Left-sider here. I can get closer and get a better view of the snare, hi-hat, and that right foot.
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Where do you stand?
- Thread starter Zoffy
- Start date
Stage right; aside from the fact that my right ear was severely assaulted when I was a youngster(thank you, Iron Butterfly), therefore making it important that it’s as far away from cymbals as possible, if I were to stand stage left, I’d always subconsciously start turning in sideways to the band. Not cool in my book, because there’s an audience to meet straight on and perform to. They are why I’m there. I usualy do some vocals, and a fair amount of backups. I don’t need to look at the drummer, I can hear ‘em. I may glance around occasionally for cues if needed. And not that I’m out to emulate anyone, but I’ve noticed that Bruce, JPJ, Entwistle, Wetton, and Burnel staked out stage right, and they did OK.
I'm sure this answer has been given a dozen or more times by now, and I didn't read the thread.
But it's so that you can look down the fretboard at the drummer.
Snare/high hat side is my preference. That's where the groove really is, and it facilitates eye contact better.
I play righty but over the years mostly played with lefty guitarists, so "Stage Left" ( the highhat side ). We did a tour once with a left-handed (backwards set up) drummer though, and I lost a fair bit of my right ear hearing that year (damn ride cymbals!!)
Being in a three piece and lead singer/bassist we are a triangle formation on stage. Thinking about it now, 90% of the time, I'm to the left of the drummer. I feel like its easier that way to turn and make eye contact with the guitarist and drummer.
I play on the same side as the band leader, he wants the thump. He sets up based on the stage configuration with the best fronting position. So, I'm behind him.
Pre-covid I played in a few regular bands and did sub gigs with a bunch of other bands. I rarely have a choice in where I set up my rig, and it doesn't matter to me regardless.
Stage right is easy (assuming you're a righty) because you can look down the fretboard and see the drummer... and everyone else in the band!
For the past few decades I've been trying to avoid looking at the fretboard*, so I prefer stage left which somewhat forces me to look away. But as noted above, I rarely have a choice in where to set up.
*Trying half-assedly. I still glance down at the side dots for wide position shifts.
Stage right is easy (assuming you're a righty) because you can look down the fretboard and see the drummer... and everyone else in the band!
For the past few decades I've been trying to avoid looking at the fretboard*, so I prefer stage left which somewhat forces me to look away. But as noted above, I rarely have a choice in where to set up.
*Trying half-assedly. I still glance down at the side dots for wide position shifts.
I'm left handed and I prefer drummer's left, but I've never really thought about it until now. Now come to think of it I was once in a fairly technically difficult band and I always ended up drummer's right and it felt really odd especially being left handed. I kind of had to turn around to see the drummer. I could have made it easier on myself. Damnit.
I haven't played any gigs as a bassist yet, but as a drummer, it seems the bass was mostly to my right and (when possible) in front. when there was room, I was on a pallet that raised me 6". With 6 cymbals, and a double kick. In tight venues, i went with 1 ride and 1 crash, and no pallet. I was normally in my own world when playing. (I wear a wide brim fedora, just a quirk of mine, goes back to having had skin cancer in my youth). If the bass looked to see my kick, I didn't notice. We often looked face to face, and when we hit a change there was always a slight nod for the timing. When he had melody or a solo, I would lay back and follow, giving him room to improvise. When I had a solo, I always lead in and out of it with strong kicks for timing.
Commenting here because I saw @Zoffy ’s avatar and thought this was a thread I’d started and forgotten about, lol. Glad to see I’m not the only one who remembers Ultraman!
And I always stood off to the right of the drummer. Not sure why, though. I think it’s just one of those things we all fell into, like assigning ourselves seats in school.
And I always stood off to the right of the drummer. Not sure why, though. I think it’s just one of those things we all fell into, like assigning ourselves seats in school.
We are 3 pc, guitar/cajon/bass, so no one is really in the back.
The percussionist is to my right and the guitarist is to her right. It's all for simple logistics. I run sound and am right handed so it's easy for me to make changes as needed without having to completely turn my back to the audience. No musical reason for it.
The percussionist is to my right and the guitarist is to her right. It's all for simple logistics. I run sound and am right handed so it's easy for me to make changes as needed without having to completely turn my back to the audience. No musical reason for it.
Call me what you like, I stand outside of the drummers plexiglass shield. In fact I’d sooner own my own plexiglass shield than consider standing next to a bunch of crashing cymbals without one.
But I’d probably feel a little odd if I weren’t to the left of the drummer.
But I’d probably feel a little odd if I weren’t to the left of the drummer.
