GUITAR
YOUR SOUNDMAN IS YOUR FRIEND | Chris Rocha
Photo by Clement Felix via Unsplash
Imagine being in the audience , watching the guitar player during a worship concert , playing the guitar , and being fully invested in the set , but you can ’ t hear a single note he ’ s playing through the P . A . system ? It ’ s a scenario that highlights the importance of establishing a strong connection with your sound engineer to ensure that your music reaches the audience as intended . This happens so much . The relationship between the sound engineer and a musician is a vital one . At the end of the day , the sound engineer will run the sound system how he sees fit and us musicians must respect that .
To bridge the gap between the sound you hear in your in-ear monitors ( IEMs ) or on-stage and what resonates with the audience , effective communication with your sound engineer is key . From verbal discussions to on-platform cues , finding the right language establishing clear communication ensures that your sound translates seamlessly at Front of House ( FOH ). Respecting the relationship with your soundman / woman is very important ( Editor ’ s note : We acknowledge that both men and woman serve on the tech teams , for this article when we say “ soundman ” as a role on the team we are including both men and women ). I ’ ve seen throughout the years an ongoing silent battle with musicians and sound engineers . It typically starts with one not respecting properly the other one . Either way that relationship is extremely valuable .
For guitarists who prefer using amps on stage , it ’ s very important to explore different options to run and execute your sound without overpowering the stage . I ’ ve seen so many engineers and bandmates frustrated with the guitar player because of his stage volume . I once played a concert with the other guitar player completely overpowering me because he refused to turn down his amp .
Let ’ s talk about possible solutions to this : One approach is to have your amp mic ’ d in a backroom , allowing the sound engineer to control the volume and balance effectively . This ensures that your guitar tone is captured accurately and projected through the P . A . speakers without causing unnecessary stage volume issues . Something else that can help is that you turn the amps backwards , that way
66 March 2024 Subscribe for Free ...