Isn't the bass player supposed to be on the same side of the drum kit as the as the hi-hat??
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Where do you stand?
- Thread starter Zoffy
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I would say the same, but once I switched to bass/vox, instead of rhythm/vox, because we went from a 4-piece to a 3-piece, I ended up off to one side, for visual balance.
Used to be on the left, but as we added more mics and sound equipment I moved to the right where there was a free power outlet for my rig. No preference for me as I have a wireless and can walk around a bit if I feel ambitious.
Right side of the drummer. Closer to SD and HH. Further away from ride cymbal and a constant build of volume and overtones.
My band sets up three across the front with the drums and keys in the back, so, my position is in front of and slightly to the right of the kit. A slight turn to my left and I have visual contact with him if needed.
Somehow I wind up where the drummer hits the crash cymbal hardest. Live music? Party? Did you all beat the virus? Where are you? I want to live somewhere where there is live music and no chance of getting COVID-19.
245 Replies and only 2 (I think) mentioned wireless and "running around like maniacs"... I suppose it depends on the music.
In my recollection, I have almost always had my rig set up on the drummer's right -- and that's my "home" position, BUT, I am wireless. I move around the room to hear the best mix -- Sometimes, I'm directing the sound guy or I AM the sound guy). In one case, when my band covers "All Right Now" by Free, which only has bass during the chorus and the bass "solo", I go out into the audience and watch the band perform the verse. I find this kind of behavior is often very well received, at least in a rock 'n' roll type context.
In my recollection, I have almost always had my rig set up on the drummer's right -- and that's my "home" position, BUT, I am wireless. I move around the room to hear the best mix -- Sometimes, I'm directing the sound guy or I AM the sound guy). In one case, when my band covers "All Right Now" by Free, which only has bass during the chorus and the bass "solo", I go out into the audience and watch the band perform the verse. I find this kind of behavior is often very well received, at least in a rock 'n' roll type context.
I’m reasonably assured that the posters here are talking about normal times, not about mid-pandemic.
Always to the drummer's left if I can. I like to be near the hat & to be able to catch his eye
It’s always better to be on the drummer’s high hat side. That way you can glance down at their kick drum pedal and see the pattern they’re playing in case you can’t hear it. Also, drummers are usually looking in that direction, making communication easier. In my 50+ years of playing, I always try to be on the high hat side.
I stand dead center with my main band, with one guitarist on each side. We set up that way at our first show without talking about it and have done it exactly the same way at every gig since then... probably just because it seemed logical/symmetrical with the two guitarists, considering that all three of us sing.
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As, 1st being a drummer, I always like the bass on my left, to rely get in the pocket. They are also better to see the bass drum beater, if they are having trouble. As a bass player, well, just picked it up June of 2020, so, no gigs yet-ha ha
