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Hiya @the-old-coach it’s a good question, and I think my answer will agree with what the others already so wisely posted. Yes, it’s OK to simplify a song in order to get used to singing along while you play. If you’re first learning to sing and play, it’s definately one of the most difficult things to do, and everyone makes it look so durn easy. The nice thing to know is that each song you master will be easier and easier. So don’t give up!!
Some tips I’ve picked up along the way:
1. Choose a song you like and that you know very well.
2. Learn the song without singing first. Learn it forwards and backwards and in your sleep.
3. Start playing the song in front of the TV. Start trying to listen to what the TV news guy is saying while you are playing the song. (This trains your brain to focus on outside words while your hands are busy playing guitar.)
4. Start thinking of the lyrics in your head as you are playing the song. Progress to saying the words out loud as you play.
5. Once you are ready to start actually singing out loud, stop down the guitar down to bare minimum simple. Like just doing a simple strum on beat one of each measure, whatever chord is appropriate. Then do just a simple down strum just one for each new chord change…
6. Write out the lyrics and above the words, write down each new chord above the actual syllable of the words where the chord changes. This really helps as you are learning to sing and play.
7. Keep trying. If you give up it will never happen. Just when you start thinking you can’t do this, you will see, that you CAN do it. It’s like riding a bike. You will take off and fly!!!
Best wishes!!