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Where do you stand?
- Thread starter Zoffy
- Start date
I have played right and left . . . . it doesn't make a difference to me as I have to contend with the volume of the guitar amp on stage, who always plays at this volume so the engineer is not able to give us a clear sound in the foldback speakers . . . I come out of my Boss GT6B into the DI and Then to my amp so I am always happy to turn down my amp to get a good onstage sound !
A lot of you are saying you like to be on the high hat side so that you can see the drummers kick foot. Can't you hear him? I've never played at a band volume that left the drummer unheard. What? what?
i know right - if you can’t hear the drummer your amps are way too loud!
and I like it loud so I’m not getting this at all.
you need to see the kick to keep time really??
I would hope my drummer keeps a reasonably steady beat so that my guess when the bass drum hits next will be exactly right lol. I play in a dream theater tribute band and I don’t need to watch my drummers foot ...
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Set up in "the Pocket" hi-hat, snare and kick! Left handed Drummer you are to his right.... Right handed Drummer... to his left!!
I don't stand in any fixed location. I move around a lot, mostly to be near whichever musician in the band has caught my ear. Moving, always moving. Makes it more difficult to get caught.
stevieg
stevieg
Not sure about other genres, but on the majority of the great rock bands, bass player is on the right. Beatles, Led, Purple, Sabbath, Who, Cream, GFR...
The U2 guy is on the left. 'Nuff said...
The U2 guy is on the left. 'Nuff said...
Drummer to my left after many years of them to my right and really screwing my right ear up with loud snares and such. Plus, if I’m standing with drummer to my right and I need to turn right then I have to clear the mic and mic stand, not a problem when I turn back to my left and I can look at him (give him a look) while I’m still singing. And I’m turning to my left to tweak the PA on stage as well, so, yep always drummer to my left from here on until they tell me to hang it up.
Personally I have not played on a stage where I can see the bass drum pedal and tend to keep one eye on the fretboad and the other out front. Even when rehearsing I only see the bass drum pedal when he is putting it away at the end.
I play in a keyboard/bass/drums jazz-y trio; onstage, both of the other members are sitting down. Plus, I do the talking to the audience. So we set up in a V formation, with my bass amp at the point and me in the middle. Our left-handed drummer is to my left, keys to my right.
Makes sense visually for the audience and logistically for us, as I'm the link between the rhythm and the harmony. And being jazzers...we'll never be loud enough to have volume issues.
Makes sense visually for the audience and logistically for us, as I'm the link between the rhythm and the harmony. And being jazzers...we'll never be loud enough to have volume issues.
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Back in my days, when I was a full-time bass player, I was also the lead singer so ... my amplifier was always to the drummer's right (stage left) because of his preference.
If I have a choice, stage left. I initially gravitated there because most of my favorite bass players (the Ox being a notable exception) stood there. But as others have noted, it makes sense for multiple reasons. (I'm right handed, for the record.)
That said. most of my playing lately is at church, and the drum cage is set up far stage left, so I end up being to the drummer's right, almost center stage.
That said. most of my playing lately is at church, and the drum cage is set up far stage left, so I end up being to the drummer's right, almost center stage.
That's an interesting observation. I used to go to lots of Dead shows in the 80s and Phil always set up to the right of the drums during this time. I wonder if that influenced me setting up to the right of the drums as well.
I always noticed the bass sound coming out of the left speakers in recordings. It seems to be an unwritten convention for some reason.
That would put the bass at stage right ... no, er, left ... uh maybe from the audience it's their left but our right ... I think.
I'm going back to the "Slapping: Yes or No" posts and leaving this controversy alone.......
That would put the bass at stage right ... no, er, left ... uh maybe from the audience it's their left but our right ... I think.
I'm going back to the "Slapping: Yes or No" posts and leaving this controversy alone.......
