How can I play guitar riffs and sing at the same time - I didn't think my brain could multitask!

I was mixing some live recordings and surprised myself on what I"m playing on the guitar while I'm singing.....it's like 2 people doing it....and I'm not sure how it works!

[@whatchord]

You said it yourself it's muscle memory. I learn 5 new songs every month for a session with friends. For me some songs I require more practice to get a near error free rendition. For example I put off St Judy's Comet until I can get a free flowing version. I have also dropped songs because it was just not working. I like your effortless riffing, Good channel keep it up.

[@icarusi]

It's synchronisation. Drummers do it all the time. Some things are easy and some aren't. 'Hang on Sloopy' was the first I couldn't do, as the guitar rhythm differs from the vocal rhythm. My band did 'Don't Take Me Alive' where I did harmony vocal on the chorus and played the rhythm and lead figures along with it, but I also did the middle keyboard bit, with a Leslie fx before multi-fx were available, so I had to do the arps plus sing, kick in the Leslie for the keys bit, kick off the Leslie, and kick in distortion for the following lead line, and back to clean for the next vocal chorus. I rarely got all the fx changes right especially the Leslie off into distortion on, so often started the last lead line with either Leslie or clean vs distortion. When mutifx came out it was too late, but the clean Leslie to distortion change would have been 1 button press vs 3!

[@iamtjwalker]

I see what you mean but drummers are coordinating 4 limbs as opposed to 2 limbs (and fingers!) with a vocal. They seem to use a different bit of the brain somehow as language is involved too.....seems trickier to me (not that I can play drums to a very high level!)!😀

[@paulvsmith]

Why do people feel they need neuroscience for their ultimate explanations of things?