High-pitched voices and instruments conventionally sit to the left of lower ones.

Evidence

Vocal groups tend to organize themselves such that the sopranos are on the right of the altos, and the tenors are on the right of the basses if they are in two or more rows. Small vocal groups such as a quartet consisting of a soprano, alto, tenor and bass will tend to be in a line with the bass on the left and the soprano on the right. In orchestras, the treble instruments tend to be placed with the highest-pitched instruments within their section (first violin, piccolo, trumpet etc.) on the left and bass instruments on the right. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1634

Categorization

Category: Factual Claims

• QUESTION: What perceptual mechanism, if any, actually justifies keeping treble on the left? The chapter presumably explains this later in terms of auditory scene analysis or sound localization.

Related

• Right-ear treble preference may explain traditional orchestral seating arrangements. (similarity 0.90)
• Concert orchestra layout favors right-ear treble but leaves treble physically on the left (similarity 0.87)

Broader Connections

• Concert orchestra layout favors right-ear treble but leaves treble physically on the left #corroborates (0.80) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1638