Band Positions

Gin · #1 06-18-2008, 10:48 PM

Okay, I may sound like a complete idiot for asking this, but being a bassist and all, I see bands with a their bassist being stage left and few being on stage right, what's the difference really? I had my friends' mother tell me a bassist should always go on the the left side of the stage in a band, something to do with the drummer(couldn't remember exactly what she said, but that's what I remember)

Again, sorry if I've just asked a ridiculous question.

Dogbertday · #2 06-18-2008, 10:52 PM

I like to be on the drummer's right for a few reasons...

first...
In traditional jazz trio setup bass is in the middle with drummer on left and piano on right... so it's what I'm used to in that sense

second...
it's for my stage presence... When I look at the drummer or other members I'm opening up to the audience as opposed to turning my back... I use this for all genres... unless I'm behind the drummer at all... then I like to be on his/her left

BassManic · #3 06-18-2008, 10:53 PM

Well, for most players being righthanded I think it is a bit easier to have eyecontact with the drummer not looking over the neck and head (the basses that is) while standing right. And its so right to stand right (pun-alarm).

Hope that helps,
Jens

Stumbo · #4 06-18-2008, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gin

I had my friends' mother tell me a bassist should always go on the the left side of the stage in a band, something to do with the drummer

Probably so your view of the drummer wasn't obscured by some big cymbals or toms.

Left - looking at the stage or from the stage?

As a right-handed bass player:
3 piece band - I was on the right (from the stage)
6 piece band - I was on the right (fts) with the keys to the right of me.
9 piece band - I was on the left (fts) until we wanted to get a tighter setup and then I was on the right. I did have a problem because I couldn't hear the keys/guitar player very well standing next to 4 horn players (no monitors back in the day).
5 piece band - 2 vocals, drums, bass, guitar. I was on the right (fts).

No one ever said anything sounded any different based on where I setup up. Bass is pretty much omni-directional.

jojo99 · #5 06-18-2008, 11:03 PM

To me the best place to stand is on the side opposite of the drummer's favorite crash cymbal....youch! Tinnitus City...

DanRJBrasil · #6 06-19-2008, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojo99

To me the best place to stand is on the side opposite of the drummer's favorite crash cymbal....youch! Tinnitus City...

+1

bwv1013 · #7 06-19-2008, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojo99

To me the best place to stand is on the side opposite of the drummer's favorite crash cymbal....youch! Tinnitus City...

+2

perogato02 · #8 06-19-2008, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojo99

To me the best place to stand is on the side opposite of the drummer's favorite crash cymbal....youch! Tinnitus City...

and 3 ... and rest

ganga · #9 06-19-2008, 01:49 AM

Being near the hihat/snare is great. Plus you have better eye contact when he's not hiding behind his ride and china. It's also easier to smack him down with your bass if he doesn't stay in time.

JimmyM · #10 06-19-2008, 01:59 AM

I must be weird, because I have never cared in the least about having eye contact with the drummer or being near the drummer.

mutedeity · #11 06-19-2008, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I must be weird, because I have never cared in the least about having eye contact with the drummer or being near the drummer.

It doesn't really matter to me either, actually. I tend to listen to the drummer more than watch them. After all good musical communication isn't about looking, it's about listening. I don't really care which side of the stage I am on either.

Aaron · #12 06-19-2008, 04:14 AM

In groups where I know the material pretty well, it doesn't really matter to me.

When I'm filling/sitting-in, I like to be in a spot where I can hear the kick drum clearly and watch the chords the keyboardist/guitarist is playing. If I had better ears, that would even be unnecessary. If someone is giving cues, I'd like to be in a spot where I can see the cues.

fretlessman71 · #13 06-19-2008, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganga

Being near the hihat/snare is great. Plus you have better eye contact when he's not hiding behind his ride and china. It's also easier to smack him down with your bass if he doesn't stay in time.

+1. Having had to babysit several new drummers through gigs they weren't familiar with, I definitely prefer the hi-hat side (worked with a few southpaw drummers). They're usually looking in that general direction, esp. if they're reading a chart at the time. Makes it easier to hit them in the head with a cup if you want to get their attention and all other methods of doing so have failed.

**Pacman** · #14 06-19-2008, 04:42 AM

I prefer to be on the side 'time' is on. In a jazz group, that's the side the ride cymbal is on. In a funk/pop/country group, that's the high hat side.

IanStephenson · #15 06-19-2008, 04:45 AM

I've always played stage left, but in the current band was asked to play stage right as that's how they'd done it previously - all fine for me. We've since changed lineups and I could have moved back to the left, but didn't want to change the way we set up at different venues (getting the drummer to shift over to make more space on the other side would have been a regular fight). Habit is by far the biggest factor.

There is a slight advantage in being right - hihat side, as you can see the drummer more clearly, but like being on the right (easier to bash the singer withyou headstock whn he screws up). Not really a lot in it - just go where there's space, and you feel happy.

Ian

Gin · #16 06-19-2008, 04:52 AM

Ah, thanks for you input guys!

Should've mentioned this in the first post.

There's only three of us in a the band, no singer yet, and we play mostly rock/hard rock music. My guitarist won't even let me switch sides to try the left side of my drummer(something about the tradition of guitar players that usually play left of drummer or some crazy thing he told me

). Being on the right side, all I can see are the toms, ride, and crash cymbals, but I just don't feel comfortable either.

Luke73 · #17 06-19-2008, 04:57 AM

I don't care - I'll stand anywhere.

Jools4001 · #18 06-19-2008, 05:27 AM

It's simply because most drummers are right handed. It has nothing to do with eye contact but by standing on the drummers left hand side you can clearly see the hi-hat, the snare and the kick drum pedal - by definition you can also see the drummer hitting these.

Using these visual cues (as well as your ears) can help you lock in with the drummer, especially if you are working with an unfamiliar drummer. Even if you are working with a drummer that you have worked with for years and have good rapport with you tend to be able to hear the hi hats better (and these more than anything else in the kit tend to give you the 'metronome').

Also, on stages with questionable acoustics where the stage sound is rubbish and nobody can hear themselves clearly, these visual references can act almost like a conductor.

The downside is that I have raging tinnitus from 30 years standing next to a loud crash cymbal - but then, drummers tend to have a loud crash (is there any other kind?) on both sides of the kit

Pbassred · #19 06-19-2008, 06:17 AM

Stage left = snare side of the drummer. Or course if you are also the lead singer (sting/ Macca) middle or anywhere. I find that stage right also has the danger of turning my headstock into the hardware.

Never mind this. Your friend's mom sounds hipper than your friend. Is she hot? Post a chickpic

Phalex · #20 06-19-2008, 06:18 AM

I've done both. In my current band I'm on the hi hat side, but my favorite place to be is out front, stage right. One place we play regularly has a really weird stage set up, and I end up out on the dance floor with a support post between my drummer and myself. If I just turn my head, I can't see him at all. I have to take a few steps out to see around the post. I've found that we both listen to each other for cues a lot better there, because there is no possible eye contact.