I am relatively new to gigging ( about 1/2 dozen so far, 1 to 3 hours) and struggle a little bit with keeping close to the mic, checking my songbook when needed ( chords / start of next verse) , and occasionally checking the position of my fretting hand for chords that are less than fully automatic. So I am thinking about getting a headset microphone to give myself a little freedom. I have absolutely no experience with these things. I currently use a Shure SM 58 on a boom in front of my guitar stool. I know the real answer is learn your songs so you don't need the book and learn to play without ever needing to look at your fretting hand. Realistically, those are both a ways off. Any recommendations?
Hey Steve,
Congrats for "getting out there" man! It's tough, and we truly are our own toughest critic ...kudos to you for just doing it, sir!! It can get seriously unnerving at times, but we become all the better for it!!
Since you asked for advice, I will respond with: you answered you own question.
Yessir, practice till you know em cold ...so cold you can start from anywhere in the song and pick it up, vocally or musically, reverse verses, start with the chorus, stone-cold nail it.
Only when you get this familiar (dare I say autopilot) with a song can you start feeling more relaxed so that you can focus on mic technique.
Being on/off axis, your proximity, your volume all affect your tone and dynamics a lot ...a
lot. And you use these variables as much as you would in your pick attack, going to bare fingers or pick, palm muting, etc ...your voice is an instrument that works
with the mic, and you have to
hear it for yourself to know what you want to change. Think of your mic technique as akin to setting up an effects pedal: no one would just plug it in and stomp on/off right out of the box in front of an audience: you try different settings to arrive at the tone and effect that you wanted in your head before you even bought the thing. That's what you want to do
with your mic. Don't think of "mic technique" as what's right/wrong as much as what your position sounds like through the system.
So there you go: after you nail down the song/s, setup your rig in your home exactly as you would on stage, and practice with the focused intent to judge what comes from the speakers. Turn it up louder than normal so you
hear the system as opposed to your own guitar/voice naturally. You are totally fine keeping your 58, not to mention a headset mic is just another mic that you'd have to "learn" so you are truly no better off. As you already know, there is no quick fix for playing guitar, so "working the mic" really is the same. But you're almost there, man! Anyone with the gonads to get up in front of strangers to play already has the fortitude to be self critical toward learning the other aspects of performing. Keep rockin it, friend ...and chime back with your thoughts!!
Edward
