[Harp-L] Another Gus

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

Email writes:

One of the problems I have is standing back behind the pa speakers it is
sometimes difficult to hear what I am playing.  Do other players have  
this
problem and would I be better to use a small amp behind me plugged or  
mic'd
through the pa to act as a monitor?

This is a recurring practical problem when playing electric without  
monitors or having to stand in a position where you can't hear the  
monitors as sometimes happens when being invited to sit in. Btw, it's  
not always convenient to use an amp when sitting in--and there is a  
species of "Gus" who needs enough stage space to set up more  
equipment than i have furniture in my living room in order to play on  
a couple of tunes.  That species of Gus will typically spend $2000+  
on amps, mods, mics and gear before he'll spend a  few hours learning  
some scales.

When you can't hear yourself, the solution is to know enough music  
and know enough about which notes are where on your instrument so  
that you are able to play lines that you know will fit even if you  
can't hear.  Not comfortable, but necessary and doable.  Also, with  
experience, you can pick up sound coming back at you off the far  
wall, which is a little delayed, and often muddled, but it can  
provide some sort of reference point.  But the solution is to know  
your instrument and to know enough music to be able to know where the  
notes are on the harp that you should be playing, even if you can't  
hear yourself playing them.

JP