Expert: Elizabeth - 3/12/2009

Question
My brother wants to know why George and Paul shared a microphone, why didn't George have one of his own.

Answer
I'm going to preface this by saying I don't know a definite answer, but I can give my best educated musical guesses, as a Beatles expert and also as a music teacher (my day job).

It has to do with singing in harmony.  It can be tough to sing in harmony with someone else singing a different part, but you have to hear the different part to make sure yours is right.  Whenever two Beatles shared a mic (Paul/John, Paul/George, John/George), it was because the parts they were singing were similar and in harmony.

There were no monitors or ear pieces back then; many times the Beatles couldn't hear themselves playing, let alone singing.  They would have to be very near the person they were singing in harmony with to make sure it was right.

Check out this performance of "All My Loving" on the Ed Sullivan Show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EQlX929k_U

In the bridges of this song, George is in harmony with John, but he sings the last verse in harmony with Paul.  George switches mics accordingly.

Now watch a performance of the same song at the Hollywood Bowl six months later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g3ZvgWogWc

George is at a mic with John for the bridge, but then John backs away so George can have that mic to himself for the last verse.  In my opinion, George is not singing in tune and he's also singing louder than Paul, throwing off the sound balance.  

Therefore, I don't think they wanted to use separate mics that often, so they could perform better.  Feel free to follow up with any more questions.