# Why is the drummer in bands normally on a riser? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 26, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-drummer-in-bands-normally-on-a-riser/794732 "2017-08-26T14:05:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-drummer-in-bands-normally-on-a-riser/794732/21 "2017-08-27T18:56:12Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > You’re welcome. > > One other reason for the drum riser - it gives the other musicians a nice stable jumping off spot. All fascinating stuff - hadnt thought all of that through the way you share. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-drummer-in-bands-normally-on-a-riser/794732/22 "2017-08-27T19:31:41Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > some drummers play behind plexiglass in concert to keep the volume down for the rest of the band. Saw that this month with Blondie . The drum sound was fine for the crowd since it was being sent to the PA with the rest of the instruments and vocals. WTF? That reminds me of the house band led by Jeff Healy in “Roadhouse” needing to play behind chicken wire due to the thrown bottles. It’s SUPPOSED to be loud! Pete Townshend sacrificed his hearing for US! > [@gaffa](#): > > The trend in concert sound these days is towards a quiet stage. All the musicians wear “in-ear monitors” (basically very expensive custom molded earphones), bass is via a “direct box” that takes the sound of the instrument directly to the mixing board and guitar amps are in big boxes off stage. The only really loud thing on the stage is the drummer, and the Plexiglas panels help keep the sound of the cymbals out of the vocal microphones. > > A well done quiet stage, the musicians can actually talk to each other. > > The advantage for the audience is that without incredibly loud instruments on stage, the musicians don’t have even louder monitor speakers on stage to get over the loudness of the instruments. And without those loud monitor speakers, the main speakers don’t have to be louder than the monitors. > > And back to the original question - by putting the drummer on a riser, it acoustically decouples the drums from the other instruments. On a riser, the snare is less likely to buzz every time the bassist plays a note, and the kick isn’t getting into the guitar amps. > > Oh, and how does a bass player answer the phone? “Thank you for calling Dominos.” Pussies. What’s the point of 100W tube heads if not to “get over” the drummer"? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-drummer-in-bands-normally-on-a-riser/794732/23 "2017-08-27T20:20:08Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Pete Townshend sacrificed his hearing for US! Well, perhaps, but the setup that The Who uses now features [Zak behind perspex](https://goo.gl/photos/YdmLn3uQkEQQLDVK8) and “[tube traps](http://www.acousticsciences.com/profiles/pete-townshend)” to protect what hearing Pete and Roger have left. Speaking of The Who, Keith rarely sat on a riser. Probably a good thing since it would have put his kit right at ear level. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-drummer-in-bands-normally-on-a-riser/794732/24 "2017-08-27T22:09:43Z")
From what I’ve read, the current touring lineup of King Crimson has THREE drummers, and Robert Fripp has created a multitier stage with those drummers down in front, while Fripp and vocalist Jakko Jakszyk are in the back row on the highest tier. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-drummer-in-bands-normally-on-a-riser/794732/25 "2017-08-28T11:24:30Z")
Yes; here’s King Crimson’s [front line](https://www.flickr.com/photos/17270214@N05/21535819135) from 2 years ago! And here’s a [longer shot](https://www.flickr.com/photos/17270214@N05/21322275400) showing the set-up with a 2nd tier a bit better (but blurrier as it’s from the balcony) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-drummer-in-bands-normally-on-a-riser/794732/26 "2017-08-28T15:32:12Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > Yes; here’s King Crimson’s [front line](https://www.flickr.com/photos/17270214@N05/21535819135) from 2 years ago! > And here’s a [longer shot](https://www.flickr.com/photos/17270214@N05/21322275400) showing the set-up with a 2nd tier a bit better (but blurrier as it’s from the balcony) Three times the cowbell - woohoo! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-drummer-in-bands-normally-on-a-riser/794732/27 "2017-08-28T20:00:37Z")
Three times the cowbell in 21/8 time yet! ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-drummer-in-bands-normally-on-a-riser/794732/28 "2017-08-28T20:11:49Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > some drummers play behind plexiglass in concert to keep the volume down for the rest of the band. Saw that this month with Blondie . The drum sound was fine for the crowd since it was being sent to the PA with the rest of the instruments and vocals. Clem Burke should not be caged behind plexiglass. He should remain free. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pixdCnYByus/maxresdefault.jpg "Atomic Blondie Clem Burke Drumming Skills Melbourne Sidney Myer Music Bowl 3rd December 2012") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pixdCnYByus) I saw the drummer-behind-glass at a church service where the band was onstage with guitar, keyboard, and drums. I understand the need to have it in these instances but it looks kind of odd. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-drummer-in-bands-normally-on-a-riser/794732/29 "2017-08-28T20:56:58Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Clem Burke should not be caged behind plexiglass. He should remain free. [Some drummers need to be chained.](http://cdn-x.drummerworld.com/pics/drum46/animal19.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-drummer-in-bands-normally-on-a-riser/794732.md?page=1)