainly one of the main aims for more than a few beginner and intermediate guitarists. It's so cool to be able to lounge around with buddies at a party and have a sing-along! It's also a real benefit when beginning or auditioning for a band.

IS A WONDERFUL VOICE REALLY NECESSARY IF YOU'D LIKE TO PLAY GUITAR AND SING?

The brief response is "No." Naturally, you want to have the ability to hold a tune. However, being able to sing like some incredibly talented recording musician vocal celebrity just isn't required! In fact, a few of the greatest singer-songwriters ever, such as Neil Young or Bob Dylan, haven't got particularly great voices nor are they especially awesome guitarists. But, boy do they know the way to write and sing a tune! It doesn't make any difference at all whether or not you would like to just play and sing guitar at social events or you fancy writing your own songs for the entire world, do not let an ordinary singing voice prevent you. Singing is one of those special things that comes from the heart.

Now, of course, you do need to be able to sing reasonably well, but that is just a matter of training. Take a handful of singing classes and study all the basics of how to sing and you may notice your voice strengthens dramatically. Then, resolve whether or not you wish to take your singing more seriously or whether that is enough for just singing at the same time as playing guitar.

TAKE THE TRACK YOU'VE CHOSEN AND LEARN TO PLAY IT

The normal tendency for many beginners is to attempt to play guitar and sing together immediately. This is really, really not a particularly good idea. What it is advisable to do is learn to play the guitar part first. Only when you've done that, learn how to sing the vocal line. And then put them together.

The first thing you need to do, then, is to choose a song you like with relatively easy chord progressions and straight-forward chord changes. It does not matter which one you choose. It really doesn't. There are plenty of straight-forward songs for beginners. Simply one thing you can learn the chords to fairly easily, and which you genuinely like. Oh, and which does not have mondo-difficult vocal part. Whatever you choose must be accomplishable. You do not want to spend all this time and not even be able to sing the song.

As soon as you have chosen your song to focus on (and it's best to only focus on ONE at a time!), spend as much time as you need and practise till you can play the guitar part in your sleep. Don't simply pay attention to your fretting hand, either. Take note of your right hand: the rhythm parts and your strumming technique. Practise, practise, practise but no singing until you've learned how to play the guitar part and formed a kind of "muscle memory," meaning you can play the song without looking at every chord change or slowing down.

TAKE THE TUNE YOU'VE CHOSEN AND LEARN TO SING IT

The next step is to progress to learning how to sing it. Your first step right here is to commit the lyrics to memory. Do NOT try to play guitar and sing together just yet! Simply study the lyrics and pay attention to how the singer hits certain notes, holds other notes (and for how long), and puts across the emotion of the piece.

When you've got "the feel" of the tune and you've memorised the lyrics, you will want to record yourself singing with the music. Sure, the idea of that in all probability makes you quake with fear, however the truth is you should know the way your voice sounds and where you could do with some extra focus and assistance if you are ever going to play guitar and sing at an event.

NOW PUT THE PLAYING AND SINGING TOGETHER!

Okay, now you're ready to deal with putting the two halves, singing and playing, together. Take note of the bizarre thing that can happen: You will start making errors in the chord progressions, you will forget the lyrics, you'll stumble on easy elements of the song... All of the things that you had perfectly under control before, they'll now appear tough again. Weird. It is going to seem hard at first (and, it's not an easy thing to do), as if your hands and your mouth just refuse to work together!

Chill out. This is just a small adjustment and by slowing down and practising in a really deliberate and careful way, only then will you begin to grasp it fairly quickly. The danger here is boredom and frustration. Do NOT quit now and start studying a different song. Persist with the plan and sooner than you realise you'll find that you can play guitar and sing at the same time!