Stand vs. Sit?

[Korggal2015]

I'm 6'6 and use an Ultimate Apex, works fine for standing up. I play only with my 88 and it's not completely at the top position.

Whether I stand or sit depends on the gig, I have a K&M table type for sitting.

That Ultimate Apex looks like it can barely hold anything... but the weight spec does say 125lbs max

[SanderXpander]

I've used them for 15 years now, with one board or two boards, and have never ever had any worries or doubts about the weight. I've had a Roland RD170 and JX10 on there, a Yamaha S90ES, a Nord Stage, a Kronos 88, with mostly Triton Extreme or Hammond XB1 on top. Right now it's just a Kronos 88, I put the block/arms nearly at the top but not quite. It's not as stable as a table style stand, there are some corners on the keyboard where you should lean too hard (a bad idea anyway) because it may tilt in that direction but that has more to do with the design than the weight it's holding.

[Korggal2015]

I've used them for 15 years now, with one board or two boards, and have never ever had any worries or doubts about the weight. I've had a Roland RD170 and JX10 on there, a Yamaha S90ES, a Nord Stage, a Kronos 88, with mostly Triton Extreme or Hammond XB1 on top. Right now it's just a Kronos 88, I put the block/arms nearly at the top but not quite. It's not as stable as a table style stand, there are some corners on the keyboard where you should lean too hard (a bad idea anyway) because it may tilt in that direction but that has more to do with the design than the weight it's holding.

TThats very reassuring. I have a Kronos 88 and Novation impulse 61 and would like to stand while playing so I'm going to check Apex out thanks to you. I have a table stand right now which is nice but a lot of the times I want to get up and groove while I'm playing!

[Grog96]

I never sit when playing a gig. I started in a rock covers band in the '90s, when it was de rigeur to stand. Back then we were all moshing around like mad - you can't be headbanging while sat down!

These days I'm a bit less agile (age, eh?) but it still just wouldn't feel quite right sitting throughout a gig. Gotta participate, right?

I have always used column stands - Ultimate (AX90 I think it was - the triangular cross-section one), and more recently the AX48PRO. I put the Kronos 61 up top so I can see the screen, and the Krome 73 close below (on the shorter arms because it's lighter). Re foot pedals, I put them just "beyond" the stand's T-bar legs (i.e, away from me, towards the crowd), and reach "forward" to press with the ball of my foot (hmm, sounds more complicated than it actually is when I put it into words). This works fine for me.

So, standing all the way - gets my vote.

[Geoff Flynn]

I've always sat. Far too many sustain/volume/patch up pedals to take care of to stand up anyway. 7 pedals at the last count.

[4GodnWV]

Over the years I have stood and sat while playing, and both have advantages, many listed in this thread. I want to suggest a third option, which has worked well for me in certain situations.

"Leaning!"

It's not all that difficult to find a key height that allows comfortable hand positions on a two keyboard stack when standing, but also allows for the lower keyboard (as well as the upper with a little reach) to played from a semi-seated position.

We've probably all done the 'cat stance' where you stand on one foot with a slightly blended knee and pedal with the free foot. Leaning allows for much more stability and really only requires a good quality throne that will allow for a higher position.

Hope the idea helps someone.

[holdsg]

I'm a stander.

Use the on-stage stands Z-stand, 2 boards, a Kronos 2-76 on bottom and Hammond SK-1 on top.

Only the kronos sustain pedal and air turn for my iPad/Onsong.

works for me.

[Korggal2015]

I never sit when playing a gig. I started in a rock covers band in the '90s, when it was de rigeur to stand. Back then we were all moshing around like mad - you can't be headbanging while sat down!

These days I'm a bit less agile (age, eh?) but it still just wouldn't feel quite right sitting throughout a gig. Gotta participate, right?

I have always used column stands - Ultimate (AX90 I think it was - the triangular cross-section one), and more recently the AX48PRO. I put the Kronos 61 up top so I can see the screen, and the Krome 73 close below (on the shorter arms because it's lighter). Re foot pedals, I put them just "beyond" the stand's T-bar legs (i.e, away from me, towards the crowd), and reach "forward" to press with the ball of my foot (hmm, sounds more complicated than it actually is when I put it into words). This works fine for me.

So, standing all the way - gets my vote.

Love it! Just checked out a few of your FB videos - nice! Yeah, no way can you sit through those tunes. Yes I see your foot pedals - how come you face to the front?

[Grog96]

Yes I see your foot pedals - how come you face to the front?

What, you think I should face the back of the stage, so my ugly mug doesn't put the punters off their pints? Fair point, well made... jk

TBH, I just face the same way everyone else in the band does because it seems obvious. I suppose, back in the days of "Great Balls Of Fire", they had no choice but to position sideways on to the crowd so the player wasn't hidden behind the upright piano. But that just proves my point: for best results, you should be standing up anyway! (just my 2p).

[chini]

The most important thing is to be physically comfortable playing the instruments in front of you. Hopefully regardless of wether you are standing or sitting it should be the music you are playing which captivates the audience. Also some players, me included, have no choice but to sit because they need to hit pedals simultaneously with both feet which is impossible to do standing up. Having said this I have seen more players adopting the "sit-stand" style seats that are perched a little higher than a standard sit down stool allowing one to be a little higher over the keyboards with knees still slightly bent.. These designs are often saddle types that can be very comfortable.

Here's the one I've been looking at that is also collapsable: http://www.mey-chairsystems.com/en/prod ... etail.html

To be honest though I don't like to be too high over the keys as the steeper angle tends to bend my wrists too much. Also if you play an "L" shaped rig with a second or third keyboard at right angles it makes sense to be sat down to enable you to swivel round slightly if playing both keyboards at once. I actually play a 2 tear in front with another at right angles sitting down but I do have the top of the two as low as possible over my Kronos just enough for its screen to be visible. This way the audience can at least see my face! I do stand up to play sax and keys together sometimes so it's not as if I am stuck behind the rig like a small gnome all the time!

One thing to bare in mind if you set your rig up at standing height is that you then do not have the choice to sit down at any point as the keyboard will be too high to play from a sitting position. Again this is another reason to look at the "sit-stand" type chairs.

At the end of the day it all depends what your roll is as a keyboard player. My advice is to think of playing comfort first which ever method you adopt.

[Korggal2015]

Yes I see your foot pedals - how come you face to the front?

What, you think I should face the back of the stage, so my ugly mug doesn't put the punters off their pints? Fair point, well made... jk

TBH, I just face the same way everyone else in the band does because it seems obvious. I suppose, back in the days of "Great Balls Of Fire", they had no choice but to position sideways on to the crowd so the player wasn't hidden behind the upright piano. But that just proves my point: for best results, you should be standing up anyway! (just my 2p).

Arrgh I meant to say, "how come you face THEM to the front" in reference to the pedals, lol. Sorry about that. Love your band btw

[Korggal2015]

The most important thing is to be physically comfortable playing the instruments in front of you. Hopefully regardless of wether you are standing or sitting it should be the music you are playing which captivates the audience. Also some players, me included, have no choice but to sit because they need to hit pedals simultaneously with both feet which is impossible to do standing up. Having said this I have seen more players adopting the "sit-stand" style seats that are perched a little higher than a standard sit down stool allowing one to be a little higher over the keyboards with knees still slightly bent.. These designs are often saddle types that can be very comfortable.

Here's the one I've been looking at that is also collapsable: http://www.mey-chairsystems.com/en/prod ... etail.html

To be honest though I don't like to be too high over the keys as the steeper angle tends to bend my wrists too much. Also if you play an "L" shaped rig with a second or third keyboard at right angles it makes sense to be sat down to enable you to swivel round slightly if playing both keyboards at once. I actually play a 2 tear in front with another at right angles sitting down but I do have the top of the two as low as possible over my Kronos just enough for its screen to be visible. This way the audience can at least see my face! I do stand up to play sax and keys together sometimes so it's not as if I am stuck behind the rig like a small gnome all the time!

One thing to bare in mind if you set your rig up at standing height is that you then do not have the choice to sit down at any point as the keyboard will be too high to play from a sitting position. Again this is another reason to look at the "sit-stand" type chairs.

At the end of the day it all depends what your roll is as a keyboard player. My advice is to think of playing comfort first which ever method you adopt.

I'm comfortable sitting but now that I'm singing more, I just get so into it and sometimes just want to get up and bust a move! Thank you so much for sharing. You've given me a lot to think about.

[Grog96]

Arrgh I meant to say, "how come you face THEM to the front" in reference to the pedals, lol. Sorry about that. Love your band btw

Ah, now I get you. Actually, those pedals DO face towards me. I guess I could turn them around even though the sockets are on the back, because I have right-angled jacks on the cables. But no matter, they work fine just as it is. They are the right height off the deck to come up flush with the leg of the stand, thus...


Aww shucks, thank you for your gracious remarks on our work! It's all covers - what drives me, within or without the sphere of music, has always been faithful replication - and pulling it off live is a real thrill! I think your work is fabulous, really chilled out. And I can see you're a really accomplished pianist too. I'm more a jack-of-all-trades, never had any piano tuition. Now where can I get my Kronos X customized in green & purple, like yours in "Lazy Sunday"?

[Kronos2ison]

Oh though this was a bathroom question.

[Bachus]

Sitting, because i am a pedal addict.. having a total of 10 pedals connected to my 2 keyboards...