Barefoot Drumming (ouch)

[Senseless Apprentice]

So I am experimenting with drumming barefoot (in socks). Here are my reasons:

1) Easiest way to control heal toe technique executions

2) I can 'feel' where I am on the pedal with the nerved in my foot (shoes don't have nerves). If I want to execute a heal toe, I will 'feel' my way to the edge of the pedal so that I can get my heel to do a hit. I I want to hit the sweet sopt, I will 'feel' my way towards the center of the padal, using the imprinted lettering as a guide.

So I had band practice today...and it was the first practice I played in socks. It was also the first time I played a really long time in socks. Here's what happened:

Pro's: I was indeed albe to execute my foot techniques well like I described above.

Con's: My right sock has a hole in it because the imprinted lettering chewed right threw it. the bottom of my foot is also slightly burned from the imprinted lettering. OUCH!

Question: How can I fix these cons and continue to have the light footed advantage?

(can someone maybe recommend me some fort of EXTREMELY light footwear? Or anything at all?)

Thanks for your time.

[Cheungman]

i drum barefooted, nothing happens to my feet

[filth and fury]

dude, i have a huge hole in the back of my right sock, and kept hitting the drum pedal so fast i like killed it. id say probably just get socks, slip on vans, vans (not the skateboarding ones, the old schools with laces), or converse.

[Senseless Apprentice]

Eh...even converse shoes are too big. I'm still more liberal without them.

Cheung: have you maybe done it for so long that your feet have kinda become immune to any of the imprint hazards (letters sticking up digging into your flesh)....caluses? Did it hurt at first? what Kind of pedals do you have? Some pedals like Yamahas have a very smooth glide surface...which would pose no problem unlike the Iron Cobras which have Iron Letters digging into my flesh.

[Music rockS]

What kind of pedal is it? Try putting some sort of masking tape over it, it may be enough to cover the design and protect your feet.

[Seafroggys]

I play with socks or barefeet (stopped playing with shoes about May), and have absolutly no problem.

[Desert Eagle]

I play barefoot in the summer and wear socks in the winter and nothing happens to my feet either. Just keep playing. You should eventually get used to it.

[Music rockS]

I would bet his pedals have a differnet desing than yours. Look at the DW line, than at the facotry Mapex.

[Senseless Apprentice]

Yeah, I have Iron Cobras, and very dilicate feet. I guess I'm gonna just try and work through the pain, hopefully get some calluses or something. I wouldn't want to soil my beautiful pedals with discousting tapes. Though it is a good idea.

Anyone have calluses?

[jason01]

i drum barefoot all the time, it didnt do anything to my feet, and it doesnt hurt me

[TheTemplesOfSyrinx]

You could just buy shoes that have a thin base like rock climbing shoes

[HitHardHitFast]

i drum barefoot all the time but i do a lot of things barefoot so they've been kinda toughened up. it's prolly the design on your pedal like you say. i've got a Pearl P101P and it's really comfortable. i'm with Music rockS try putting something thin over it so you still get the same feel on the pedal but it does'nt muller your feet.

[Der Meister]

no socks no shoes, its cold, but i need all the response i get get with my mapex pedal

[flaw66]

I also drum in socks or barefoot ive never really had any problems with pain or anything like that though.

[justinw]

I usually drum in Teva sandals that I've had for 7 or 8 years. Nice flat bottom, and if my feet sweat, doesn't slide around like if I was barefoot.

[Sgt_Baker]

I play barefoot, its fine

[X0senses_fail0X]

I learned in socks/barefoot, and got the heel/toe technique down that way, but I've come to realize that with me it doesnt really matter much. I can play bass fairly well with or without shoes.

[Cheungman]

Senseless: yea i've been playing barefoot since i got my kit, but it never hurt. I have Iron Cobra Jr.'s

[infeef]

barefoot is the way to go, fight through the pain. although, there is nothing worse than sitting down to play on freezing pedals.

[Zakath]

What the hell? Your foot hurts from playing with socks.. aww poor baby, there was a hole? Did you get mommy to kiss it and put a band-aid on it? Jesus Christ, have you been living in a bubble your entire life? I've heard of having doctor's hands, but never pathetically "delicate" feet that are in pain after playing drums. Is your entire body made of soft, flabby flesh? I always play barefoot, and I use Cobra's. My feet are even wearing away the lettering on the pedal board. :lol: The bottom of my feet probably have "Iron Cobra.. The Legend In Innovation" imprinted on them. The only "discomfort" I've ever experienced is when it's cold and you first put your feet on the pedals...cold metal. :eek:

[jversluis88]

i drum barefooted, nothing happens to my feet

Me too, I never have problems with burns. And when it comes to socks, well all of mine already have holes in them.

[Senseless Apprentice]

I reckon I'll just have to suck it up and be a man, take the pain, like Zakath. I'll get my mommy to get me some more socks.

[playwithfire]

I play in socks all the time...I've never experienced any pain.

[i_like_to_play]

I play in socks all the time too, only thing i find is that it is harder to create a louder bass sound. I dont mind that because i get good response on the pedal.

[drumforyourlife]

i play about the same in whatever footwear i have. i've played in timbs before, i've played barefoot... most of the time i play in my k-swiss. the only difference is the weight of the foot. i dunno... i don't even think about shoes as an issue.

[tapioca]

tape your foot or your socks

[RichHunt]

Get the sandpaper out, maybe you can smooth it out a bit.

[LPburton]

listen crybabies..u try socks...they have holes in them..but i bet everyone of u guys wear white shoes socks. i sometime wear soccor socks..or some thick socks. y dont u guys try that. BIOTCH!!!!!

[HitHardHitFast]

/\/\/\/\ i wear whatever socks im wearing when i decide to drum

[playwithfire]

Yeah i wear the white socks that have the mesh top and that only go up to your ankle, not halfway up your leg. They aren't heavy duty sport socks, and they do fine, and my pedal has just as much metal lettering and raise metal ridges as anyone else and my socks never tear.

[LPburton]

well all im saying is that. it might help some retards out there hu actually "hurt" themselves.

[HitHardHitFast]

/\/\/\ i do that on purpose :) me and my bro do martial arts and to toughen up feet we kinda kick walls and cupboards (and a stupid lathe in tech that wouldnt work) and walk around on things like gravel loads. now nothing hurts my feet anymore :)

[miss-butterfly]

wear 2 pairs of soks

[amgeex]

^^ I do that when its too cold. Any other time and I play on socks only, and they haven't got any holes, nor I get pain.

[Murd_666]

I don't see how bare foot drumming can hurt. half the time i play drums i play bare foot.

[-TheGlassPrison-]

more control on pedals ide say... with no shoes or socs...
my friend put carpet on his and they were SOO comfortable and had a lot of control ... try that?

just ducktape it on or something..

[Drazinus]

I've never played in my shoes. Always either barefoot or socks. I jsut wear regular black gym socks(I get weird looks in the summer when wearing shorts and black socks that I usually pull up as far as they can go, why I pull them up that high, idk, I just do when I put them on) and never had a problem with holes in the socks(well, from my pedals anyway) or any "injury" while barefoot. I tried with my shoes on once, and I jsut didn't have as muhc control, also, I feel I get a louder sound without the shoes.

[-Draz-]

[vincethesk8r]

shoes (http://www.duffs.com/product/octane.html)

these look pretty lite :D

[SonorKen]

I play barefoot. When I played Iron Cobra pedals the raised lettering would chew my feet up. I bought some cloth medical tape and put it on it. I put about 20 layers on it. Ended the problem.

I use DW pedals now and since they have a smooth finish this problem is alleviated.

[Jezen]

I live in Australia and I play barefoot, no socks, all year round.

[playwithfire]

I play barefoot. When I played Iron Cobra pedals the raised lettering would chew my feet up. I bought some cloth medical tape and put it on it. I put about 20 layers on it. Ended the problem. Sonor footboards have some hefty grooves to them, and my feet don't get chewed up, but if they did, that sounds like a good solution.

[Berk]

What The ****
That Is Gross!!!

[MNdrummer21]

Berk, why the hell did you post in year and a half old topic?

[Corkofski]

make drumming socks. duct tape on socks

[Corkofski]

NOTE ON THREAD AGE:

BB is still in australia

[Drum Phil]

Berk, why the hell did you post in year and a half old topic?

Theres a post missing and you should be glad.

[Undisco Kidd]

Get one of those promark pedal grips?

[Jezen]

NOTE ON THREAD AGE:

BB is still in australia

Bwahaha I just noticed that too. Nowadays I always play in shoes.

[Drummer300btx]

I play barefooted. The only pain i've experienced is when i was training my very weak left foot at the time, my toes would hit the cam and chair. causing minor discomfort.

[maniac0796]

I've been walking around my town barefoot since i was about 9, so my geet have about 1/2 of dead skin and stuff stopping my feet from getting hurt. Just keep using them, you'll get used to it...

[sLarkin20]

ive played barefoot for 8 months now
never had a problem or got hurt or anything

[ThugsRook]

all you guys ~ your pedals must smell pretty bad :lol:

[rhythmically retarded]

I usually play in socks and have never had any problems, but if anyone wants really awesome drumming shoes, the best are soft soled moccasins, I have knee high ones and that is what I always use for performances

[White]

My feet are fine, and I have drummed barefoot since I started playing

[the_almighty_drummer]

I've drummed w/ socks since day 1

[Bonham#1!]

In socks isnt bare foot...I drum in socks and nothing has happened to my feet.

[The Feeding]

Converse Chuck Taylors, i tried barefoot, and with socks only, I like having shoes on. it saves my feet and i can put more power into my hits, but i can really only play in Chucks or something really light, like running shoes.

[pasulpepe]

Berk, why the hell did you post in year and a half old topic?

good f**ing question. still interesting though. I wear adidas sambas

[TTTSNB]

Dunno, never had a problem, I always play in socks or barefoot, or with very light shoes.

[psychocream]

The bottom of my feet probably have "Iron Cobra.. The Legend In Innovation" imprinted on them
maybe you could get money for advertising Iron Cobras lol

[Panopticon]

you're a very big asshole. Go back to the Pit.

Senseless: try some of these...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b379/enemytopublic/104_4149.jpg

i got em for five bucks canadian.

[Snarz]

^^Ya usually nothing with heels in them work good for druming if you do't want to cut your feet up.

[mullets suk]

never had your prolems. i learned bare foot, and i prefer doing everthing barefoot then with shoes.(if i have to wear shoes ill wear flip flops). as with drums, the main prolem i have is trying to play on a cold surface...that really sucks, unlessi have sweaty feet. then its just a lil gross.

[_Austin_]

you're a very big spatula. Go back to the Pit.

Senseless: try some of these...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b379/enemytopublic/104_4149.jpg

i got em for five bucks canadian.

How are they compared to playing with only a pair of socks on?

[Maggot Dream]

good f**ing question. still interesting though. I wear adidas sambas
He didn't post. There's a bot running around posting things that require 'special mod attention.'

[Electric Requiem]

Eh...even converse shoes are too big. I'm still more liberal without them.

Cheung: have you maybe done it for so long that your feet have kinda become immune to any of the imprint hazards (letters sticking up digging into your flesh)....caluses? Did it hurt at first? what Kind of pedals do you have? Some pedals like Yamahas have a very smooth glide surface...which would pose no problem unlike the Iron Cobras which have Iron Letters digging into my flesh.

I have iron cobras and drum in socks and nothing bad happens.

[Sean]

I played in socks for a while... Except instead of hurtimng myself, i slid aroung alot

http://vans.speedera.net/shop.vans.com/image/4967199B.jpg

^Try those, Vans Old Skool slip-ons... I wearr them excluseively to play drums... They're skate shoes, but don't have any of the padding that regular skate shoes under the sole, really. It's a semi thin layer of rubber and then your foot. Almost as good as socks for feeling, and because they're skate shoes, they're grippy and your feet won't move at all. They're super light too.


Edit- Holy ****, I didn't even realize how old this was. I guess no one really needs the advice any more...

[Double Bass Jim]

Walk around in your barefeet more often and you won't have to worry about a thing.

[drum_with_ease]

i drum barefooted, nothing happens to my feet
123

[Neo's Trio]

pfft i drum with jordans on =p


but if i'm too lazy to put them on then i drum barefooted, but it just dosen't feel right to me.

[MagicMedicine]

Iv always played with socks or barefoot. I have never had any pains or iritation. My socks would end up with holes in them if I didnt drum anyways.

If you get pain, its all part of the game.

With bass when i was learning slapping and popping, the skin on my fingers would blister because I was used to electric and acoustic guitar playing. After the skin would blister from popping the strings, I would push something sharp into it and squeez the blister water (or blood) out, and push the loose skin flat again. then I would throw a bandaid tightly on it while i slept. The next morning it would turn into a temparary calus, and then by night id re-pop the blisters, I did this untill the skin was so thick it couldnt blister anymore.

It came with the territory.

The same thing happened when I first started drumming, my index and middle fingers had blisters from the drumsticks.

In this case its the feet.

[eacott]

i always drum in just socks at home cos my kits in mt study room which has carpet and mum doesn't like shoes in the house so no choice but i've never had a problame with it

[MapleX]

i drum barefooted, nothing happens to my feet

ditto

[Tyler3295]

i usually drum with no shoes on and with socks, but when i do drum barefoot nothing happens to my feet either...

[jalel]

I just recently switched to drumming with bare feet and have had no problems. I like it better because i feel I have more control.

[Tyler3295]

the reason i originally started was b/c my shoes were heavy and i wanted double bass to be faster and easier...

[I<3DoubleBass]

I wear gene hoglan boots.

\m/

[Jezen]

When I play death metal, I always wear these:

http://www.moviepropking.com/FACE1.jpg

http://www.moviepropking.com/FACE2.jpg

http://www.moviepropking.com/FACE3.jpg

[Vannaroth]

The soles of my feet are rock hard. I doubt it came from drumming, but i can walk on gravel barefoot at be reasonably comfortable. I call it the gypsy's callous, since gypsies walk about bare footed :p

[Zildjian]

I play with socks and Iron cobras and never had a pain or anything. Expect sometime the beater swilgs back and its the top of my foot which hurts

[DillingerEscp]

I am an avid supporter of the no shoes drumming, gives me much more control and speed.... Its more of a psychological thing though.

[Quinto]

it is^. use wrestling shoes if this hasnt already been recomended.

[travis4barker]

u could suck it up and play completely bare foot so u dont have to worry about holes in socks and ull eventually work up calous's on your feet. personaly i dont like playing barefoot because my pedal comes back and hits the top of my foot but thats because i tend to left my foot from the pedal when playing barefoot.

[LiquidTensionTheatre]

Yeah, my Stagg double pedal (*dons flameproof suit*) sometimes hurts if I play for extended periods. Best thing is just to wear socks.

One guy I jam with tapes an insole over the foot plate, feels nice to play like that...

~~

Edit: my double pedal hurts my feet. The pedal doesn't hurt. At least, I don't think it does, I haven't asked it.

~~

[Kenny_Fever]

I generally only drum barefoot... I can play drums with shoes on, but I prefer not to. I agree, you can get a lot better control barefoot, I find. As far as the letters, well my pedals are pretty smooth so I don't have to worry about it. my advice? take a sandblaster or a grinder to it or something, to smooth it out.

[metallas]

I play with socks.My toes are almost hitting the chain and my heel is at the start of the footboard.I play heel toe.I never touch the peice that says "Proffesional Model" on my Yamahas.
The only thing that was a pain at first was my toes hitting the orizontal iron where the beaters are hold (i think it's called rotor) but now I don't have this problem.
People who play heel toe does the ball of your feet stop touching the pedal board at the firt stroke of heel toe (when the heel comes down)?

[zfzgg]

I drum in these...

http://www.stockphotography.com/img/travel/stock_photos/wooden_clogs.jpg

:D

[Corkofski]

i either drum in new rocks, or i take some socks and cover the soles in duck tape

[Drummer Freak 911]

What the hell? Your foot hurts from playing with socks.. aww poor baby, there was a hole? Did you get mommy to kiss it and put a band-aid on it? Jesus Christ, have you been living in a bubble your entire life? I've heard of having doctor's hands, but never pathetically "delicate" feet that are in pain after playing drums. Is your entire body made of soft, flabby flesh? I always play barefoot, and I use Cobra's. My feet are even wearing away the lettering on the pedal board. :lol: The bottom of my feet probably have "Iron Cobra.. The Legend In Innovation" imprinted on them. The only "discomfort" I've ever experienced is when it's cold and you first put your feet on the pedals...cold metal. :eek:

:lol: :lol:
that was great...
drumming barefoot is awesome the cold metal makes u drum faster so u can get warm..wall in my case it does.

[Gutter_Phenom]

barefoot drumming is how i drum and drumming man, drumming is druming. and when ur drummin and when u know ur drumming,. dude then ur drumming, and thats really all that matters. but work a calas on ur foot u damn pussy

[Gutter_Phenom]

o and btw i have to drum barefoot cuz of my insanley large feet with shoes on. huh huh any ladys out thur u know what im sayin.

[mdrumman]

I drum in whatever i happen to have on at the time as far as footwear goes, but when i look at new shoes i look for a light thin lined shoe, so i can play in them. I have a pair of new Puma shoes that are "trailrunners" or something like that. They have a good grip and are light as a track shoe.

[Gutter_Phenom]

and ya know. also when ur druming. and ur holding those drum sticks. man u know ur drummin then dude, and when ur drummin .well dude fukin ur DRUMMIN!! and theres no better feeling except when ur reaaaallly drummin . and i mean come on who hasnt done that before.espcially barefoot. i mean when ur barefoot and ur drummin, dude uve reached a point in ur life in which jesus would be proud.

[Temidien]

I personally drum barefoot most of the time (the rest of the time with socks) and I've never had problems. From what I can tell my feet aren't very callussed, so I'm not sure what to tell ya there.

I did see in an interview with the drummer from Linkin Park that he uses racecar driver shoes to drum at his studio. Apparently theyre very thin but durable and have good flexibility. Maybe buying a pair would help.

[Killroy]

Converse are good drumming shoes...

[Sunshine]

Converse are too thick?

So you have incredibly sensitive feet, but converse are too thick.

I...don't see how that works, but they ain't my feet so that's probably got somethin' to do with it.

I play barefoot sometimes, just 'cause I'm too lazy to get shoes or find my slippers. I also play in boots with 2 1/3 inch heels. I'm not picky when it comes to that =/

[Corkofski]

get a pair o socks. get duct tape. cover the soles in like 4 layers of tape.

sorted

[Corkofski]

Converse are good drumming shoes...
123123123123

[LostRythym]

I've always played without shoes or socks, nothing happens. Maybe you should get a pair of thicker socks.

[FullMoon]

i always play barefoot it gives me more control on the hats

[samsamthegiantman]

I drum without socks. I like the feel of cold metal. :)

[enishi]

i play barefeet.nothings wrong

[The Feeding]

hey man i do it, it doesn't hurt at all. I do it because for some reason shoes slow me down....

[Sunshine]

I drum without socks. I like the feel of cold metal. :)

Your pedals are cold?

Lucky.

My garage is sweltering. Freaking desert =/