Stage Set Up

325_fan · Post by **325_fan** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 1:33 am

Would it have made any difference sound wise if The Beatles were set up differently on stage? Whenever I saw them it was always; Paul, George, Ringo, then John. Logically, it would seem better if Paul were next to Ringo, keeping the drums sandwiched between the bass and rhythm.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 3:54 pm

I don't really think so. According to the Beatles themselves, the screaming was so loud during the shows, that they couldn't hear themselves most of the time. It's amazing that they did as well as they did with all that noise drowning out the music.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 1:44 pm

Yes you're right. I don't think any of us can imagine how it was for them up there. I remember seeing Help for the first time. I could'nt hear a thing for the screaming. I was shocked and I was just a kid. That had to be very unnerving for them.
In a way though if you are tight and know the songs you could probably play thru anything. I remember once at and early band practise that I was at all of the lights went out. Yet no one missed a chord, a note, or a beat.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 2:50 pm

That was one of the reasons they stopped touring. They actually said the musicianship on stage was going down so much that it wasn't fun anymore. Plus, add in all the other mayhem that went on during a Beatles tour, it's understandable that they quit to become a studio only band.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 3:50 pm

I was thinking about their stage setup last night and it dawned it me why they set up that way.
First in the early years John was the acknowledged leader so being by himself was natural and he probably liked being on the left side of Ringo.
Then with Paul and George. Paul is a lefty so if he were by Ringo then his bass and George's guitar would have run smack into each other at the mic when they came together.
In most bands there are only two plank players. The guitarist and the bassist. They are usually on seperate sides of the drummer and come together in the middle at different times durning the show.
The keyboard player is usually out on one of the wings either facing the crowd or facing the band so that he can see whats going on.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 10:13 am

I'm sure it mattered when they weren't so famous, every band I've ever been in seems to have a certain lineup. I've usually ended up on the left side next to the drummer, which is why I have to wear an ear plug in my right ear when I play with loud bands now. (metal snares kill!) You get used to the way a band sounds from a certain point and if you set up differently it sounds strange sometimes.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 2:04 pm

One of the first good bands I played in had a simular setup. This had jogged my memory. I was only in two bands as a bass player. But many more as a guitarist.
That one that I thought about though had the keyboard player on the left of the drummer. The lead player was to the right of the drummer or at least his amps were. He actually stood right in front of the drummer.
I was on the other side of lead player from the drummer but I was seperated by the lead player's amps from the drummer. With all of my amps behind me too (we used lots of amps) I had a large area to roam in and could move up to the drummer behind the lead player is I chose.
Som bands I have been in used the same set up with me in the same spot except I was the guitar player. At other times I was with the keyboard player.
I actually like to be on the end by myself now. That way I can turn my guitar amp towards me if I want too. If you know your part well as do the other members it really does'nt matter where you stand. But if someone is weak and needs your help thats where you will wind up being.
I don't think the Beatles had any weak players though.

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:48 am

I'm in on this one late, but I do recall reading somewhere that Paul preferred to stand on stage right so that he and George or John could share a mic simply by rotating toward each other. Also that it allowed his bass neck to hang out to the right and balance the look of the band. Being right handed, I always prefer to set up and the end of stage left so my bass neck is out away from the other players. I played for a few years to the right of a guitarist and the left of a singer and felt boxed in.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 9:05 am

It did create a balanced look.
My band tried it that way for the first time (though no leftie) friday before last and I really liked my amp next to the bass amp. I do most the leads, and the sound stayed balanced with the rythym way over on stage left.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 10:59 am

I've always set up on Stage Right, for some reason. Probably because of the length of the bass neck, I need a little more room. If I was on Stage Left, I might hit some things!

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 7:37 am

>>>> which is why I have to wear an ear plug in my right ear when I play with loud bands now. (metal snares kill!)

Bob.... NO SH*T!!!! We had a fill-in drummer for 2 gigs in July and he had a metal snare... UGH! YUK!!! I'm in the same spot you are and I thought the right side of my head was going crack from the pounding. This guy hits hard and there is something about that that metal snare that is very harsh.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 7:45 am

This is the drummers' version of the Flatwounds vs. Roundwounds controversy...

You just can't play "Larks' Tongues In Aspic" without a metal snare...

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:53 am

My right ear has a permanent crackle from about 30 years worth of crash cymbal being two feet away from it. Why did they wait so long to perfect in-ear monitors?

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 12:48 pm

I heard a muzak version King Crimson's "Lark's Tongues In Aspic" in an elevator.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:32 pm

Its always cool when the lead guitarist and bass player can come together.
Its funny we've all heard a lot about Pete Townsend being deaf and good old Mal. But what about Paul, Ringo, and the others who have sadly passed on now.
Surely they were no more immune to it than we were. None of us had to endure that screaming either. I remember the first time I saw Help in a theater. So it would be insane if you were actually there at a live Beatles performance. No wonder they did'nt wanna tour anymore. The sound pressure must have been enormous.