Which Foot to you pat to keep in time?

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 24 Sep 2005 9:01 pm

Just curious: After many years of watching my steel playing friends and countless strangers as well, patting their foot to keep time with the music, I began to realize there are as many different methods for performing this "feat" as there are steel players.
Lap steel players do it with great finess so as not to cause the slick backed little guitar to slide off their lap and/or to cause them to lose control of the bar. It's always embarassing to hear that heavy little bar as it rolls faster and faster across the stage as it attempts to distance itself from the player.
Some pedal steel players use their RIGHT Foot and quite often the end result is the irritating surging and fading of volume as they pump their right foot ON THE VOLUME PEDAL.
Some, who use their left foot, leave it flat on the floor where they stomp it enthusiastically until they need to smash a pedal. At that time, the more practiced will lift the foot off the floor, then plant it furiously on the pedal bar in an attempt to keep up with the beat all the while trying to make sure they found the A & B pedals and NOT, the B & C pedal combination. This will often cause a "delay" in playing the planned notes at the precise time.
Others use the humerous Jerry VanDyke (banjer technique) where it's obvious they have yet to manage accurately the movement of either or both feet while keeping in time with the music.
What method do YOU use and why?

Rick Nicklas · Post by **Rick Nicklas** » 24 Sep 2005 9:24 pm

Nothing has to move on my body to keep me in rhythm. I just use the bass and drummer for my timing. In fact, they are in charge of that after the kickoff of the song. You can break meter and jazz things up a bit but always come back to their tempo. I do find myself rocking my head sometimes if I really enjoy what I am playing.

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Rick
Williams & Kline U-12's, Session 500

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 24 Sep 2005 9:40 pm

Depends on the instrument.
left or right foot.
I like right foot, but when sitting with the bass it tends to bounce.

With steel I use my butt... and shoulders a bit.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 24 Sep 2005 9:45 pm

None. Never had a need to, and always found it distracting watching others do it. If you learn good timing and rhythm your brain takes care of it - it's internalized to the point that it's all automatic, and foot tapping is redundant.

Do you think drummers tap their feet?

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 24 Sep 2005 10:12 pm

Drummers HAVE to or you would'nt hear the kick.

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 24 Sep 2005 10:48 pm

This thread is leaning toward funny.
If I feel good and the music is good, some part of my body is going to be in motion, can't help it.
Usually my left foot.
Didn't seem to hurt Ray Charles to have that foot flailing about, did it? haha.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 25 Sep 2005 2:09 am

Never say anybody pat a foot like that Ray Charles. No way you could lose the beat.

I'm a left-footer unless I'm playing.
If I played drums the whole kit would have to be switched from left to right.

But trying to play pedal steel--too much going on to accomplish that feet [sic].

Jon Zimmerman · Post by **Jon Zimmerman** » 25 Sep 2005 3:07 am

Sometimes, if your hands are busy and each foot IS occupied, you have to go somewhere else--like to kick-off on a song--I'll nod my head--2,3,4, Then once it's underway, I'm liable to use anything that moves, even my tongue flappin time...like when the tempo stops, then goes--what else is there?

Ray is famous for using the Rayletts as his tempo-keepers..what was it, 'If you want to be a RAYLETT, you had to LET RAY!'..Keep that backbeat, that is.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 25 Sep 2005 5:26 am

Ray Charles' foot indicated where he wanted '1' to be, and it was vital that the drummer, above all, could see Ray's feet.

That fluctuating 'time' was an essential part of his uniqueness, and the drummer who couldn't accommodate his whim didn't last long! There was an interestinf 'thread' here on the Forum about Ray's musical peculiarities not too long ago.

Ray didn't stomp his feet for himself - it was for the band.

Has anyone watched Albert Lee play live? He uses either foot, and either the heel or the ball of either foot, most vigorously when he plays, and yet I doubt there are many players with a better 'clock' in their head than Albert has. His time is, for me, the most outstanding facet of his playing.

I do find myself involuntarily keeping time with my left heel when playing steel, but only occasionally (I think!); strangely, I believe it happens when I'm particularly comfortable with the rhythm section, and I'm enjoying the proceedings.

RR

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 25 Sep 2005 5:39 am

wATCH tOMMY dODD HE USES HIS HEAD, jEFF nEWMAN TOUGHT THE BEAT MUST BE INSIDE THE HEAD, HE TELLS MANY TIMES IN HIS TEACHING THERE MUST BE A CLOCK TICKING IN THE HEAD TO GET IT RIGHT. sorry did not know caps were on.

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 25 Sep 2005 5:47 am

Nothing against foot tappers, but after growing up watching my uncle stomp/pat his right foot and sucking up all the dust flying off the floor, I guess I didn't want to add to the problem! ha However, he did keep great time and helped me learn what little time I keep...

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 25 Sep 2005 6:08 am

The third one

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<font size=1>Drew Howard - website - Fessenden D-10 8/8, Fessenden SD-12 5/5 (Ext E9), Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3</font>

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 25 Sep 2005 6:47 am

Before I started using pedals in 57 I patted my left foot on the balls of my foot. W/pedals I pat my left heel. Now, with the Sho Bud and MSA in the closet my fixed strg steels are on a stand and out of habit I pat the left heel. CC

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 25 Sep 2005 8:53 am

GREAT INSIGHT here into the workings of the modern day steel guitarist.

I wonder what it would sound like if all 60-75 members of a large, enthusiastic, symphony orchestra were stomping their feet on that large wooden floored stage?

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 25 Sep 2005 10:51 am

If I play a piece from tabs I rarely keep time with my foot (tapping to the beat). If I am just sitting there playing, I tend to start tap with my left foot. If I am listening to music on the radio or sitting back and listening to a band, I just start tapping with my left foot without even thinking about it.

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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 25 Sep 2005 6:11 pm

Ray-Ernest says it. I don't believe I can remember when Jeff Newman was ever wrong!

But your post asked "which foot do you pat to keep in time". I don't use either and I am sure most pedal steel players are too busy with both feet to do it.....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Les Green · Post by **Les Green** » 26 Sep 2005 5:50 am

Don't have any spare feet to tap with..........

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · Post by **Archie Nicol R.I.P.** » 26 Sep 2005 7:11 am

I pat the dog and he nods his head in time.

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One of those steel guitar thingies and an amp.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 26 Sep 2005 1:01 pm

"Uncle" Josh Graves tells the story of how Earl Scruggs would watch the feet of the Foggy Mountain Boys, and if anybody began to pat his foot, Earl would come over, place HIS foot on top, so the other guy would stop. No foot-pattin' allowed!

David Wren · Post by **David Wren** » 26 Sep 2005 6:05 pm

Strangley enough I tap my toes on my pedals when I not using any, and my heel on the floor when using pedals, and I don't even think of it, just notice myself doing this for time to time.

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Session500; Hilton Pedal
www.ameechapman.com

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 26 Sep 2005 11:56 pm

Archie,My dog just howls when I play.Maybe he's trying to tell me something,

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 27 Sep 2005 9:06 pm

The symphony violin teacher that fired me as a Hawaiian Steel Guitar 'student' with the Gibson Guitar Course...........suggested early on, that I simply tap my big toe INSIDE my shoe or boot.
It works fine for me but of course, to each his own. There is more drama to really stomping that left foot. Ah-Haaaaa!

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 28 Sep 2005 1:40 am

So all the staid-looking symphony players are really rockin' inside their shoes?
You learn something cool every day.

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 28 Sep 2005 7:27 am

David Wren wrote:

<SMALL>Strangley enough I tap my toes on my pedals when I not using any, and my heel on the floor when using pedals, and I don't even think of it, just notice myself doing this for time to time.</SMALL>

I do the same thing when the music is really jammin'.

Joe

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 28 Sep 2005 3:05 pm

It's hard to tap your big toe inside your boot,when your bare footed,I save my boots for Sunday go to meeting time.