Where do you stand?

[Bunk McNulty]

Left of the drummer. Why? Illustration:

 

[funkinbottom]

No real preference. The two drummers I work with regularly (one lefty, one righty) like me on their hi hat side. So I'm happy on either side.

 

[JRA]

In jazz, time is more often coming off the ride

really? jazz drummers keep time with the hi-hat (i.e./e.g., 2 and 4) so they can be 'fluid' with their ride (on faster tempos: bebop, big band, accents, etc.) and so they can use little-to-no ride at all on slower tempos/ballads. while that 2 and 4 thing (closing the hats on 2 and 4) is also 'fluid' (doesn't have to be 'nazi-strict') most good drummers use it to signal everyone else where the 1 is supposed to be, and when it's time to 'go back home'...something that's difficult to do (more nebulous) with the ride.... i simple terms: ride cymbals = show off, hats = the law.

per the OP: depends on the drummer, the stage/venue, the event, the band i'm with, and probably other considerations, but: if the drummer keeps good time (and generally uses the hats to do it) i'd rather be closest to the hats. some rock drummers don't use the hats for anything but another drum --- their snare is enough, and replaces the hats for reference = doesn't matter where i stand!

i voted "stage left" (typical hi-hat side), but i can be flexible if i can't get my preferred perch.

 

[Muttleybass]

Left side. Keeps the headstock away from the cymbals and better eye contact.

 

[DISCOSTUVW]

Right dead center, but then again, I was the lead singer as well in a four piece.

 

[John Webb]

......done both. No preference as long as I can see the drummer.

 

[Feral Feline]

I prefer stage left. There's generally fewer cymbals that side so it's quieter. I'd prefer to put drummers in acoustically-sealed enclosures but apparently they don't like it.

Acoustically or hermetically? YOU SURE you got the right one? Air-holes, I know they like to have air-holes...

 

[ga_edwards]

Snare and hihat side generally if relying on back line to fill the room.

If the whole band inc drums are mic’d and going through the PA monitor system, it doesn’t really matter

 

[Plain Old Barry]

I don't care, as I find I can hear the snare and hat pretty clearly wherever I stand. Large stages have monitor support, too...

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Macca always stood on the right..
Phil Lesh always stood on the right..
But......
Gary Thaine always on the left...
Dennis Dunnaway always on the left..

I've always set up on the left...don't know why...just did...weird

 

[Yellow Bang66]

Tonight my band played a party and it occurred to me that I have just always fallen in on the right side of the drummer. I've noticed that bass players generally, but not always, hang out to the right of the drums. Anyone hang out on the left? And would there be any reasons regarding acoustics or sound that I am overlooking as a reason to favor the bass on one side or the other?

View attachment 4158413

I read somewhere bass should be on the left, closest to the high hat, the most consistent part of the drums. My last band my guitarist made me setup to the right, because that's how zeppelin did, we were no way close to them at all! he just wanted to be like them!

 

[spantini]

...My last band my guitarist made me setup to the right, because that's how zeppelin did, we were no way close to them at all! he just wanted to be like them!

Like Grand Funk, too!

 

[joelns]

I always set up on the left. One so that I communicate better with the drummer. Two, my right ear is better than my left.

 

[Unmost]

I don't care. Only playing well-rehearsed rock and metal, eye-contact isn't relevant for me. I can understand this is a concern for improvised music though.

 

[devnulljp]

Always stage right, and I get uncomfortable if placed elsewhere. I like to be able to look across the neck at the drummer. Also, I started out playing with a left-handed drummer, so the crash cymbal was on the right, right next to my left ear. That in combination with the huge Trace Elliot stack I used to have resulted in hearing damage to that ear and I don't want it to happen to the other one by standing on the other side now. Got stuck in a theatre band one time cramped up right next to the ride cymbal and it was painful.

 

[Zoffy]

Thank you all for the feedback - very interesting reasons for favoring one side or the other. I can see why many people choose to stand on the drummer's hi-hat side to see the bass drum foot (and make eye contact / communicate with the drummer as well). In my current band, the drummer and lead guitarist have known each other longer and have more communication between each other than myself and the singer/rhythm guitarist so it feels natural to have the guitar to the left of the drums...but I might try changing location every now and then!

 

[roller]

To the drummer's right. Seems the most logical with a right-handed bassist looking in that direction anyway.

 

[PaulS]

Always on the left, he is naturally looking towards his hi-hats, so I am in his line of sight.

 

[Zoffy]

Macca always stood on the right..
Phil Lesh always stood on the right..
But......
Gary Thaine always on the left...
Dennis Dunnaway always on the left..

I've always set up on the left...don't know why...just did...weird

Funny you mention Sir Paul and Phil because those were the ones that came to my mind (along with Mel Schacher, John Entwistle, Gene Simmons, and Brian May)

 

[BassNugget]

When I played with jazz bands, especially if I were subbing, I wanted to position myself where I could see the pianist's left hand. Often you would get a chart book, but had no time to leaf through it to find what was next. The leader called out the tune, the key, and counted you in...no time to get to the chart. Seeing the pianist helped immensely.

For punk, funk, and rock, I too prefer to be stage left (right side of stage from the audience perspective). It is much quieter there in terms of cymbals with a right-handed drummer and I can angle myself to see the singer, guitarist, and drummer at once.