Originally Posted by: haghj500You never want the mic in front of the amp. That will cause feed back.
Try moving it to different locations and as said you will want a mic stand.

Actually, that is not true. Placing a mic in front on an amp does not automatically mean that you'll get feedback. When using a mic with a cardioid pickup pattern, the most important thing in avoiding feedback is to have the business end of the mic pointed away from the amp/speaker. Proximity will usually be the next factor. The closer the mic is to whatever its plugged into, the more likely the mic is to pick up its own signal and produce feedback.

Saying "you never want the mic in front of the amp. That will cause feedback" is not only overly simplifying the problem, its wrong. An amp takes the signal from the input source (in this case a mic) and amplifies it through its speaker. This is exactly how a stage monitor works. Stage monitors are speakers that are placed close to performers so that they can hear themselves as they perform. In the case of a vocalist, they are using the monitor to hear their own voice being picked up by the mic, so its essentially a more sophisticated version of plugging a mic into an amp. By necessity, the mic is in front of the speaker or "amp". The first and foremost way feedback is avoided is by using a directional microphone, such as a cardioid, that is pointed away from the monitor. There are othe ways to avoid or reduce feedback, but they are used in addition to using a directional mic pointed away from the amplifier or speaker.

I've plugged both a guitar and microphone into a small practice amp many times when practicing vocals. Placing the mic behind the amp would defeat the purpose... you want to be standing in front of the amp so you can hear it clearly. I would simply place the mic in front of the amp, pointed away from it, which allowed me to stand, play and sing and hear the amp clearly without feedback.