My drummer is a lefty, so I stand to his right, favoring his snare/hi-hat side. Works out better for eye contact as well.
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Where do you stand?
- Thread starter Zoffy
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I like to be on the right. When I look across the neck of my upright, I can see the band. Years , I liked right because it kept me a wee farther away from the obnoxious crash cymbal
I have always been on the left. As Volker said right handed drummers tend to zone in that direction, good for eye contact...
OP, looking good for the party!
Cheers!
OP, looking good for the party!
Cheers!
United.
Depends on the drummer and the space available on stage. Sometimes you don't have a choice.
For one drummer I used to play with, I wanted to be as far away from his snare as physically possible, like in the next city was too close. Other drummers know the "D" word, dynamics, and it is acceptable to be on the Snare side, whether lefty or righty drummer and not go deaf.
In another band, the band leader singer-strummer would often call out and launch into songs nobody else in the band knew let alone had rehearsed — in those situations it's good to be on the right side of the kit so you can cheat and watch the geetardist's frettin' hand (opposite side, of course, if they're a southpaw) and fake your way through the song with some simple root-5 fiascos. Alas, sometimes that was the entire set — one big long fakery.
Also depends on the genre of music, as often in jazz the drummer keeps time on the ride cymbal — 'course, depends on the drummer, too.
So it really all depends.
With applepolywoggies to WCW...
so much depends
upon
a rad feel
harrow
graced with deep
pocket
beside the white
drum-skins
Depends on the drummer and the space available on stage. Sometimes you don't have a choice.
For one drummer I used to play with, I wanted to be as far away from his snare as physically possible, like in the next city was too close. Other drummers know the "D" word, dynamics, and it is acceptable to be on the Snare side, whether lefty or righty drummer and not go deaf.
In another band, the band leader singer-strummer would often call out and launch into songs nobody else in the band knew let alone had rehearsed — in those situations it's good to be on the right side of the kit so you can cheat and watch the geetardist's frettin' hand (opposite side, of course, if they're a southpaw) and fake your way through the song with some simple root-5 fiascos. Alas, sometimes that was the entire set — one big long fakery.
Also depends on the genre of music, as often in jazz the drummer keeps time on the ride cymbal — 'course, depends on the drummer, too.
So it really all depends.
With applepolywoggies to WCW...
so much depends
upon
a rad feel
harrow
graced with deep
beside the white
drum-skins
I’m ALWAYS to my drummer’s left...for the past 30 years, many drummers. Reasoning: All my drummers have been right handed and tend to slightly look in my direction. Easier to take cues when I was starting out. It was also easier to not have the ride on my side when I was starting out and when I was starting out I could see the drummers kick foot to lock in better. After that first couple of years it just became my comfort zone.
I play church gigs. When I get to the place, usually there's a spike mark on the stage, and I stand there (or close). To the right of the drums, to the left, sometimes in front of them, and once (during a video, where the band was doing the "soundtrack), the scrnen was so ginormous that I ended up behind the drums so I didn't obscure things. None of us were lit, so it wasn't awkward vicually (to the audience). Of course, with none of us lit, seeing where I was on the fingerboard was an "adventure". I manged to hit every entrance spot on, but there were doubts in my mind along the way, and soome feeling around in the dark (3rd fret, A string....)
The absolute best place I ever played (for sonics) was center stage (it was a huge stage, the drummer was about 40 feet to my right. With in ears (most of my gigs are in ears), and no stage wash from the drums, I actually heard the drums much clearer that I ever did standing near them.
The absolute best place I ever played (for sonics) was center stage (it was a huge stage, the drummer was about 40 feet to my right. With in ears (most of my gigs are in ears), and no stage wash from the drums, I actually heard the drums much clearer that I ever did standing near them.
I’m always on the hi hat side. For three reasons.
1 The floor toms aren’t blocking my view to the drummers feet. And on certain stages with a drum riser it can be very easy to see the drummers footwork from that side. Which can be helpful as far as locking into the kick because my fingers are essentially mimicking the two beaters of the double kick pedal.
2 is most of the drummers I play with play crossover. Meaning they play the hi hat on their left side mainly with their right hand, this often causes them to look to their left when playing. So it’s easier to communicate and cue them
3 I’ve gigged playing a good variety of music but most often it’s rock and metal stuff. Drummers typically have their China on their right side. I don’t want to be anywhere near it lol. For one China symbols are loud as hell, but also if you’re standing near one aside from being loud they have a sound that just kind of makes everything else difficult to hear.
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Right side of drummer, front of stage for singing duties. In ears means I can always hear the drum kit (and everything else). I don't want to hear any cymbals acoustically. They're usually too loud/piercingly pitched. Only thing worse is a too loud guitarist (usually because they've lost most of their hearing in the upper registers).
You might be better served to go to the other side. Easier to truly lock in with the drummer when you’re on the hihat side. You can hear all his playing more clearly AND see him more clearly.
edit: I see others have already made this point.
I'm not fussy about where my space is, but my experience typically has the bass set up next to the high-hat and snare, which changes depending upon whether the drums are set up left- or right-handed.
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- Apr 1, 2000
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In commercial settings (R&B, Country, Rock, etc), I prefer to be left of the drums. Most often, the drummer's pulse is coming from the high hat, so I want to be close to that. In jazz, time is more often coming off the ride, so I'll hang out there. Left-handed drummer changes things.
In band without a drummer, I stood stage right. In bands with a drummer I'm usually stage left. I prefer this because it's easier to see what the drummer is doing and I like to be nearer to the hi-hat and farther from the ride. Also, most of my hearing loss is already in my right ear.
I play in a jazz quartet. Facing the audience, I'm generally in the middle with the drummer (my lovely wife) to my right side (so she can look off her hi-hat to me) and the guitarist on my left side. Bass brings together harmony and rhythm, so that seems like a good way to connect to both of them. Then the sax / flute player is out front, more or less in front of me, maybe a bit to the right.
Always Stage Right, on the drummer's left side.
Most of them, their kit is more 'open' on that side (with usually their floor toms and more cymbals curling around to their right side), and I want to be able to see his hands on the snare / hi-hat, and his kick foot/pedal if at all possible. Too many years with little or no monitors or IEM's in LOUD bands: I can always SEE his moves if all else fails. And he can see me.
Most of them, their kit is more 'open' on that side (with usually their floor toms and more cymbals curling around to their right side), and I want to be able to see his hands on the snare / hi-hat, and his kick foot/pedal if at all possible. Too many years with little or no monitors or IEM's in LOUD bands: I can always SEE his moves if all else fails. And he can see me.
I'm always to the drummers left. Which explains why I'm partially deaf in my right ear.
Unfortunately, I didn't start wearing earplugs until the last decade. OP, nice looking Spector BTW.
Unfortunately, I didn't start wearing earplugs until the last decade. OP, nice looking Spector BTW.
