Position in relation to drummer

[Geddaric]

My cab is always located on the same side as the snare. The drummer says he here’s the bass much better when turned toward it.

 

[jetgraphics]

I've always liked being to the right of the drummer, because I can look his way, check my fingering, and keep an eye on the guitarist, in case he hits escape velocity and leaves the stage.

 

[TJL]

High-hat side is where the drummer wants you to be. Period.

 

[Just a Relic]

Behind the bugger so I can kick his arse when he loses tempo

 

[dStar]

I prefer the drummer’s left side as there’s less chance of a cymbal taking a bite out of my head stock.

 

[Krakmann]

Salud!

If I can choose, to the left of the drummer, as I'm right handed and the headstock points away from the cymbals. If not, the other side of the drums. But always near the drummer.

 

[bleedingfingers]

Hi hat side because 1 I'm not screwing up my left eardrum from loud snare drum and cymbals right one is already wrecked from years of that. 2 on a tight stage I don't want my amp blasting into a floor tom mic .
Left handers do opposite .
Most gigs I'm on IEMs and no amp so it doesn't matter but the left is where you should be .
I don't sing so I prefer to be back by the drummer and as far away from cymbals as possible .
Also don't like having my IEMS on melt .

 

[jacko]

I really don't care.
In a traditional config, the bass amp + player would be to the stage LEFT of the drummer with amp/cab at back so bassist can see/lock in to kick/snare.

This doesn't make sense unless you're a lefty. If I stand stage left of the drummer and look towards my neck (because I sometimes care which notes I play) I'm looking away from the drummer (unless there's a transatlantic disparity between stage sides - over here it's looking out from the stage so stage left is also the drummers left).
if I'm stage right I'm looking towards the drummer whenever I glance towards my neck. That position makes much more sense if I want to watch what he's doing.

Graeme

 

[Phil Bonk]

I also like the hi-hat side, since that side is my low-mid frequency slightly deaf side.
I can hear and feel the kick and toms, and I can hear a dolby version of snare, cymbals and hi-hat. Bass amp is behind my left ear, of course! I want the full range of bass blasting in that ear!
IEMs make that slightly awkward.

 

[gbxer]

to the drummer's right , like Paul McCartney so I can give him a dirty look when he speeds up.

 

[s0c9]

This doesn't make sense unless you're a lefty. If I stand stage left of the drummer and look towards my neck (because I sometimes care which notes I play) I'm looking away from the drummer (unless there's a transatlantic disparity between stage sides - over here it's looking out from the stage so stage left is also the drummers left).
if I'm stage right I'm looking towards the drummer whenever I glance towards my neck. That position makes much more sense if I want to watch what he's doing.

Graeme

as I stated, historically, the bassist is stage left on the high hat side of a right handed drummer. Check out all those stadium rock band gigs from the 70's and on. Bass is usually left of drummer..I.e. stage left.

 

[Ibanezer83]

I like being on the hi hat side. I'm left handed but play right handed. Like people on my right in general for some weird neurotic reason.. it's easier to hear the hi hat and I like to look to my right for eye contact.

 

[DWBass]

I prefer to be on the non snare (tom) side of the drummer. Nothing worse that having to deal with a hard hitting drummer just banging away on his snare. By the end of the night, I no longer had any high frequency hearing.

 

[jacko]

as I stated, historically, the bassist is stage left on the high hat side of a right handed drummer. Check out all those stadium rock band gigs from the 70's and on. Bass is usually left of drummer..I.e. stage left.

Like Zeppelin, The Who, Queen, ZZ Top, Eagles, Fleetwood mac, Deep Purple and so on? Oh, hang on. Every one of those bands the bassist was stage right. Same with the majority of bands I've seen in recent years like Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Mr Big, The Stranglers etc. Of course I've seen bands with the bassist on the drummer's left but it's been far from usual.

 

[kittywithabanjo]

Those are bands playing on big stages with a full time monitor tech, so where they stand is probably not super relevant most of us here dont have Monitor techs, Side fills, etc, Although if you are an in-ear user its probably not super relevant to where you stand.

 

[Hummergeist]

Playing electric upright here, I like to be on the right of the stage so I can look across and see everything, including my bass neck!

 

[Cazman]

as I stated, historically, the bassist is stage left on the high hat side of a right handed drummer. Check out all those stadium rock band gigs from the 70's and on. Bass is usually left of drummer..I.e. stage left.

Uhh…. Zeppelin, Sabbath, Queen, Kiss, Grand Funk, The Who, and more…..stage right.
Edit: added to post above

 

[rtslinger]

I am always on the same side as the hi hat

 

[Snarf]

Bassists, what is best positioning in relation to the percussionist/drummer on stage?

Playing my part wireless, chilling out in the green room on the couch watching NHL highlights.

 

[fishtx]

prefer the hats side... but make do with the situation...