The best type of shoes for playing steel?

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 13 Nov 2007 2:28 pm

I personally like these!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 Nov 2007 2:39 pm

Ballet slippers!!!

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 13 Nov 2007 3:14 pm

"Marcia Brady's"? You musta played a concert at Joliet penitentiary.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 13 Nov 2007 3:16 pm

Dirty socks... hold your nose..... bob

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 13 Nov 2007 3:30 pm

for the first 2 years i could NOT play unless the only thing i had on my feet was socks and nothing else...it took a while but now i can play wearing tennis shoes , cowboy boots or anything else EXCEPT SOCKS..if i only wear socks now, i get awful foot cramps ....go figure????

Pete Cormier · Post by **Pete Cormier** » 13 Nov 2007 3:52 pm

I REALLY LIKE THESE "VANS" SKATE BOARDING SHOES
BECAUSE THEY ARE WIDE FOR PEDAL WORK, ALTHOUGH AT
50 YRS. OLD MY WIFE SAYS I LOOK FOOLISH IN THEM.
"MIGHT JUST CHANGE WIVES" NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT.

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 13 Nov 2007 4:00 pm

I try to play in any shoes I have on but I can't seem to get really comfortable in anything but the orange bellbottoms!

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 13 Nov 2007 4:02 pm

Vans Old School!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 13 Nov 2007 4:07 pm

i wear cowboy boots...always have, always will...seeing that picture of buddy cage in jogging gear and tennies really turned me off. he used to be very cool in his attire. and those of you in ballet slippers might as well be gay....steel players used to be stylin'. ok...flame away!

Pete Cormier · Post by **Pete Cormier** » 13 Nov 2007 4:12 pm

MARC

THAT BE THE BAD BOYS I BEEN WEAR'IN

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 13 Nov 2007 4:25 pm

I currently play in Reebok classics. I did wear New Balance walking shoes, but I found the toe curled up so much for walking that I had to hit the pedals on "tiptoe."

I also always try to practice in my socks. If you have the wrong shoes on at the gig, take 'em off!

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 13 Nov 2007 5:05 pm

Ballet slippers....Black

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 13 Nov 2007 7:03 pm

I don't understand why a homophobic reference was necessary Chris. I tend to wear some kind of black loafer or other - good enough shoes to wear with fancier clothes. Nothing with real high heels. I'm really happy with a pair of Merrills I picked up a few weeks ago, and they look good with a jacket and black slacks. I gave up on the cowboy duds a long time ago, and find boots too hot and too cumbersome.

Mark Wayne · Post by **Mark Wayne** » 13 Nov 2007 7:13 pm

Dance shoes, probably found in a specialty store have a very thin sole, around $60. You might want to use them only for playing and then change shoes. I go to http://zappos.com where I found a pair of Tiger tennis shoes that are great for playing steel. Very comfortable, thin sole, and stylish, but a bit expensive, around $80.

They have 100's of styles to choose from.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 13 Nov 2007 7:25 pm

The kind that fits up the drummer's butt.

EJL

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 13 Nov 2007 8:49 pm

What Eric said!

Actually, a pair of cheap moccasins, canvas Topsiders, "old school" Vans (heavy skate shoes now feel a little clunky) or Chucks all work for me, and barefoot (or with socks) works on my chrome-pedal Fender. The one thing I absolutely cannot play in are cowboy boots. How anyone can play with their heel raised up is beyond me...plus I have never found a pair of the things I could stand to wear. Maybe my feet are weird, or maybe it's the thought that they look just a little dorky with baggy shorts and a Yes t-shirt.

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 13 Nov 2007 8:57 pm

Jim,

A pair of pointy toed cowboy boots fit up a drummers butt quite well!

But lately I've found it harder to play in high heeled boots, so I've went to the low heeled, thin soled roper boots, or a nice pair of loafers. I quess it's just what a person is comfortable in!

Larry

James Cann · Post by **James Cann** » 13 Nov 2007 9:02 pm

. . . they look just a little dorky with baggy shorts and a Yes t-shirt.

I'd have to agree . . . as would such shorts and shirt look with western boots. . .

With that, any shoe/boot with a firm sole works for me. I can't do a thing if barefoot or in socks.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 13 Nov 2007 9:14 pm

I have always played in cowboy boots until recently. I bought a pare of "boot shoes". Cowboy boots without the tops. I have a lot better ankle movement and pedal work is so much easier. I am of the old school and still wear a hat, starched shirt and jeans, and a western tailored jacket when I perform. Jody.

Brandon Ordoyne · Post by **Brandon Ordoyne** » 14 Nov 2007 5:27 am

Justin Roper Cowboy Boots!

and tennis shoes when I am at home. But I have found its not easy to play my push/pull in socks!!

Brandon

Curt Shoemaker · Post by **Curt Shoemaker** » 14 Nov 2007 6:30 am

The one's from Kansas! "Just being funny". Any flat soled shoe will work for me.

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 14 Nov 2007 6:58 am

Come on Curt,you'd think someone with the last name Shoemaker would be an authority on the subject.

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 14 Nov 2007 7:32 am

I played for years in cowboy boots and even got my BMI pedal rods extended so could play in them on that guitar. My steel's usually set up at home so I kept practicing on it in socks or barefooted and I started liking it. I now wear socks at all my gigs, usually white tube type but if it's a higher class gig I have some black ones. I can just wear slip on shoes and kick 'em off right next to my pack seat.

One thing to remember though, at one gig I had to go to the bathroom bad and couldn't hardly wait until break time. At break I went running to the restroom in my sock feet and wound up standing in a pool of some unknown liquid while I did my business. I'll remember that for a long time and won't do it again....JH in Va.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 14 Nov 2007 8:47 am

When I played steel guitar on the Grapebine Opry of TX with International Violinist or Fiddler Shoji Tabuchi he had these real expensive exotic Alligator or Crocodile Cowboy boots. He would be very careful to slip them on just before he jumped out from behind the curtain playing Somewhere My Love or Diggy Diggy Low.

Funny thing was, he sounded just as good with or without them. I have also heard Buddy Emmons playing in boots and then in his Cross Training Runnin' shoes; likewise he still sounded and looked like the Big E, Mr. Emmons to me.

I think it is just what you want to wear for some playing engagements, unless your doing a concert or show. Call me old fashion, but in my opinion looks has alot to do with showmanship and entertaining a crowd. I also think it has an impact on the band.

The late Country Stars Hank Thompson and Porter Waggoner both always wore show clothes. Hank alone during his career sold over 60 million records. Try to think of others in the past who looked pro, Elvis and alot of other entertainers. I just think musicians ought to look like musicians/professionals, that is on stage or shows.

Terry Wood

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 14 Nov 2007 8:54 am

The choice of foot wear is a little different when playing pedal steel.
It is one thing to look good, it is another to be wearing footwear that allows the ankle movement to STOMP THOSE PEDALS!!!