Barefoot Drumming (ouch)

Senseless Apprentice · 11-03-2004, 11:14 PM

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 · 11-03-2004, 11:18 PM

i drum barefooted, nothing happens to my feet

filth and fury · 11-03-2004, 11:19 PM

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 · 11-03-2004, 11:31 PM

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 · 11-03-2004, 11:34 PM

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 · 11-03-2004, 11:48 PM

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

Desert Eagle · 11-04-2004, 12:09 AM

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 · 11-04-2004, 12:16 AM

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

Senseless Apprentice · 11-04-2004, 12:20 AM

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 · 11-04-2004, 01:23 AM

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

TheTemplesOfSyrinx · 11-04-2004, 03:21 AM

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

HitHardHitFast · 11-04-2004, 10:33 AM

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 · 11-04-2004, 10:36 AM

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

flaw66 · 11-04-2004, 10:59 AM

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

justinw · 11-04-2004, 11:15 AM

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 · 11-04-2004, 03:59 PM

I play barefoot, its fine

X0senses_fail0X · 11-04-2004, 04:27 PM

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 · 11-04-2004, 07:29 PM

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

infeef · 11-04-2004, 07:52 PM

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

Zakath · 11-04-2004, 07:52 PM

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.

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.

11-03-2004, 11:14 PM	#1
Senseless Apprentice myspace.com/thomassienko Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Utah Posts: 1,918	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.

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11-03-2004, 11:18 PM	#2
Cheungman BB SS Bros Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dont worry about it Posts: 3,988	i drum barefooted, nothing happens to my feet

11-03-2004, 11:19 PM	#3
filth and fury Liberi is a sex god Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 775	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.

11-03-2004, 11:31 PM	#4
Senseless Apprentice myspace.com/thomassienko Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Utah Posts: 1,918	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.

11-03-2004, 11:34 PM	#5
Music rockS Stone Magnet Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,090	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.

11-03-2004, 11:48 PM	#6
Seafroggys Truffula Hugger Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Edge of Nowhere Posts: 15,038	I play with socks or barefeet (stopped playing with shoes about May), and have absolutly no problem.

11-04-2004, 12:09 AM	#7
Desert Eagle AKA Fastweb Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 43	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.

11-04-2004, 12:16 AM	#8
Music rockS Stone Magnet Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,090	I would bet his pedals have a differnet desing than yours. Look at the DW line, than at the facotry Mapex.

11-04-2004, 12:20 AM	#9
Senseless Apprentice myspace.com/thomassienko Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Utah Posts: 1,918	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?

11-04-2004, 01:23 AM	#10
jason01 METALLICA KICK-*** Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 22	i drum barefoot all the time, it didnt do anything to my feet, and it doesnt hurt me

11-04-2004, 03:21 AM	#11
TheTemplesOfSyrinx Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 22	You could just buy shoes that have a thin base like rock climbing shoes

11-04-2004, 10:33 AM	#12
HitHardHitFast Mapex M Series :) Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: England Posts: 579	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.

11-04-2004, 10:36 AM	#13
Der Meister The Queen of France Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Paedoph Isles Posts: 5,412	no socks no shoes, its cold, but i need all the response i get get with my mapex pedal

11-04-2004, 10:59 AM	#14
flaw66 I-G-T-K-M Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 44	I also drum in socks or barefoot ive never really had any problems with pain or anything like that though.

11-04-2004, 11:15 AM	#15
justinw Master of my domain Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 491	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.

11-04-2004, 03:59 PM	#16
Sgt_Baker I am Jacks cold sweat Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 334	I play barefoot, its fine

11-04-2004, 04:27 PM	#17
X0senses_fail0X Mmmmm. Beer.... (Of root) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Daytona Beach Posts: 743	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.

11-04-2004, 07:29 PM	#18
Cheungman BB SS Bros Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dont worry about it Posts: 3,988	Senseless: yea i've been playing barefoot since i got my kit, but it never hurt. I have Iron Cobra Jr.'s

11-04-2004, 07:52 PM	#19
infeef hobbes Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,619	barefoot is the way to go, fight through the pain. although, there is nothing worse than sitting down to play on freezing pedals.

11-04-2004, 07:52 PM	#20
Zakath Oi, fuсk off Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Dirty Jerzy Posts: 27,210	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. 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.