Hi-hat side of the drummer

[Toadsmacker]

I prefer stage right. Mostly because I am left-handed but play right handed, so therefor I tend to naturally look to the left when I want to see my bandmates. Looking to the right while playing just feels unnatural to me! Plus, our drummer told me that he's got not issue looking away from his snare and agrees that it's best for me to be comfortable so that we can lock in

 

[Chef FourString]

I agree about being on the high hat. Eye contact is a plus and the constant usage of the hat keeps the tempo in my ear.

 

[semajniwdoog]

I prefer the left, cuz that's where Geddy plays

 

[john turner]

I try not to be a jerk about it, but I strongly prefer to be stage-left, on the hi-hat side of the drummer. In fact, put me right next to the hat and I'll be happy as a clam. Yesterday a guitarist asked me what the big deal was with it, so I explained.

When you're playing drums, you naturally face slightly leftward. It's also the direction in which you don't have an enormous ride cymbal obscuring your vision of the other performers. As the bass player, being able to establish eyeball-to-eyeball contact with the drummer keeps the rhythm section tighter.

Can I get an amen?

yep. i agree.

 

[brane]

I have absolutely zero preference where I stand, yet for some reason I end up stage right. I'm going to say easily 85% of the time. I have no idea why.

One of my favorite venues had the drums up on a rise that was like 4 feet high, and I tended to get set up right in front of it. If you ever wanted to lock in with the kick, try having it about 6 inches behind your head.

 

[jaywa]

I HATE standing in front of the drum kit. I want to be on the same lateral plane as the drummer, end of story. To me, that's even more important than whether I'm stage left or right.

 

[steveksux]

Stage left usually, except with a left handed drummer, I like the high hat side. Its right by the snare, the high hat, get the best aural view of them from that side.

Randy

 

[BassyBill]

Amen!

I prefer the hi-hat side for some of the reasons mentioned in the OP. Also, the hi-hat tends to be the busiest bit of the kit, so being able to hear it loud and clear at all times helps you to keep tempo as a result. There's more tempo information coming in at a faster rate.

The easiest way to hear this is to set up a drum loop with kick on each beat and snare on the back beats. Set it to a slowish tempo (say around 80 bpm), start it running and see how long it takes you to accurately pick up on the exact tempo. Now add in hi-hat 16ths and try again. I think you'll be surprised at the difference.

 

[snatchback66]

I prefer to be on stage right and usally get my way but for some reason when we play in England I get stuck playin on stage left. weird huh?

 

[CPplaysBASS]

I have no preference, although it seems very logical to be on the left (hi-hat) side.

I do notice that even though it seems the bassist and drummer can connect better with the bass on the hi-hat side, it's interesting that John Paul Jones, John Deacon, John Entwistle, Michael Anthony, Flea, Tom Hamilton, etc, all found themselves on the opposite side for whatever reason. Just an observation.

 

[BrianVengeance]

Stage center to be with vocal mic, cabinet hat-side facing toward center of the room (and preferably beaming on me).

 

[JimmyM]

I stand next to wharever my paycheck is.

 

[Marko 1]

I’m stage left (high-hat side) because my guitarist is used to stage right, and he’s not good at change.

I kinda wanted stage right ‘cause I do look at my neck often (I’m very busy), and my right eye is damaged with very poor vision, so stage right would be practical for obvious reasons.

 

[oniman7]

Amen!

I prefer the hi-hat side for some of the reasons mentioned in the OP. Also, the hi-hat tends to be the busiest bit of the kit, so being able to hear it loud and clear at all times helps you to keep tempo as a result. There's more tempo information coming in at a faster rate.

The easiest way to hear this is to set up a drum loop with kick on each beat and snare on the back beats. Set it to a slowish tempo (say around 80 bpm), start it running and see how long it takes you to accurately pick up on the exact tempo. Now add in hi-hat 16ths and try again. I think you'll be surprised at the difference.

Let me say I totally agree. My drummer likes the bass, snare, and hi-hat, which are all on the left side.

However, for the purpose of argument, I'd like to talk about your experiment. I don't think it's the hi-hat that's important, so much as the driving 16th notes. You can replace the hi-hat in that experiment with a china, a ride, floor tom, just about anything, and I imagine you'd have the same level of success because it's a faster beat, and because it has shorter intervals, you can pick up on it quicker.


Not that I actually tried the experiment So correct me if I'm wrong. I was just curious about that.

 

[PazzoBasso]

I prefer the left, cuz that's where Geddy plays

That's how I got on there as a young'un & I tend to prefer it... I used to think it was a rule...

 

[richtea]

left, I get quite miffed if I get shoved on the right. I need to be able to see what the other clowns are doing or it all goes to ... well you know.

 

[teleharmonium]

I don't care as long as I have enough space. You can hear the hi hat anywhere in the venue, including inside the walk in fridge with the door shut.

 

[SteveC]

I'll give you an amen!

 

[Gaius46]

Left here too. I want to hear the hi-hat and for me at least seeing what's he's doing is almost as important as hearing. And besides on the left side it's easier to get close enough to wisecrack about the rest of the band.

 

[JimmyM]

I'd advise those of you who have very firm preferences to get over them. Sooner or later you're going to be placed on a stage in an area you may not want to be. What are you going to do? Refuse to do the gig unless everyone else in the band bends to your will? All well and good if you're the bandleader. Not so good if you're not.