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Topic: Shoes or No Shoes, That is The Question?? |
Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 23 Aug 2016 6:59 am |
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My feet are too sensitive for socks, let alone nothing.
When I started a couple years back I could only play in one particular pair of old trainers, which is fine for a beginner - the fewer variables the better.
I aspire to being able to play in whatever I happen to be wearing, but I'm not there yet.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Richard Alderson
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 23 Aug 2016 6:55 pm Learn Something new on the forum everyday
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I think this is a very instructive thread. Just two weeks previous I had started to use some soft moccasins to practice. I realized that they provided so much more sensory information to my brain than wearing shoes. I am still a learner with a long way to go, I need all the advantages I can get. Those of you who began pushing pedals at age 20 or 25 have developed so many synapses in your brains, its automatic for you. Others who began later, such as myself, are still developing some of the critical synapses and nerve pathways that make everything feel instinctive. It definitely helps to find the right pedals to have the extra sensory input of a soft sole or even just socks. And of course the touch of grace notes and accents with pedals. I couldn't do bare foot - Ouch ! But those of you who play in public without properly covering up your stinking feet need to learn some more manners. In my humble opinion of course.
_________________
Derby SD-10 5x6; GFI S-10 5x5; GFI S-10 5x5; Zum D-10 8x7; Zum D-10 9x9; Fender 400; Fender Rumble 200; Nashville 400; Telonics TCA-500. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 23 Aug 2016 8:26 pm
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Your feet become part of the machine.
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 23 Aug 2016 10:05 pm
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| Some of the early steels had visual barriers so you couldn't see anything going on under the steel. A privacy shield? Maybe us sock guys need a curtain to hide our stinking feet behind. .. lol |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 24 Aug 2016 7:33 am
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| It maybe doesn't matter too much what kind of shoes you wear but you must be consistent about it. I find if I switch shoes, I get a different feel on the pedals, especially engaging the A pedal together with the B. If I change shoes I find myself not pushing the A pedal down far enough and I'm out of tune. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 24 Aug 2016 7:49 am
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Erv, that is most heartening - I thought it was just me with the A/B problem. I suppose the answer is to make it part of the warm-up, so that by the time your fingers have found the strings, you foot has found the pedals.
I shall let you know if it helps 
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 24 Aug 2016 7:57 am
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Ian,
There is always a balancing problem with the A and B pedals.
Sometimes you have trouble with holding the B pedal down and sometimes it's the A pedal. It seems like I'm always adjusting the height of those two pedals.  |
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Patrick Strain
From:
Binghamton/Gilbertsville, NY
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Posted 25 Aug 2016 10:28 am
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I'm always a sock player. Occasionally barefoot. I feel no shame.
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Sierra Crown D-10 8+4, Sierra S-10 3+4, Carter D-10 8+7, Carter Starter 3+ a lot of engineering problems |
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Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2016 6:00 pm shoes.
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Oh ouch on barefoot playing, socks without shoes won't do it for me either. shoes as Erv said, I have to be consistant with my shoes. I wear Keens which are rather wide in the front and not so pointy. If I try my dressier shoes, a bit narrower and more pointier, I have trouble with home base.
For those with socks, why not make neat statements with designer socks, maybe socks that appear to be shoes and socks combined? Or socks that are made to look like those exquisite Italian shoes, or look like a pair of alligators with their jaws open... maybe a new reality designer contest for us steelers??
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Karl Paulsen
From:
Chicago
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Posted 21 Oct 2021 3:40 pm
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Resurrecting an old thread here, but bear with me.
I'd been experiencing a bit of discomfort rolling my foot between the A and B pedal. I tried it with no shoes and it was a revelation. Really comfortable!
I ended up with the ball of my foot behind the big toe planted on the B pedal and the majority of my toes pushing on the A. My toes were a bit curled, but there ended up being almost no lateral rotation of my foot. Sounds weird maybe, but it worked very well, perhaps because I used to rock climb alot so really working my toes comes pretty naturally.
This leads me to my question.
For those who play in socks or soft moccasins, do you rock your whole foot side to side, or is it more about using different parts of your foot to avoid that motion?
Now I've got to buy an extra nice pair of thick black socks or a pair of mocs...
One last point of interest. I did a bit of research, and it appears that while -as with pedal steel- playing organ shod is the norm, there are quite a few organists who play without shoes, especially at home.
_________________
Nickel and Steel. Sad Songs and Steel Guitar.
https://www.facebook.com/NickelandSteel
Chicago Valley Railroad. Trainspotting and Bargain Hunting...
https://chicagovalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/ |
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David Dorwart
From:
Orlando, Florida, USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2021 2:47 am
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| Here in Florida I split the difference by wearing a slip on like Sperry Topsider ( boat shoe? ) or some other easy to slide into type shoe on my left pedal foot and barefoot on the right volume pedal foot. I just keep one shoe under the steel so when I sit down to play it’s there and easy to slip into |
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Ian Worley
From:
Sacramento, CA
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Posted 22 Oct 2021 9:11 am
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Here's another option:
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All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest - Paul Simon |
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Dana Blodgett
From:
California, USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2021 9:12 am
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No shoes, No socks, No Shame! I do what works for me.
Years ago before being a diabetic I wore nice pointy toed high heel Tony Lamas…nowadays I can’t “feel†the pedals with shoes on. Barefoot or socks helps me plus I live in a beach community.
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme |
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Allen Merrell
From:
Georgia, USA
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Posted 23 Oct 2021 8:58 am
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I am not a professional player I play at home in my music room. I use socks or bare feet I seem to have problem with shoes and feel. I can at times play wearing Dockers. I have nerve damage in my left leg that causes numbness to the side of it so pants cause problems when raising my E's I added a stronger return spring so I can feel the resistance else I put pressure on it and raise the E's when I don't want to Thus I wear shorts or my boxers. I have been kind of poked at here for mentioning it but I don't care. I love to play I may not sound as good as I want it to so I practice, Practice practice. Accuracy is the key I am after so if bare feet and boxers help me accomplish it in relaxed comfort this is what I will do. We are all different so what works for one don't work for all so go with what works for you. Now the clothing thing may cause a problem in public so you will have to work around it.
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72 ShoBud 6153 D10, Encore, Nashville 112, Boss Katana, Spark 40, Quilter TT12, GT001, ProFex II,Jackson Pitch changer (Love this bender) |
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Jack Hargraves
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2021 9:21 am
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I can play in cowboy boots, dress shoes, tennis shoes if they have a flat sole. I tried sock feet, but my feet are so sensitive that I can't do it. I say whatever feels best to you. However, I wouldn't and don't play with sock feet.
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GFI Expo SD10, Nashville 112, Steelers choice Pak-a- seat, Carter vol. pedal, Stage one vol. pedal, Peavey Deltafex. Goodrich volume pedal. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2021 10:43 am
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I find that these work out the best:
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Terry Winter
From:
Saskatchewan, Canada
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Posted 25 Oct 2021 1:23 pm
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| Years ago when starting I decided that I would play in whatever I was wearing. Cowboy boot, shoes even have a pair of dress winter boots I have used. Oh yea, practice a lot in my music room with socks on. Lol the winter boots are a little harder but when 40 below out, Ill make due. |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 26 Oct 2021 3:19 am I play without shoes in the house.
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I play without shoes in the house.
We don't keep shoes on in the house to keep the house clean.
In the summer it's also no socks.
Someone mentioned smelly sweaty feet? We wash our feet so no smell.
The big plus is that you can feel the pedals much better.
I drive that way too!
When I played gigs I had soft bottom shoes that I prefer anyway.
I've not worn boots since I got out of the army in 1968, hate them or any stiff shoes on my feet. I even use running shoes with a suit on. 
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Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Karl Paulsen
From:
Chicago
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Posted 26 Oct 2021 9:42 am
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Bought a cheap pair of mocs from Walmart. Nice for shuffling around the house, but they have rubber soles and didn't feel any better than my chucks for playing.
Went back to barefoot and I'm still loving my new technique of ball of big toe on B and the rest of the toes on A. Going to buy some sturdy and comfortable socks now as I think I've found my way forward.
_________________
Nickel and Steel. Sad Songs and Steel Guitar.
https://www.facebook.com/NickelandSteel
Chicago Valley Railroad. Trainspotting and Bargain Hunting...
https://chicagovalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/ |
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