Where do you stand?

[QweziRider]

Like many other subjects on TB - it just depends (for me). I go wherever any given band sends me. I'm happy as long as it's not center.

 

[QweziRider]

Only playing well-rehearsed rock and metal, eye-contact isn't relevant for me.

I prefer that as well. I've been a new guy in some bands (or the new guy might also be a drummer), and I've had to point out "Dude, unless something's going wrong or incredibly amazing between us, I'm not likely to look at you at all. But be assured, my ears are locked in to everything you play."

 

[Dominic D]

If I’m not using IEMs, I prefer to be nearest the high hat.

 

[Eidolon0274]

On the left next to high hat snare and visual on foot for anything weird or fun syncopation etc.

Never played with a left handed drummer, heard they were discontinued in the 80s.

 

[soundsupport1]

Often stand beside the hihat. Two reasons:
1) it´s the direction the drummer´s head is facing
2) there are rarely any cymbals immediately over the hihat, which helps preserve your hearing, and also makes it easier to make eye contact with the drummer.

Peace,
SoundSupport

 

[smogg]

I prefer the hi-hat side but sometimes set up on the floor tom side as needed. Either is fine with me as long as I get my lane and don't get boxed in.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I like the right side since I can see the guitar player’s hands if he throws out some song I don’t know.

I mean, you might already have your head looking left toward the drummer anyways if you are a righty. I feel like I have to look back a lot when I am on the left.

I have had sound techs automatically put me on the left behind everybody with the explanation that I should be closer to the hi hat. Unless we are in some kind of underwater situation where sound waves are slowed down immensely, what difference does one side of the drummer or the other make in regards to the hi hat? Just complaining.

 

[Phalex]

I’m usually on the hi hat side. No sense I need sacrificing my other ear....

 

[40Hz]

I don’t really care. I’ll stand anywhere toward the back as long as I have a clear line of sight to the hi-hat.

Drummers (the good ones anyway) signal changes in rhythm and tempo with their hi-hat.

For the type of music I usually play I tend to ignore the kick and work off the hi-hat.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I prefer stage left. I like to move on stage, and it’s easy to whack a singer in the eye when you are immediately to his/her right.

Um...or so I’m told...

lol memories

 

[Rip Van Dan]

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'm usually stage left for most gigs although I have been stage right a few times. Back when I was touring in the early 70's, I was usually set up stage right, but not always. I don't really care which side, just as long as you don't set me back in a corner.

 

[misterCRUSH]

It's always to the left for me, so I can hear the hi hat. I play in jazz piano trios so the stage is never that crowded.

 

[legalbass]

To the right or left of the drum set is just fine by me, as long as I am immediately adjacent to it. I want to be able to hear either the snare or the ride cymbal clear and presently.

 

[Kukulkan61]

I try to stand in font of the drummer as much as possible so no one has to look at him

Especially if he looks and plays like this guy

 

[BlueTalon]

Of course, with none of us lit, seeing where I was on the fingerboard was an "adventure".

Just FYI, in case you run into that situation again and haven't already solved that problem...

I use fishing lure stickers as fret markers. They're designed to capture & reflect light in low light situations, and the adhesive is designed to be seawater-proof. I fold them over the edge so they're half on the fretboard and half on the side of the neck (you can see them in my avatar). I have never lost my place since I put them on my bass about 6-7 years ago.

 

[punchdrunk]

I err on being opposite the guitar.

 

[Ggaa]

Left side 99% of the time. Easier to make eye contact with the drummer(if eyes are open anyway)becayse they seem to be angled that direction.

 

[sawzalot]

I've always preferred being on Stage Left, Audience Right. Most right-handed drummers will naturally lean to the hi-hat on that side, so that facilitates eye contact. It also keeps my headstock out of the way of other musicians. Lots of big-name bassists are on stage left--Geddy Lee, Marcus Miller, Joe Dart to name just a few--so I don't think we can generalize where the big names play. On the other hand, being on Stage Right is good because when the guitarist decides to play a song I don't know I can watch their hands easier to pick out the chords. Mostly, I make it work wherever I am.

 

[drumvsbass]

Proud with Spector like that. Nice bass dude.

 

[mongo2]

I don't care. We've played some cramped stages so I'll be wherever there's room.