That makes sense, if you're a lefty. I'm right handed and have clanged a ride cymbal or two with my headstock when playing on my "opposite" side (i.e., to the right hand of a right-handed drummer).
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Position on stage
- Thread starter jaywa
- Start date
I don't mind one side or the other, but I like to keep it the same from week to week. It take me a little while to get comfortable after switching
It depends. In my sideman gig where I play a lot of folk-rock/Americana stuff, I'm always stage left so I can maintain eye contact with the drummer over his hi-hat. He likes seeing my right hand when we play to lock in tighter.
In my two main bands I still try to set-up stage left because I'm left-handed (even though I play right-handed) and like to keep my pedalboard off to my left, so I can stomp on my pedals accordingly and not be invading someone else's space. Sometimes I don't get that luxury in a six-piece but I certainly try!
In my two main bands I still try to set-up stage left because I'm left-handed (even though I play right-handed) and like to keep my pedalboard off to my left, so I can stomp on my pedals accordingly and not be invading someone else's space. Sometimes I don't get that luxury in a six-piece but I certainly try!
Interesting you mention the drummer watching your right hand. I've been fortunate enough to play with some very good veteran drummers in the area and the ones I seem to "lock" with best have all told me they do that. I really think it's important for bass and drums to make at least occasional visual contact as well as listening to each other. Especially important to watch the kick foot if you're not getting enough through the monitors for whatever reason, and also if you've both been laying out and need to come in together with a big hit or build.
Reminds me of a Journey gig I saw where their post Steve Smith drummer was noticeably dragging tempo on one song and Ross Valory turns around and starts nodding his head at the "right" tempo as if to say, come on man, pick it up.
Reminds me of a Journey gig I saw where their post Steve Smith drummer was noticeably dragging tempo on one song and Ross Valory turns around and starts nodding his head at the "right" tempo as if to say, come on man, pick it up.
Drummers tend to follow me rather than me follow them. I have a pretty aggressive index finger!
The drummer in my one main band doesn't give a lick about being able to see me which is cool because I'm too busy going crazy to sit back and give him visual hints. He pretty much ONLY has bass in the monitor and listens closely to what I'm doing. We're always taking turns leading and following and, incidentally, that's the best musical relationship with a drummer I've ever had.
That leading/following thing is a weird thing with me. I personally don't like the drummer to be TOO dependent on me (or anyone else in the band for that matter); I've played with a couple of drummers who are technically very sound and very musical but almost listen too much and try to fit in and embellish on what everyone else is doing when what the band really needs is for them to just say "OK it's going to be like THIS" and lay it down.
The drummers I lock with best seem to be the ones that lay down a real solid, steady beat and don't let anyone in the band knock them off of it. I guess "playing with authority" would be the term.
The drummers I lock with best seem to be the ones that lay down a real solid, steady beat and don't let anyone in the band knock them off of it. I guess "playing with authority" would be the term.
The drummer and I tend to be way busier than the guitarist or the vocalist. But it suits the music we play which is stylistically all over the map, but the rhythm section definitely stands out more than what's considered "normal".
Certainly. A bassist and drummer can be "busy" and still be tight. The guys from Spin Doctors come to mind, also Tower of Power.
I'm a lefty and also patrol the right side of the stage.When I played on the left side running into the drums wasn't the problem it was crossing necks with right handed guitarists playing on the right side. I've skewered the odd lead singer playing on the left side as well.
Ehh anywhere relatively close to the drummer is fine by me. I don't like standing in front of people though, because I play a lot of improv and I like to see everyone for cues and hand signals. I have been guilty of hitting crash cymbals with my headstock on occasion 
Over the years I have switched from Stage Left to Stage Right. I have been on Stage Right now for the last 8 years and I am pretty comfortable with it.
Funny, the second question. This last Saturday I got thugged off my stage by another GUITAR player. We called him up on stage for our last song and he just took over my whole side of the stage. After about 1/2 a song, I had enough so I wandered over to Stage Left. This is no easy task in my 6 piece band (now with a guest)! I spent the last 20 minutes of the song on the wrong side of the stage. People on myspace have pictures of me from that point in the show saying "What are you doing on the wrong side of the stage?"
All in all it is pretty funny, but I was nun to happy getting thugged like that.
Funny, the second question. This last Saturday I got thugged off my stage by another GUITAR player. We called him up on stage for our last song and he just took over my whole side of the stage. After about 1/2 a song, I had enough so I wandered over to Stage Left. This is no easy task in my 6 piece band (now with a guest)! I spent the last 20 minutes of the song on the wrong side of the stage. People on myspace have pictures of me from that point in the show saying "What are you doing on the wrong side of the stage?"
All in all it is pretty funny, but I was nun to happy getting thugged like that.
i used to stand to the left of the drummer.
now i stand to the right of the drummer in an attempt to even out the amount of tinnitus in both ears.
those bastards and their cymbals.....
now i stand to the right of the drummer in an attempt to even out the amount of tinnitus in both ears.
those bastards and their cymbals.....
- Mar 30, 2007
- 4,017
- 321
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Genzler Amplification/Spector Basses/Mojo Hand FX
OK this may be a really basic question,...but what do you consider "Stage Right" and "Stage Left"?
I was taught way back in high school that stage right and left means "from the audience's point of view. So when you are standing on stage, from your perspective it's backwards. (ie stage right is to the left of the drummer, stage left is to his right).
help me out here...
I was taught way back in high school that stage right and left means "from the audience's point of view. So when you are standing on stage, from your perspective it's backwards. (ie stage right is to the left of the drummer, stage left is to his right).
help me out here...
My $.02
I play whichever side is okay. Sometimes the stage may be too small, and I just fit wherever I can. I don't carry lots of equipment and feel I need to be flexible with the stage manager (if there is one).
Seriously, I play wherever someone points me to. If I have any issue due to the ambience of the place, I'll ask for a change of location.
Besides...I hate checking out my drummer...he's a dude, man.
Jeesh!
I play whichever side is okay. Sometimes the stage may be too small, and I just fit wherever I can. I don't carry lots of equipment and feel I need to be flexible with the stage manager (if there is one).
Seriously, I play wherever someone points me to. If I have any issue due to the ambience of the place, I'll ask for a change of location.
Besides...I hate checking out my drummer...he's a dude, man.
Jeesh!
WIKIPEDIA says the opposite:
To an actor facing the audience, "left" and "right" are the reverse of what they are for the audience. To prevent confusion, actors and directors never use the unmarked terms left or right for the sides of the stage. Rather, they use a phrase specifying the viewpoint. The terms "stage left" and "stage right", respectively, denote the sides of the stage that are on the actor's left and right when the actor is facing the audience, while "house left" and "house right" are the reverse, denoting the sides of the stage as viewed by the audience.
Back in the Day: I was always to the right of the drums. I liked watching the guitarist's left hand to remind me of what chord I was supposed to be playing....
Now: the guitarist/band leader sets up on the drummer's right. Can't see his fretting hand as well from there, but it's OK. Now I try harder to lock in with the drummer; since he faces slightly left towards me, we can make eye contact more than I could with the other drummers back in The Day. I can cope either way.
Now: the guitarist/band leader sets up on the drummer's right. Can't see his fretting hand as well from there, but it's OK. Now I try harder to lock in with the drummer; since he faces slightly left towards me, we can make eye contact more than I could with the other drummers back in The Day. I can cope either way.
I realise this hasn't been active since May, but I wanted in 
I've never really been one to worry about which side of the stage I'm on, I usually go wherever seems easiest to set up. Since we've started playing slightly bigger stages I tend to be able to move around a little more. just a case of finding something that suits how you want to play I guess.
I've never really been one to worry about which side of the stage I'm on, I usually go wherever seems easiest to set up. Since we've started playing slightly bigger stages I tend to be able to move around a little more. just a case of finding something that suits how you want to play I guess.
