For those that can't sing

[Irish Pennant]

For those that can't sing, is your playing style your voice?

[drjond56]

I can sing--I have been a tenor in a church choir in the past. However, my preference with guitar is to be an instrumental player. I just don't want to be a "strum & singer" although most folks would likely prefer that. In my area, if you really want to perform, then you had better know how to sing. That said, I don't really care if I play out again, but I have found some regular gigs in praise music things at church. While everyone else is thrashing away and singing, I am free to play a melody line for folks to follow and am free to ad lib around the melody, add different finger style licks, descants, and so forth. It adds a different dimension if you do it right. To answer your question more directly, the guitar is not really a substitute for my voice. I can do things technically with the guitar with different runs, intervals, hammer-ons, etc that I could never do vocally. Left to my own devices, I play a lot of jazz and classical, where singing is not needed, so I guess that contaminates my ability to advance as a singer.

Jon

[dodge]

I cannot sing that's why I play finger style arrangements of songs. So I guess in a way that's my voice.

[pgilmor]

I can't sing, but if people want me to play and sing, I'll do it. Not my fault they have no taste! I like playing songs and I don't like most instrumental guitar, so if someone doesn't like it, too bad.

[Rondoraymundo]

An operation on my throat has left me without the ability to sing. To compensate, my fingerstyle of playing has become more classical-like in that I have had to put the melody in the guitar along with the accompaniment. I've been a songwriter all my life, now I have to think like a composer.

[piper_guitarist]

I can't sing either (and if you want proof that I can't you are more than welcome to check out my submissions to the monthly contests). I do a lot of instrumental and classical type stuff myself. It makes up for it.

[EoE]

I can not sing which is a good thing .singers and trumpet players get on my nerves

[TBman]

Can't sing either, so therefore fingerstyle.

[EoE]

I can do finger style but that is worked in just to show off really. I prefer just soloing on my electric or my bass while my keyboard/bass player backs me up.

[Kilgore Trout]

I sing like a mofo. Nobody can stop me. They've tried.

[MissouriPicker]

I can't sing, but that's never stopped me from getting on stage and singing my songs. I think too many people worry too much about their singing. In all sincerity, they probably sound just fine. Don't expect yourself to sound like your favorite singer. Don't try to sound like your favorite singer. Don't expect to sound like the version of a song that sold millions of record. Just sing in key and sound like who you are. You'll be fine. Remember, sing in a key that you can easily reach all the notes with.

[mtsusean]

I'm like Perry Como without the Perry

[E7th]

I am also not a singer....that is why i play fingerstyle, and learn to play melody on guitar, so yes, guitar is my voice.

[leatherguy]

I sing like nobody else is home..and if they don't like it they can leave the room, like my dog does....I guess he thinks I'm scolding him.

[s2y]

I have an awful singing voice and must go instrumental. I've thought about pairing up with a singer, but I got burned pretty bad in past bands. Solo fingerstyle it is.