Barefoot Drumming (ouch)
 

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.

i drum barefooted, nothing happens to my feet

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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?

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

I play barefoot, its fine

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.

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

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

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:

[QUOTE=Cheungman]i drum barefooted, nothing happens to my feet[/QUOTE]

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

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.

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

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.

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.

tape your foot or your socks

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

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!!!!!

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

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.