On stage: Right or Left of the drummer?

[SJan3]

With most drummers I like to be on their hi-hat side, since that's the way most (rock or pop) drummers tend to face, most of the time, so we can communicate just that little bit more easily.

Agreed! THe Hi-Hat side is best for me. Get to feel those 2s and 4s.

 

[MikeyThrottler]

I can get used to whatever. I stood stage-center in a four-piece band for 12 years with a guitarist on each side, so I got pretty accustomed to never looking at the drummer. I was too busy singing to look around anyway.

In my current main band I actually started standing stage-right for the first time ever due to our new drummers preference (no big deal to me). My only issue is trying to avoid giving our lead singer a concussion with my headstock, as we're both kind of "animated" on stage....

 

[Tecate]

Hi hat side.

 

[s_mcsleazy]

personally i like to stand on the drummer

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I used to prefer to be stage right of the drummer to keep as much distance between me and the snare as possible (my ears are damaged...) But since I went blind in my left eye, I need to be stage left so I can what he's doing - this also puts me stage left of the band, so I see what THEY are doing!

 

[treekiller]

Hi Hat side is my preference for all the reasons mentioned. We have 2 guitars and with our first drummer that's where I was, but between my amps and the 100w Marshall 1/2 stack I couldn't hear a damn thing!!! With our current drummer I'm on the opposite side(the guitar player on this side is a little more charitable). The key is communication and understanding each other, we play together very well so I very seldom even need to look at him.

 

[bassmeknik]

I prefer stage left (right handed drummer) for all the mentioned reasons however I run the PA and use sub-woofer/satellite type Mains and play mostly small venues so if a corner is available to take advantage of (corner loading) I will move to keep nearer the subwoofer

 

[matt descending]

Our keyboardist needs the most room in front of the drums so we put her up first. Then me and guitar find the best place for our amps. Sometimes same side, sometimes opposite. If guitar is to my left, I will almost assuredly spend some of the show watching her hands. To me this is not good so I really perfer all the way stage left, out front.

 

[Distant Cousin]

I'm always on the left of the stage (looking at the audience). I've only played with a left-handed drummer once so I'm pretty much exclusively on the hi-hat side. I did a gig with my uni's improv ensemble in December and was surrounded by rhythm section: From left to right it went vibes/bass drum > me > drum kit 1 > drum kit 2 > congas. Was awesome!

 

[Rebecky]

Don't mind as long I'm on the side with the fun guitarist who's more of a performer. He's just more on the ball, I can communicate with him and we can do some badass stage moves together. The other guitarist tends to just stare it his frets... Not cool. I suppose if I had to chose I'd rather take stage right so if I do need to look at my frets, I still have my vocalist and drummer in my line of vision for cues.

 

[maturanesa]

left

 

[ilovenofrets]

Stage right. Somehow, in any band I've ever been in, that's where I've always ended up. I've played stage left during gigs that I sat in on, and can't really say it was any more/less comfortable, but I like stage right.

 

[Tunaman]

In front of the lead singer

 

[BassNoob1]

Since I started out as an upright bassist in my high school's jazz band, I've always stood to the right of my drummer. I'd be comfortable either way, but I'd prefer to have the drummer on the left because then I can easily look between him and the neck of my bass. I can also put my music over to the left and all my stuff will be within easy reach.

 

[fractiouslowend]

as long as i can hear the drummer, stage position isn't an issue

 

[fourfinger]

For the better part of 7 years, I played BEHIND the drums. For me that was the best.

Other than that, I have always preferred the Hi-Hat side.

The behind-the-drums setup was great. It was a 4-piece rock band -- guitar, bass, drums, and the lead singer played a large percussion set and ran the mixing board. Our setup was nearly wall-to-wall drums/percussion out front, with the guitarist and me behind them.

The drummer in that band belonged out front -- good stage presence, twirling and bouncing/catching sticks, and an excellent musician too.

What I liked about it was having extra room to roam side-to-side, and no cymbals behind me ringing in my ear. Never any trouble finding a good place for my mic stand. I also liked being able to watch the drummer easily, including the kick.

And we all liked that we were on to something most rock bands never try. Just one small way to be remembered.

If there was a drawback, I'd say it was drum mics picking up too much of the backline amps, which became a non-issue as soon as we figured out how low our stage volume needed to be. And low stage volume is definitely a plus.

 

[77PBass]

Hi hat side....who wants to stand next to a crash cymbal and lose their hearing?

 

[Charley Umbria]

But I don't think it's a hard-and-fast rule. For example, John Paul Jones, Jack Bruce, and John Entwistle stand on the drummer's right, while Geddy Lee, Paul McCartney, and Jaco stand at the drummer's left. Personal preference, I guess.

Yeah, but Entwistle doesn't count because, for all intents and purposes, he was the drummer much of the time!

Of course, he was also the rhythm guitarist, too...