Live Performance Positioning, on which side of the drummer you wanna be?
Bogdan Radovic
May 30 2010, 05:22 PM
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Let's kick off some bass related discussions here in this board...

First a question for you guys to elaborate on : On which side of the drummer you like to be when on stage?

I have many times played live and on stages where was difficult to find a good spot to lock on with the drummer. We bassists need to hear the drums well in order to play in the "pocket". I find the hi hat side of the drummer to be the best spot. I can hear the "time" best in that position. When you have a monitoring, ask the sound technician to add kick drum, snare and hi hat to the mix. That way you will be able to hear everything you need for a tight groove. Now here are some tricks to it when it comes to monitoring. Its a good idea to ask for a snappy kick drum sound rather full bass bottom one. It will be easier heard on stage. It doesn't have to sound wow and like on PA system, but that snappy mid range kick drum will cut through the mix better and you will be able to lock in better. Once you have that basics down, you can ask for vocals/guitar/keys to be added there as well.

If you don't have monitoring or preferred position on stage don't worry, just move a bit where you can to feel for the spot you feel comfortable playing in and hearing everything you need.

What are your thoughts on this subject?

Also this topic isn't for bassists only, I would love to hear other guitarists/drummers etc tips on live sound and positioning on stage...

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Enucleation
May 30 2010, 05:38 PM
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I know very little about bass or sound tech stuff but I do know that it reaaaaaally sucks when you can't hear what's going on (duh xD)

I'd like to see how this thread develops

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Bogdan Radovic
May 30 2010, 05:45 PM
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QUOTE (Enucleation @ May 30 2010, 06:38 PM) *
I know very little about bass or sound tech stuff but I do know that it reaaaaaally sucks when you can't hear what's going on (duh xD)

I'd like to see how this thread develops


Yeah it really sucks when the on stage monitoring is bad and you can't hear yourself and/or others.

In those situations when I can't hear my bass playing (from the onstage amp) - I crank up mid frequencies. They are very essential and make your bass sound cut through the mix like a knife. It applies for guitar too, never forget the mids if you want to be heard and cut through the mix.

Generally in those situations I concentrate on getting close to the drums (to the sweet spot - hi hat side) as that is all I need (basically). Of course I do need to hear the guitarist and singer live in order to adapt to what those guys are playing etc. But if I can't hear well the hi hat and snare/kick drum on stage - I'm pretty doomed as bass player since its hard to find the lock with drums then...

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This post has been edited by Bogdan Radovic: May 30 2010, 05:46 PM


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Enucleation
May 30 2010, 06:55 PM
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From: Alabama...:(
I'll keep that in mind. One thing we seem to have problems with is that our bass player is a killer musician and I always try and have him pretty loud but then it drowns out the guitars and our second guitarist gets pretty upset tongue.gif

I'll try telling him the crank the mids at practice tomorrow, thanks.

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Jackson King V
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::Misc::
Pod Studio UX2/Pod Farm
Ibanez Weeping Demon Wah
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Bogdan Radovic
May 30 2010, 07:35 PM
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QUOTE (Enucleation @ May 30 2010, 07:55 PM) *
I'll keep that in mind. One thing we seem to have problems with is that our bass player is a killer musician and I always try and have him pretty loud but then it drowns out the guitars and our second guitarist gets pretty upset tongue.gif

I'll try telling him the crank the mids at practice tomorrow, thanks.


Generally on a live gig its cool to have bass loud in the mix on the PA speakers, often drums and bass are kinda exaggerated at live shows - but at the same time they don't get much in the way of vocals and guitars since bass goes to sub woofers mainly and pump energy in low frequencies.

But on stage and at rehearsals you want to make a nice mix. Start with drums playing (since they don't have volume pot heheh), then dial up bass sound in relation to drums and then guitars in the end. Mids on bass don't have to be exaggerated but neither scooped rather somewhere in between - experiment. Bass sounds great on its own with scooped mids (awesome slap sound) but in get lost in the mix when whole band plays. Try to find a balance where everything is heard well.

Also when on stage, you don't want to crank up amps on max (you will be heard through PA system mainly) so adjust amps that they sound good and that everyone can hear each other - so its neither to loud nor too soft...

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Ivan Milenkovic
May 30 2010, 07:41 PM
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Haha nice topic Bole biggrin.gif

I'll say it's better for a bass player to stand left on smaller stage because if he stands right he posses a danger to a singer (or mic & cymbal stands) with his long neck biggrin.gif

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Bogdan Radovic
May 30 2010, 08:14 PM
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QUOTE (Ivan Milenkovic @ May 30 2010, 08:41 PM) *
Haha nice topic Bole biggrin.gif

I'll say it's better for a bass player to stand left on smaller stage because if he stands right he posses a danger to a singer (or mic & cymbal stands) with his long neck biggrin.gif


hehehe good one smile.gif) Singers are always prone to getting hit in the head especially by bass players smile.gif)) If they are not singing well chances to get hit increase lol laugh.gif

Yeah its always cool to be on the hi-hat side of the drums, I just don't know why technicians sometimes setup of the stage other way around...I guess its just a visual/personal preference. Also some bass players just like to have their side (opposite) like left for Flea of RHCP smile.gif

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